JP4778133B2 - Navigation device and method, and recording medium recording navigation software - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in navigation technology, and more particularly to a navigation apparatus and method for improving a function for displaying a destination such as a facility, and a recording medium on which navigation software is recorded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the advancement of digital technology, navigation technology that guides a moving body such as an automobile has become widespread. For example, an in-vehicle navigation system calculates the optimum route to a given destination based on data such as roads recorded in advance on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, and uses GPS navigation or the like. While displaying the map near the vehicle position calculated in real time on the screen, the route guidance such as turning left or right is performed on the display screen or synthesized voice.
[0003]
The use of such a navigation system starts with setting a destination facility, but a normal system can not only search for facilities by scrolling the map displayed on the screen, but also set the destination. In order to be able to perform quickly, the names of a large number of facilities are recorded in a database in advance, and a destination search function for finding a desired facility by searching this database is incorporated. And the facility searched in this way was able to carry out the spot registration of the coordinate and name of the spot where a facility exists to a registration spot list | wrist, when a user performs predetermined | prescribed operation. Furthermore, the registered facility can be called by the user selecting the facility name displayed in the list as necessary.
[0004]
By the way, in order to facilitate such a call work, by assigning an icon corresponding to the type to each facility in advance by a user input operation and displaying this icon at the time of list display, It was possible to use it as a guide when selecting a facility. Moreover, since the icon allocated in this way is displayed at the corresponding point when the facility is displayed on the map, the position and type of the facility on the map can be confirmed.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the prior art as described above, the number of facilities displayed in a list increases as point registration is repeated, and it becomes difficult to find and call a required facility. In order to deal with this, it is conceivable to facilitate the search by assigning icons corresponding to the types to all the facilities, and putting together the common types. However, in order to do this completely, the user must always perform the task of assigning icons when registering all the points, which is very troublesome.
[0006]
The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to automatically reduce the operation burden on the user by automatically assigning icons to facilities. A further object is to provide a navigation system and method capable of facilitating facility type determination and selection, and a recording medium recording navigation software.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 relates to a facility on a map in a navigation device having a map information storage means storing a map and a display means capable of displaying a map together with a route to be guided. In accordance with the name of the facility received by the input means, the facility information storage means storing the facility information including the name of the facility and the attribute of the facility, the input means for receiving at least a part of the name of the facility, A facility extraction means for extracting a facility name, a point registration means for registering the facility information corresponding to the designated facility name from the facility name extracted by the facility extraction means, and icon information corresponding to the attribute of the facility. and icon information storing means for storing, from the facility names extracted by the facility extraction means, a map of the facility around corresponding to the specified facility name wherein While viewing the shown means, triggered only spot registration request of the facility, the icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility, is displayed at the position of the facility on the map, after being spot registered by said location registration means When the facility name is displayed on the display means, the display means has an icon display control means for causing the display means to display an icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility.
[0008]
The invention according to claim 3 captures the invention according to claim 1 from the viewpoint of a method, and includes a step of storing a map and a step of causing the display means to display the map together with a route to be guided. In the navigation method including the step, the computer stores information on the facility on the map, the facility information including the name of the facility and the attribute of the facility, and the step of receiving at least a part of the name of the facility. In accordance with the name of the facility, a step of extracting the facility name, a step of registering facility information corresponding to the designated facility name from the extracted facility name, and icon information corresponding to the attribute of the facility are stored. a step, from the extracted facility names, in a state in which a map of the facility around corresponding to the specified facility name displayed on said display means, Triggered only spot registration request of the facility, the icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility, to display is displayed at the position of the facility on the map, facility name after being spot registration on the display means, And displaying the icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility on the display means.
The invention according to claim 4 captures the invention according to claim 1 or claim 3 from the viewpoint of a computer-readable recording medium, and stores a map and guides the route using the computer. In addition, in the recording medium in which the navigation software for displaying the map on the display means is recorded, the software stores the facility information including the name of the facility and the attribute of the facility in the computer, the facility information on the map, Accept at least a part of the facility name, extract the facility name according to the received facility name, register the facility information corresponding to the specified facility name from the extracted facility name, and register the facility attributes stores the icon information corresponding to, from the extracted facility name, before a map of the facility near corresponding to the specified facility name In a state of being displayed on the display means, triggered only spot registration request of the facility, the icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility, is displayed at the position of the facility on the map, facility name after it has been spot registration When displaying on the display means, an icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility is displayed on the display means.
[0010]
In the inventions according to claims 1 , 3 and 4 as described above, the user can automatically perform the icon assignment that has been done by his / her own selection simply by performing normal location registration. Can be simplified.
[0011]
In addition, for example, since an icon corresponding to the attribute is automatically given and displayed at a facility set as a navigation destination, the user can save the destination by displaying the icon without having to allocate an icon. Confirmation and discrimination can be facilitated. Furthermore, it is possible to easily call a facility whose location is registered by the icon display.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the icon displayed together with the facility name after being registered by the point registering means is displayed together with the facilities displayed as a list on the display means. It is characterized by.
[0013]
In the invention described in claim 2 as described above, since icons are displayed together with the facilities displayed in a list, it becomes easy for the user to search for facilities to be called. In addition, by rearranging the list based on the assigned icon, it is possible to make it easier to find the facility you want to call.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Note that the portion related to information processing in the present embodiment is typically realized by controlling a computer with software. The software in this case realizes the operational effects of the present invention by physically utilizing computer hardware, and the conventional technology is also applied to the common part with the conventional technology. However, since the types and configurations of the hardware and software in this case, the range to be processed by the software, and the like can be changed in various ways, in the following description, virtual circuit blocks that realize the functions of the present invention and the embodiment are described. Use.
[0015]
[1. Configuration of Embodiment]
The present embodiment shows a navigation device (referred to as the present device) for guiding a route by being mounted on a mobile vehicle, and a navigation method executed on the device. It can also be understood as a recording medium on which the navigation software is recorded.
[0016]
[1-1. overall structure〕
As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 1, the apparatus includes an absolute position / orientation detection unit 1, a relative orientation detection unit 2, a vehicle speed detection unit 3, a main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4, and a memory group M. A user interface unit 9, a display unit 10, an input unit 11, a CD-ROM control unit 12, an FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13, an optical / radio wave beacon reception and processing unit 14, and a voice recognition unit 15. It has.
[0017]
Among them, the absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 calculates the absolute position coordinates and direction on the ground surface with respect to the current position of the automobile (referred to as the own vehicle) on which the apparatus is mounted, that is, the own vehicle position. For example, it is a part for receiving GPS radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites with an antenna or a receiver. The relative orientation detection unit 2 is a part for detecting the relative orientation of the host vehicle using a gyro or the like. Moreover, the vehicle speed detection part 3 is a part which calculates the speed of the own vehicle by processing the vehicle speed pulse obtained from a motor vehicle.
[0018]
The main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are parts that serve as a control circuit for controlling the entire apparatus. The memory group M is a variety of memories necessary for the operation of the apparatus. For example, a program is stored, the ROM 5 accessed from the main CPU at the time of start-up, the main program is loaded, and a work area is provided. DRAM (dynamic RAM) 6, SRAM (static RAM) 7 for holding memory contents when the power is turned on and off (battery backup is also performed when the main power is turned off), VRAM (Video RAM) 8 for the display unit 10, etc. including.
[0019]
The display unit 10 is a part for outputting various information such as a map, an operation menu button, a facility name list, and a 50 sound panel by a liquid crystal display screen or voice synthesis (not shown). The input unit 11 is a part for a user to input information such as a command from a switch or a joystick on the front panel or remote control. For example, a desired point on a map, a menu button, a facility name list, a 50 sound panel The selection operation input can be performed. The display unit 10 can be used as an input unit in the same manner as the input unit 11 by directly touching an item such as an arbitrary point on the map displayed on the screen, a menu button, a facility name list, and a 50 sound panel with a finger. It also has a function as a touch panel that can play a role. The user interface unit 9 is a user interface that connects the display unit 10 and the input unit 11 to the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 using an I / O control circuit, a driver, or the like.
[0020]
The CD-ROM control unit 12 is means for reading a database recorded on the CD-ROM. The contents of the database are centered on map data, for example, route search data representing a road network structure, a gas station, and the like. In addition to display data representing landmarks such as, the facility data is included.
This facility data is a record type in which the name of the facility is a record name, and the data items include, for example, an ID relating to the type of facility such as a parking lot and a tennis court (hereinafter referred to as type ID), and the location of the facility. Coordinates etc. are included. Further, the application stored in the ROM 5 and read onto the DRAM 6 at the time of startup is determined in advance according to each type ID in addition to basic information necessary for operation of the apparatus such as a menu button and a 50 sound panel. An icon table that is information about the displayed icon is included.
[0021]
The storage area for information such as the above-mentioned database and program can be freely set. For example, all or part of the information may be stored in the ROM 5 side in advance or stored in the CD-ROM side. Also good. Furthermore, the recording medium is not limited to a CD-ROM. For example, a DVD-ROM read by a DVD-ROM control unit may be used.
[0022]
The FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13 is a part that receives FM broadcast waves and VICS traffic information included in the broadcast waves. Further, the optical / radio wave beacon reception and processing unit 14 is a part that receives VICS traffic information included in the optical beacon and the radio beacon when passing under a transmission facility installed on the road. The traffic information includes information such as traffic jams, accidents, regulations, construction, and travel time to the destination. Further, the voice recognition unit 15 is a means for receiving voice from the user and recognizing the voice.
[0023]
[1-2. Role of main CPU and its peripheral circuits]
Further, the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are configured so that the current position calculation unit 40, the destination designation unit 41, the route calculation unit 42, the guide unit 43, the facility extraction unit 44, The facility selection unit 45, the point registration unit 46, the icon search unit 47, the icon display control unit 48, the scroll display control unit 49, and the drawing unit 50 are configured.
[0024]
Among these, the current position calculation unit 40 is a means for calculating the current position of the own vehicle, that is, the own vehicle position. Specifically, the current position calculation unit 40 calculates the own vehicle position by combining GPS navigation positioning and autonomous navigation positioning. It is configured as follows. Here, in GPS navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained from the absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 based on radio waves from an artificial satellite. In the autonomous navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained from the relative bearing detection unit 2 and the vehicle speed detection unit 3 based on the geomagnetism and the speed of the host vehicle.
[0025]
The route calculation unit 42 is a means for calculating an optimum route from the current vehicle position to the facility designated by the destination designation unit 41 based on the route search data. The guide unit 43 is a means for guiding the route calculated by the route calculation unit 42 by synthetic voice or screen display based on the current position and the like sequentially calculated by the current position calculation unit 40.
[0026]
The facility extraction unit 44 is a means for extracting from the facility data a facility name that matches the extraction condition input by the user. The facility selection unit 45 is means for selecting the facility selected by the user from the facility names extracted by the facility extraction unit 44. The point registration unit 46 is means for performing point registration by storing facility data corresponding to the facility name selected by the facility selection unit 45 in the SRAM 7. The icon search unit 47 is means for picking up icon data corresponding to the facility name selected by the facility selection unit 45 with reference to the type ID of the facility and the icon table. The icon display control unit 48 is a means for displaying the icon picked up by the icon search unit 47 together with the corresponding facility name or a map around the facility.
[0027]
The scroll display control unit 49 is a means for performing control for displaying a desired place by moving the screen display on the display unit 10 up and down and left and right. The drawing unit 50 is a unit that draws display contents displayed on the display unit 10 based on information passed from other units.
[0028]
[2. Operation of the embodiment]
The present embodiment configured as described above operates as follows. First, the present embodiment is based on the information from the absolute position / azimuth detection unit 1, the relative direction detection unit 2, and the vehicle speed detection unit 3, based on the vehicle position calculated by the current position calculation unit 40. The route calculation unit 42 calculates the optimum route to the destination designated by the route 41 based on the route search data, and the guidance unit 43 provides a route guidance by using synthesized speech or screen display, or the destination designation unit 41. It has a function as a normal navigation device, such as a function for searching and displaying a map around the coordinate location of the destination specified by.
[0029]
Furthermore, this embodiment has an icon display function associated with destination search and point registration. Hereinafter, as a representative example of destination search, a case of searching from the name of a facility will be described with reference to the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 2 and 3 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0030]
[2-1. Point registration)
First, an icon display processing procedure performed together with registration of a searched destination point will be described. That is, when the apparatus is activated, an icon table is read together with an application program into a predetermined storage area (hereinafter simply referred to as “memory”) in the DRAM 6 or the like. Then, according to the input operation of the user, as shown in (1) of FIG. Using the 50 sound panel, the user inputs an extraction (search) condition such as “Kurari” and selects a search button. Then, the facility extraction unit 44 extracts a list of facility names including the characters “Kurari” from the facility data, and displays the list on the display unit 10 as indicated by (2) in FIG.
[0031]
When the user selects, for example, “Kinki Clary” (type is tennis court) from the facility names displayed in the list in this way, “Kinki Clary” is selected by the facility selection unit 45 (Step 401). Then, the tennis court type ID corresponding to the facility data record name “Kinki Clary” is stored in the memory (step 402). At the same time, “Kinki Clary” is designated by the destination designation unit 41, and a map centered on the coordinate location of “Kinki Clary” is retrieved and displayed on the display unit 10 as shown in (3) of FIG. .
[0032]
When the user performs an input operation for requesting location registration in the state where the map around the facility is displayed on the display unit 10 in this manner (step 403), the icon search unit 47 refers to the icon table and stores it on the memory. The icon data that matches the type ID read in is picked up from the icon table, and the icon display control unit 48 displays the icon (at the destination on the map in the display unit 10 as shown in (4) in FIG. (Similar to an image of a tennis court) is displayed (step 404). Further, the point registration unit 46 stores the facility data (name, coordinates, type ID, etc.) requested to be registered in the area of the registered point list on the SRAM 7 (step 405). In addition, the icon display control part 48 displays an icon on the registration point on a map until the facility data by which the point registration was carried out are cleared from SRAM7.
[0033]
In addition, you may change the procedure of step 403-405 as follows. That is, when “Kinki Clary” is selected by the facility selection unit 45, the icon search unit 47 picks up icon data that matches the type ID stored in the record of “Kinki Clary” from the icon table. The icon display control part 48 displays an icon on a map.
[0034]
When the user performs an input operation for requesting location registration, the location registration unit 46 stores the facility data (name, coordinates, type ID, etc.) requested for location registration in the registered location list area on the SRAM 7. Store. In this case as well, the icon display control unit 48 displays an icon at a registered point on the map until the facility data registered for the point is cleared from the SRAM 7 as described above.
[0035]
[2-2. Calling the registration point list)
Next, an icon display processing procedure corresponding to the registration point list call will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. That is, when the user inputs a registration point list display request (step 501), the icon search unit 47 picks up icon data matching the type ID of each point from the icon table (step 502). Then, as shown in FIG. 3, together with the registered spot list stored on the SRAM 7, icons corresponding to the respective spots are displayed on the display unit 10 (step 503). This icon is the same as that displayed on the map as described above.
[0036]
[3. Effects of the embodiment
As described above, in the present embodiment, in the registered spot list, icons are automatically set and displayed for each spot type, so that it is easy for the user to search for a facility that the user wants to call.
In addition, since the icon assignment conventionally performed by the user's own selection can be automatically performed only by performing normal location registration from the search operation, the user's operation can be simplified.
Further, by rearranging the registration point list based on the assigned icon, it is possible to make it easier to find the facility to be called.
[0037]
[4. Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment as described above. For example, by storing icon data together with facility data on the SRAM 7 at the time of location registration, it is possible to set so that icon data can be registered and called together with facility data.
[0038]
Also, the settings such as menu display, item display, icon display, etc., such as color, shape and size can be freely changed. Further, the contents of each item for search are not limited to the examples shown in the above embodiment. Further, the facility designated as the destination is not limited to an artificial facility, and may be any object such as a natural object or a customary place name.
[0039]
Also, the input operation by the user can be performed by voice input from the voice recognition unit 15 in the above embodiment. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to navigation devices other than those for in-vehicle use.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by automatically assigning icons to facilities, it is possible to reduce the operational burden on the user, and to determine the type of facility and facilitate the selection of navigation. A technology, that is, a navigation apparatus and method, and a recording medium in which navigation software is recorded can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a screen display example of point registration in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example of a registration list with icons in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an icon display processing procedure corresponding to point registration in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
5 is a flowchart showing an example of an icon display processing procedure corresponding to a call for a registered spot list in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Absolute position and direction detection part 2 ... Relative direction detection part 3 ... Vehicle speed detection part 4 ... Main CPU and its peripheral circuit M ... Memory group 5 ... ROM
6. Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
7 ... Static RAM (SRAM)
8 ... VideoRAM (VRAM)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... User interface part 10 ... Display part 11 ... Input part 12 ... CD-ROM control part 13 ... FM multiplex reception and processing part 14 ... Light and radio wave beacon reception and processing part 15 ... Voice recognition part 40 ... Current position calculation part 41 ... destination designation part 42 ... route search part 43 ... guide part 44 ... facility extraction part 45 ... facility selection part 46 ... spot registration part 47 ... icon search part 48 ... scroll display control part 49 ... drawing part 401 and thereafter ... Step

Claims (4)

In a navigation apparatus having map information storage means storing a map and display means capable of displaying a map together with a route to be guided,
Facility information storage means for storing facility information including facility names and facility attributes, which are information on facilities on the map;
An input means for receiving at least a part of the name of the facility;
Facility extraction means for extracting a facility name according to the name of the facility received by the input means;
From the facility name extracted by the facility extraction means, point registration means for registering the point of facility information corresponding to the designated facility name;
Icon information storage means for storing icon information corresponding to the attributes of the facility;
From the facility name extracted by the facility extraction means, in the state where the map around the facility corresponding to the designated facility name is displayed on the display means, only the point registration request for the facility is used as an opportunity to set the attribute of the facility. When displaying the corresponding icon at the location of the facility on the map and displaying the facility name after the point registration by the point registration unit on the display unit, the icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility is Icon display control means to be displayed on the display means;
A navigation device comprising: 2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the icon displayed together with the facility name registered by the point registration unit is displayed together with the facility displayed as a list on the display unit. In a navigation method, comprising: a computer storing a map; and displaying a map on a display unit together with a route to be guided,
The computer is
Storing facility information including facility names and facility attributes on the map,
Receiving at least a part of the name of the facility;
Extracting the facility name according to the name of the accepted facility;
Registering the facility information corresponding to the designated facility name from the extracted facility name,
Storing icon information corresponding to the attributes of the facility;
From the extracted facility name, in a state where a map around the facility corresponding to the designated facility name is displayed on the display means, an icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility is triggered only by a point registration request for the facility, Displaying on the display means the location of the facility on the map and displaying the facility name after the location registration on the display means, and displaying the icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility on the display means;
A navigation method comprising: In a recording medium recording navigation software for storing a map and displaying the map on a display unit together with a route to be guided using a computer,
The software on the computer;
Information on facilities on the map, storing facility information including facility name and facility attributes,
Accept at least part of the name of the facility,
According to the name of the accepted facility, the facility name is extracted,
From the extracted facility name, the facility information corresponding to the specified facility name is registered as a point,
Store icon information corresponding to the attributes of the facility,
From the extracted facility name, an icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility is triggered only by a point registration request for the facility in a state where a map around the facility corresponding to the designated facility name is displayed on the display means. When the facility name is displayed on the map and the facility name after the point registration is displayed on the display means, an icon corresponding to the attribute of the facility is displayed on the display means. A recording medium that records navigation software.

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