JP4682835B2 - Information deletion support device, information backup device, and mobile device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information deletion support device, an information backup device, and a mobile device that support deletion of information from a storage unit that stores a plurality of notification information related to maps, roads, guidance thereof, music, images, and the like.

  In general, mobile devices are provided with storage means capable of storing information related to music, images, and the like in order to realize various applications. Among them, for example, a mobile device equipped with a function such as navigation is configured to be able to store a plurality of pieces of notification information relating to maps, roads, and guidance thereof. However, mobile devices have a limited amount of information that can be stored. If the amount of information that can be stored is limited, it is necessary to delete some information in order to store new information in the storage means.

However, it is difficult for the user to determine erasable information. Therefore, a technique is disclosed in which when the storable capacity is exceeded, the total information amount can be changed and selected so as to be within the storage capacity of the storage means (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, priorities are set for map information, etc. based on the type and amount of information, and guidance information, map information, etc. are changed according to these priorities. I can do it.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-97953 (paragraph 0054)

  However, when the technology described in Patent Document 1 is adopted, communication processing with a distribution center that distributes information is always necessary, and in particular, it cannot be performed by an apparatus that does not have a communication unit. Moreover, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the priority is set based on the type of information and the amount of information. However, in such a priority setting method, depending on the free state of the storable area of the storage unit, the information notification mode May obviously change.

  For example, particularly in the case of a mobile device equipped with a navigation function, even if an enlarged intersection map can be displayed before, the enlarged information map may not be displayed due to deletion of the notification information. In this case, convenience for the user is impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a problem that the information notification mode changes even if information is deleted from the storage means, and to efficiently use the storable area of the storage means. An information deletion support apparatus configured as described above, an information backup apparatus configured to be able to store notification information that is instructed to be deleted when the support apparatus instructs to delete, and a storage in which notification information to be deleted is stored It is providing the apparatus for mobile bodies provided with the means.

According to invention of Claim 1, it acts as follows. The deletion priority setting means takes into account the necessity setting set in advance in addition to the number of times of access to the notification information for the storage means storing a plurality of notification information relating to maps, roads, guidance thereof, music, and images. Then, the deletion priority is set for each of the plurality of notification information. At this time, if the audio information is set to non-use, the deletion priority of the audio information is set higher than the other predetermined information. When instructed by the instruction unit, at least one of the plurality of notification information can be deleted based on the deletion priority set by the deletion priority setting unit. Therefore, it is possible to support deletion of notification information based on the access count and necessity setting . Thereby, even if information is deleted from the storage means, it is possible to prevent a problem that the information notification mode is changed, and the storable area of the storage means can be used efficiently. In addition, information for notification that the user feels necessary can be preferentially left in the storage means, and information that the user feels unnecessary can be deleted preferentially. .

  According to the invention described in claim 2, since the deletion priority setting means sets the deletion priority in consideration of the number of times of movement of the road on which the moving body has moved in addition to the number of accesses, the deletion priority setting means Only the information for notification can be left in the storage means.

According to the invention described in claim 3 , since the deletion inhibition instruction means instructs the deletion of the notification information related to the route that the mobile is currently moving or is scheduled to move, even if the deletion priority is high, It is possible not to forcibly delete the information for notification related to the route that is currently moving or scheduled to move.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the deletion process is not performed unless the deletion permission means permits the deletion of the notification information when the total traveling distance of the moving body is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance. Inadvertent deletion can be prevented.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the deletion permission unit does not permit the deletion of the notification information when the number of activations of the mobile device is greater than or equal to the predetermined number, the deletion process is not performed. Can be prevented from being inadvertently deleted.

According to the invention described in claim 6 , since the backup storage means can back up and store the notification information instructed to be deleted, the notification information is deleted even if the notification information is deleted by mistake. The information for notification can be restored.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the notification information can be deleted according to the deletion priority set in consideration of the necessity setting set in advance in addition to the number of accesses to the plurality of notification information. ing. At this time, if the audio information is set to non-use, the audio information is set to have a higher deletion priority than the other predetermined information. This prevents a problem that the information notification mode changes even if information is deleted from the storage means, and the storable area of the storage means can be used efficiently.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the information deletion support device of the present invention is applied to a vehicle navigation device and applied to a configuration for backing up information to an external memory as an information backup device will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A vehicle navigation apparatus 1 is mounted on a vehicle (moving body: automobile, for example) as a moving body device. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall electrical configuration by a combination of functional blocks. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 includes a control circuit 2, and a position detector 3, a map information storage unit 4 as a storage unit, a display device 5, and an operation as an instruction unit with respect to the control circuit 2. A switch group 6, an audio circuit unit 7, a remote control sensor 8, and an external memory 9 as backup storage means (information backup device) are connected.

  The control circuit 2 includes a CPU (not shown), a memory 2a, and the like, and functions as a deletion priority setting unit and a deletion suppression instruction unit. The memory 2a of the control circuit 2 is equipped with a program for navigation (route guidance) and the like so that map information obtained from the map information storage unit 4 is temporarily stored in addition to processing information at the time of program execution. It has become.

  The position detector 3 includes, for example, a GPS receiver 10 that receives a GPS signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System) artificial satellite, a gyroscope 11 that detects a yaw rate, and a vehicle speed sensor 12 that detects the speed of the vehicle. It is configured with. Although not shown as the position detector 3, the above-described detection configuration includes an acceleration sensor (G sensor) for detecting acceleration in three axial directions orthogonal to each other and an inclination sensor for detecting an inclination angle in the pitching direction of the vehicle. Constructed by adding to an element. The position detector 3 detects the position with high accuracy while interpolating the detection signals of these detection components.

  The map information storage unit 4 is constituted by a hard disk drive, for example. The map information storage unit 4 includes a large-capacity storable area where information can be read / written / erased / rewritable, and stores the map information using the large-capacity storage area. This map information corresponds to map drawing information for map display, road information necessary for various processing such as map matching, route search, route guidance, intersection information consisting of detailed information on intersections, and this intersection information In addition to guidance information for providing guidance, voice information thereof, background information for displaying a background layer, place name information for displaying points such as place names and regions, facility information in which facility names are arranged in, for example, the order of 50 sounds Information relating to maps, roads, and guidance thereof, such as tourist guide information for sightseeing, telephone number information indicating correspondence between telephone numbers and facilities, is equivalent to information for notification.

  These map information includes a wide range of first information (basic information: wide area information) including road information in a wide range such as expressways and major national roads that connect major cities. Areas that are narrower than this range (For example, Chubu region, Kanto region, Kansai region) The second information (middle region information) over the range, detailed information related to regions (eg Aichi, Tokyo, Okinawa, etc.) narrower than this range information Third information (detailed road information: narrow area information) indicating information such as roads and intersections is stored in the map information storage unit 4 in a hierarchical and stepwise manner over a wide range to a narrow range. . Of these, the third information is stored in the map information storage unit 4 in a state in which the guidance information corresponding to the approach direction and the advance direction with respect to the intersection and the voice information related to the guidance are associated with the intersection. These map information may need to be rewritten according to changes in road mode. Therefore, it is desirable to use a storage device that can rewrite information, such as a hard disk drive.

  The display device 5 is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like for displaying a map screen or the like, and is installed near the driver's seat of the vehicle. On the display screen of the display device 5, a road map whose scale can be changed in a plurality of stages in normal times is displayed, and a pointer indicating the current position and traveling direction of the vehicle is displayed superimposed on the road map. It is like that. In addition, when a route guidance function based on a route calculation result to a destination performed using a well-known Dijkstra method is executed, a guidance route to be traveled while being superimposed on a road map is displayed.

In addition, the user (generally the driver of the vehicle) searches for points such as destinations and waypoints, various menu screens and input screens for entering these points (details will be described later), and various messages, information and help A screen is also displayed.
The operation switch group 6 includes mechanical switches arranged around the display device 5, a touch panel formed on the display screen of the display device 5, etc., commands related to operations such as various information and setting items, It is provided to give character information and map designation instruction information to the control circuit 2.

  The voice circuit unit 7 includes a voice synthesis circuit or the like, and is connected to a speaker 13 and a microphone 14. The voice circuit unit 7 generates an output signal corresponding to voice information from the control circuit 2 to notify the voice from the speaker 13, or The voice information from 14 is input. The remote control sensor 8 receives an operation signal from the remote control 15 and gives it to the control circuit 2.

  The external memory 9 is composed of a rewritable non-volatile memory such as a flash memory and a spare hard disk drive, for example, storing program software for supporting information recording media of other standards or specific information (running It is provided for storing or calling a history of a trajectory or arbitrary image information captured by a digital camera.

  Based on the command signal input through the operation switch group 6 or the remote control sensor 8, the control circuit 2 uses a well-known map display function, route calculation function, route guidance function, telephone number search function, postal code search function, map code ( Performs processing related to various support functions such as a search function using a unique code such as a registered trademark, a 50-sound search function, a genre search function, a nearest facility search function, a destination registration function, and a point registration function. It is configured as follows.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
In this embodiment, the deletion priority is set based on the number of accesses to the map information storage unit 4, the number of times of traveling on the road (the moving route of the moving body), the operation setting (necessity setting of various guides), and the destination setting. However, since there is a feature that information can be instructed to be deleted based on this deletion priority, the following description will focus on this part.

  As is well known, the navigation device 1 detects the current position by the position detector 3, the control circuit 2 identifies the current position, the control circuit 2 refers to the map information stored in the map information storage unit 4, Control is performed so that map drawing information, road information, guidance information, and the like are displayed on the display screen of the display device 5 together with a marker indicating the current position, or audio information is notified through the speaker 13 as necessary. To do.

  During this control, the control circuit 2 performs the control operation shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of the operation of the control circuit of the navigation device. As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 2 repeats the deletion priority update process (step T1: refer to FIG. 3) until there is a request to delete the information stored in the map information storage unit 4 (step T2: YES). Do.

  FIG. 3 shows the detailed operation of the deletion priority update process. FIG. 4 shows a table T showing the number of times of access, the number of times of traveling on the road (moving route of the moving body), the state of operation setting (necessity setting of various guides), the destination setting state, and the state of deletion priority. ing. The table T is stored in the memory 2a of the control circuit 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit 2 refers to the map information, and if an access request for the stored data in the map information storage unit 4 is generated (step S1: YES), the access count (see FIG. 4) is counted up. (Step S2). There are at least two opportunities for the occurrence of access. (1) When the current position is detected by the position detector 3 and the control circuit 2 refers to the map information related to the detected current position, or (2) It is the time when map information is referred to by a user's instruction (for example, when the entire map information or detailed part of the map information is instructed by a map information enlargement / reduction instruction or the like). Note that the control circuit 2 is configured to be able to refer to map information of the whole country if there is a user instruction.

Further, when the area related to the accessed information is an area including the current position (periphery) (step S3: YES), the control circuit 2 counts up the number of travels (step S4).
Further, the control circuit 2 receives an operation instruction signal from the operation switch group 6, and when the operation setting is changed (step S5: YES), the process proceeds to step S6. In step S <b> 6, the control circuit 2 determines whether or not the audio information is instructed in advance to be not used. This use / non-use setting state is stored in the table T and can be changed by the user (see the navigation operation setting in FIG. 4). When it is determined that the voice information is not used (step S6: YES), the control circuit 2 counts up the deletion priority of the voice information (step S7).

  Further, the control circuit 2 receives an operation instruction signal from the operation switch group 6 and when the destination is set (step S8: YES), after setting a route from the current position to the destination, Such information (information on the corresponding area) is set so as not to be deleted (step S9).

  FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the table T. 4 are basic information, detailed road information (Tokyo), detailed road information (Aichi), detailed road information (Okinawa), ..., guidance information (Tokyo), guidance information (Aichi), voice information. The setting and deletion priority for each piece of information for a plurality of notification information such as facility information and tourist guide information are shown. Regarding the deletion priority, the lower the number, the higher the deletion priority. In FIG. 4, the basic information corresponds to the first information (wide area information) described above, and the detailed road information and guidance information of each area are the second information (middle area information) or the third information (narrow area information). ).

  A column X1 in FIG. 4 shows a deletion permission / inhibition setting state of each information. As shown in the column X1 of FIG. 4, the first information (basic information: wide area information) is set so as not to be deleted, but other second information (middle area information) and third information (narrow area information). Is set to be deleteable. Column X2 in FIG. 4 shows the number of accesses to each piece of information. As shown in column X2 of FIG. 4, the number of accesses is set according to the number of count-ups in step S2 of FIG.

  Column X3 in FIG. 4 indicates the number of times each piece of information is traveled. As shown in column X3 of FIG. 4, the number of times of travel is set according to the number of count-ups in step S4 of FIG. Column X4 in FIG. 4 shows the operation setting state of the navigation device. As shown in the column X4 of FIG. 4, voice information and sightseeing guide information are set to non-use in accordance with an operation instruction from the user.

  Column X5 in FIG. 4 shows the destination setting state corresponding to each piece of information. As shown in column X5 of FIG. 4, if the destination is set as a part of “Aichi Prefecture”, “detailed road information (Aichi)” and “guidance information (Aichi) are set according to the destination setting state. "1" indicating that each piece of information ")" is being used.

  Column X6 in FIG. 4 shows an example of the deletion priority set based only on the number of accesses. According to column X6 in FIG. 4, tourist guide information, facility information, voice information, detailed road information (Aichi), guidance information (Aichi), ..., detailed road information (Tokyo), ..., detailed road information (Okinawa) ,..., Guidance information (Tokyo), in order of deletion priority. This is because the deletion priority is set lower in descending order of the number of accesses.

  Column X7 in FIG. 4 shows an example of the deletion priority set based on the number of accesses and the number of runs. According to column X7 in FIG. 4, tourist guide information, facility information, voice information, detailed road information (Aichi), guidance information (Aichi), detailed road information (Okinawa), ..., detailed road information (Tokyo), ... Deletion priority is higher in the order of guidance information (Tokyo). This is because the deletion priority is set lower in descending order of the number of travels. When this column X7 is compared with the column X6, the deletion priority of the detailed road information (Okinawa) in the column X6 is set lower than that in the column X7. This is because although the number of times of access by the user is large, the actual number of times of travel is small (0 times).

Column X8 in FIG. 4 shows an example of the deletion priority set based on the access count, the travel count, and the operation setting state. According to the column X8 in FIG. 4, the deletion priority of the voice information and the facility information is switched as compared with the column X7 (see the symbol Z in FIG. 4). That is, since the audio information is set to non-use, the deletion priority is set higher than the deletion priority of the facility information (corresponding to the predetermined information) .

  Column X9 in FIG. 4 shows an example of the deletion priority set based on the access count, the travel count, the operation setting state, and the destination setting state. According to the column X9 in FIG. 4, the detailed road information (Aichi) and the guidance information (Aichi) are set to “cannot be deleted” as compared with the setting state of the column X8. This is because an example in which the destination is set to a part of “Aichi Prefecture” is shown. Similarly, although not shown, detailed road information and guidance information regarding a route on which the vehicle is currently traveling or is scheduled to travel are also set to “cannot be deleted”.

  If the destination setting is not taken into consideration, the deletion priority of the detailed road information (Aichi) and the guidance information (Aichi) is relatively high (see column X8). The deletion process is not forcibly performed during the deletion process described later. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deletion process from being forcibly performed on the map information about the route on which the vehicle is currently traveling or is scheduled to travel. Note that the deletion priority shown in FIG. 4 may be set by multiplying a predetermined weighting coefficient according to the number of accesses, the number of travels, the operation setting state, and the destination setting.

  Returning to FIG. 2 again, the control circuit 2 constantly monitors the free capacity of the storable area in the map information storage unit 4 and generates a deletion request when the free capacity becomes smaller than the predetermined capacity. Until there is this deletion request (step T2: YES), the above-described deletion priority update processing is sequentially performed (step T1).

  At the same time, the total travel distance of the vehicle is measured by the vehicle speed sensor 12 or the like in the vehicle, and the control circuit 2 counts the number of times the navigation device 1 is activated. The control circuit 2 has the condition that the number of activations (usage frequency) of the navigation device 1 is a predetermined number (for example, 100 times) or more, or that the total travel distance of the vehicle is a predetermined distance (for example, 3000 km) or more (step) As T3), the processing after step T4 (deletion instruction acceptance processing, backup processing, deletion processing, etc.) is permitted.

  This is because the reliability of the set deletion priority is inferior if the number of times that the navigation device 1 is activated is small or the total travel distance of the vehicle is short, and is based on the deletion priority setting information that is inferior in reliability. If the information is deleted, information that the user originally needs may be deleted. That is, if the number of activations of the navigation device 1 is large or the total mileage of the vehicle is long, the reliability of the deletion priority setting state also increases, and the information notification mode even if information is deleted based on this deletion priority setting state This is because there is a low possibility of causing a problem that is different from the previous setting state. Thereby, it can prevent deleting information carelessly.

  The control circuit 2 analyzes the deletion priority with reference to the table T (step T4), displays the deletion candidate list on the display screen of the display device 5 in descending order of the deletion priority (step T5), and delete instructions from the user Starts to be received (step T6). At this time, the control circuit 2 refers to the table T and issues a deterrence instruction to the information for notification set to the deletion priority that cannot be deleted, and displays the map information (information for notification) set to the deletion disabled display device. 5 is not displayed on the display screen. Therefore, the user cannot delete the map information, the map information that is indispensable for the navigation device 1 to achieve the navigation function is not deleted, and the information can be prevented from being deleted by mistake.

  When the user operates the operation switch group 6 and selects notification information that can be deleted from the deletion candidate list, the control circuit 2 determines that a deletion instruction has been issued (step T6: instruction reception). Next, when a deletion authentication password is input (step T7), the control circuit 2 determines whether or not the external memory 9 as a backup memory is connected (step T8), and the external memory 9 is connected. Then, the notification information instructed to be deleted is stored in the external memory 9. After the notification information is backed up, the control circuit 2 deletes the notification information instructed to be deleted from the map information storage unit 4 (step T10).

  That is, when the free space in the storable area of the map information storage unit 4 is reduced, it is possible to instruct deletion in descending order of priority of deletion, and it can be selectively deleted from the notification information that the user considers unnecessary. It becomes like this. Thereby, even if the information is deleted from the map information storage unit 4, the information can be deleted within the range of the user's selection, the information notification mode can be prevented from changing, and the storage area of the map information storage unit 4 Can be used efficiently.

  According to this embodiment, when a deletion instruction is given by the user, any one of a plurality of pieces of map information having a high deletion priority set according to the access count, the travel count, the operation setting, and the destination setting state. Is deleted from the storable area of the map information storage unit 4, and unnecessary map information that is less frequently used can be deleted. As a result, the information notification mode does not change, and the storage area of the map information storage unit 4 can be used efficiently.

  An embodiment in which the deletion priority of information is set in consideration of the number of times of travel (the number of times of movement) on the road (the moving route of the moving body), the operation setting (necessity setting of various guides) state, and the destination setting state. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these setting conditions may be provided as necessary.

  If the deletion priority is set in consideration of the number of accesses and the number of times of travel, there is a high possibility that detailed road information (Tokyo) with a large number of times of travel will remain in the map information storage unit 4. Therefore, only necessary information can be left in the map information storage unit 4 as compared with the deletion priority set only by the number of accesses. That is, for example, when the user lives in Tokyo and does not drive to any location, the deletion priority of map information in areas other than the vicinity of Tokyo is high, and information in other areas is deleted if the user desires. be able to.

  Conversely, if the deletion priority is set only by the number of accesses without taking the number of travels into account, it is possible to set the deletion priority of the detailed road information (Okinawa) relating to the region where the number of travels is low, and the details with many reference times The possibility of leaving road information (Okinawa) in the map information storage unit 4 can also be increased. Therefore, in this case, for example, when the user lives in Tokyo and does not go out for a drive trip in Okinawa, the map information is deleted when the map of Okinawa is referred to many times. Since possibility becomes low, if a user desires, the information which concerns on the said area can be made to remain in the map information storage part 4. FIG.

  If the deletion priority is set in consideration of the operation setting state set in advance by the user, it is possible to increase the possibility that the map information that the user feels necessary is left in the map information storage unit 4. Can preferentially delete information that they feel is unnecessary.

  In order not to delete the map information about the route that the vehicle is currently driving or planned to run, even if the deletion priority is high, the map information about the route that the vehicle is currently driving or planned to drive is forced to be deleted Can be avoided.

  Moreover, since deletion processing is not performed unless after the deletion processing of map information is permitted when the total travel distance of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, it is possible to prevent information from being deleted accidentally. it can.

  Further, since the deletion process is not performed unless the deletion process of the map information is permitted when the number of times of starting the navigation device 1 is a predetermined number or more, the information is prevented from being deleted accidentally. can do.

  Since the external memory 9 backs up and stores the detailed road information and guidance information instructed to be deleted, the deleted map information can be restored even if the map information is deleted by mistake. Since the user can select and delete detailed road information, guidance information, voice information, and the like, the user can delete desired map information by himself / herself.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, the following modifications or expansions are possible.
The information for notification is not limited to map information but can be applied to music information, various image information, and the like. What is necessary is just to provide the determination process of step T2 or step T3, and the backup process of step T8 and T9 as needed.

Even if the server is configured to be communicable with a server (not shown) provided outside by connecting a wireless communication unit to the navigation device 1, the server may be configured to function as backup storage means (information backup device). good. That is, the navigation device 1 may be configured by connecting a wireless communication unit capable of wireless communication with the outside as necessary.
Although the map information storage unit 4 is applied to a hard disk drive, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to a storage medium from which information can be deleted.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. Flow chart schematically showing the operation (part 1) Flow chart schematically showing the operation (part 2) The figure which shows an example of a deletion priority table

Explanation of symbols

In the drawings, 1 is a navigation device (mobile device, information deletion support device), 2 is a control circuit (deletion priority setting means, deletion suppression instruction means), 4 is a map information storage unit (storage means), and 6 is an operation. A switch group (instruction means) 9 indicates an external memory (information backup device).

Claims (7)

In an information deletion support device that supports deletion of stored information in a storage unit for a mobile device equipped with a storage unit in which a plurality of notification information related to maps, roads, guidance, music, and images are stored,
In addition to the number of accesses to the notification information for the storage means, a deletion priority is set for each of the plurality of notification information in consideration of a necessity setting set in advance. A deletion priority setting means for setting the deletion priority higher than the other predetermined information when the audio information is set;
Instructing means configured to be capable of instructing to delete at least one of the plurality of notification information based on the deletion priority set by the deletion priority setting means Information deletion support device.   2. The information deletion support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deletion priority setting means sets the deletion priority in consideration of the number of movements of the road on which the mobile body has moved in addition to the number of accesses. 3. The information deletion support device according to claim 1 , further comprising a deletion suppression instruction means for instructing deletion suppression of notification information relating to a route on which the mobile object is currently moving or scheduled to move . The information deletion according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising deletion permission means for permitting deletion of the notification information on condition that a total travel distance of the mobile body is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance. Support device. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a deletion permission unit that permits the deletion of the notification information on condition that the number of times of starting the mobile device is a predetermined number or more. Information deletion support device. 6. An information backup apparatus comprising backup storage means capable of storing notification information instructed to be deleted by the instruction means of the information deletion support apparatus according to claim 1 . A storage means for storing a plurality of notification information relating to maps, roads, guidance thereof, music, and images, in addition to the number of accesses to the plurality of notification information, in addition to the necessity setting set in advance It is a deletion priority set for each of the plurality of notification information, and when the voice information is set to non-use, the voice information is set according to the deletion priority set higher than other predetermined information. A mobile device comprising storage means configured to be capable of deleting the notification information .

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