JP4841527B2 - Car navigation system and image data management method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle navigation device provided with a photographing means such as a camera and a method for managing image data photographed by a camera, and particularly when a file name of image data photographed by a camera is photographed during travel in a vehicle. In-vehicle navigation that is given and managed so that it can be easily accessed from the memory of travel when accessing the image data at a later date, depending on the state of the vehicle, for example, when traveling or resting The present invention relates to an apparatus and an image data management method.

  Conventionally, when driving on a road such as a car, the current position is obtained until the destination is reached, and the current position is displayed on the display screen together with the road map, so that the user can reach the destination without getting lost. A vehicle-mounted navigation device is known.

  A GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation system using an artificial satellite is known for measuring the current position. This is to identify the current position by receiving radio waves from a plurality of artificial satellites orbiting the earth and performing arithmetic processing on the received data.

  The current position specified by the GPS is compared with the map data stored in the map storage means or the like of the navigation device. For example, a matching process is performed on the road closest to the current position, and this position is used as the current position subjected to the matching process. Displayed on the display screen. As a result, even when there is a slight error in GPS positioning, it is possible to correct the current position on the road and display without a sense of incongruity.

  In addition, as a navigation device, a route search from the departure point specified by the user to the destination is performed, the guide route is displayed on the display screen, and the current position measured is compared with this guide route and the matching process is performed. There is also.

  Recently, navigation devices have also become multifunctional, and navigation devices having various functions such as a music player, a DVD player, a television receiver compatible with analog broadcasting and digital broadcasting have been provided. As such a navigation device, for example, a vehicle-mounted navigation device has been devised that includes a camera so that images of the front and rear of the vehicle can be taken. According to such a navigation device, it is possible to measure the distance between vehicles and contribute to traffic safety.

  If a vehicle-mounted navigation device equipped with a camera is used, a commemorative photo can be taken during a vehicle trip. At this time, if a shooting point can be specified from a map database provided in the navigation device or a POI (Point of Interest) database, and an image file shot using this can be managed, Organize easily.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-183996 discloses a navigation apparatus such as this, in which the position information is mapped to the position so that the position information of the point can be subjectively grasped at the time of video shooting. There has been disclosed a position information recording camera device which can be displayed by being replaced with information.

  The position information recording camera device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured such that a navigation camera device has both a navigation function and a camera function. At the time of the navigation function, the control unit 4 calculates the latitude and longitude of the current location from the GPS signal received by the position information detection unit, and stores these in the storage unit as position information. Further, the control unit searches for the map information file name corresponding to the position information from the recording / reproducing unit based on the position information, and reads it into the storage unit. Next, the map information of the read map information file is displayed on the display unit. At the time of the camera function, the captured video information is recorded in the recording / playback unit in association with the positional information, and when the video information is played back, the positional information is replaced with map information and the video information is displayed on the display unit.

This position information recording camera device has a position information management area that is an area for recording information that associates position information with a captured video file name. By providing the position information management area, it becomes easy to make the map information file correspond to the video information file and to read one from the other. Thereby, for example, switching from the display of the map information to the display of the corresponding video information can be quickly performed. According to such a configuration, it is possible to display the video shot by the camera together with the position information of the shooting location.
JP-A-11-183996

  According to the position information recording camera device disclosed in Patent Document 1, video information captured by the camera is recorded in the recording / playback unit in association with the position information of the shooting location. Position information can be displayed along with the video. However, since the position information recording camera device of Patent Document 1 only stores video information captured by the camera in association with the position information, when the number of image files becomes large, each image file is referred to from the file name. However, there was a problem that it was difficult.

  As a result of various studies to solve the above problems, the inventor of the present application has determined the file name of the image data captured by the camera while traveling in a vehicle in an in-vehicle navigation device equipped with imaging means such as a camera. If given according to the character string indicating the shooting location at the time of shooting and the state of the vehicle, for example, the state of running, resting, etc., from the memory of the trip when accessing the image data at a later date The present invention has been completed by conceiving that it can be easily accessed.

  That is, the present invention aims to solve the above problems, and in a vehicle-mounted navigation device equipped with photographing means such as a camera, the file name of the image data photographed by the photographing means during travel in a vehicle is photographed. An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle navigation device and an image data management method that are assigned according to a character string indicating a shooting location at the time of shooting, and the state of the vehicle, and that can be easily accessed later from a memory of travel. To do.

Current position detecting means for detecting the current position, photographing means, image file storage means for storing image data taken by the photographing means, map storage means for storing map information, and displaying the image data and map image In-vehicle navigation device comprising display means for
The in-vehicle navigation device includes a vehicle state detection unit that detects a vehicle state indicating whether the vehicle is running or stopped, and a character string of a current position, a place name around the current position, a facility name, or a road name from the map information. A character string extracting means for extracting, and a file name determining means for determining a file name of the image data photographed by the photographing means,
The file name determining means has a fixed character string corresponding to the vehicle state and the character string, and when the image is taken by the photographing means, the vehicle state detecting means detects the vehicle state, The character string extraction means extracts a character string of a place name or facility name or road name around the current position or the current position from the map information, and the file name determination means extracts the detected vehicle state and the extracted vehicle state. The fixed character string corresponding to the character string and the extracted character string are combined to determine the file name of the image data photographed by the photographing means.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is characterized in that the fixed character string includes a character string indicating that the vehicle is stopped and a character string indicating that the vehicle is traveling.

  In the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, the fixed character string indicates that the character string extracted by the character string extraction unit is a character string extracted from a predetermined area around the current position. It is characterized by including.

Current position detecting means for detecting the current position, photographing means, image file storage means for storing image data photographed by the photographing means, map storage means for storing map information, and displaying the image data and map image In an image management method in a vehicle-mounted navigation device comprising a display means,
The in-vehicle navigation device includes a vehicle state detection unit that detects a vehicle state indicating whether the vehicle is running or stopped, and a character string of a current position, a place name around the current position, a facility name, or a road name from the map information. A character string extracting means for extracting, and a file name determining means for determining a file name of the image data photographed by the photographing means,
The file name determination unit has a fixed character string corresponding to the vehicle state and the extracted character string, and the vehicle state detection unit detects the vehicle state when an image is photographed by the photographing unit. A step of extracting a character string of a place name or a facility name or a road name around the current position or the current position from the map information, and the file name determination means, the detected vehicle state And determining the file name of the image data photographed by the photographing means by combining the standard character string corresponding to the extracted character string and the extracted character string.

  In the invention according to claim 1, the navigation device includes vehicle state detection means for detecting whether the vehicle is running or stopped, and a character of a current position, a place name around the current position, a facility name, or a road name from the map information. A character string extracting means for extracting a sequence; and a file name determining means for determining a file name of image data photographed by the photographing means. When the image is photographed by the photographing means, the vehicle state detecting means is Detecting whether the vehicle is running or stopped, the character string extraction means extracts a character string of a current position or a place name or facility name or road name around the current position from the map information, and the file name determination means The character string extracted by the character string extraction unit and the vehicle state detection unit is detected in advance by a fixed character string corresponding to the vehicle state and the character string extracted by the character string extraction unit. The imaging means to determine the file name of the image data shot by combining the fixed character string vehicle with said character string extraction means corresponding to the extracted character string.

  According to such a configuration, the file name of the captured image data is determined by combining a character string such as a spot name or road name of a shooting point, or a place name or facility name around the shooting point, and a fixed character string. Since the columns are preset according to whether the vehicle is stopped or running, and according to character strings such as the location name or road name, or the location name or facility name around the shooting location, the file name is the location name of the shooting location. And a character string indicating a name and a fixed character string selected according to the state of the vehicle, and determining a large amount of image data or selecting desired image data at a later date It becomes possible to work easily.

  In the invention according to claim 2, in the navigation device according to claim 1, the standard character string includes a character string indicating that the vehicle is stopped and a character string indicating that the vehicle is traveling, and the invention according to claim 3. In the navigation device according to claim 2, the fixed character string is a fixed character string indicating that the character string extracted by the character string extracting means is a character string extracted from a predetermined area around the current position. Including.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to infer the shooting location and the state of the vehicle from the file name, and it is easy to work when organizing a large amount of image data or selecting desired image data at a later date. become able to.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 4, the image data management method in the navigation apparatus according to claim 1 can be provided, and the file name is selected by the character string indicating the place name or name of the shooting point and the state of the vehicle. By combining and determining fixed character strings, a large amount of image data can be organized at a later date, or when desired image data can be selected, it is possible to more easily work on travel memories, etc. Become.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies an in-vehicle navigation device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not intended to specify the present invention as this in-vehicle navigation device. The present invention is equally applicable to in-vehicle use in other embodiments included in the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation device provided with photographing means according to an embodiment of the present invention. The in-vehicle navigation device 1 is not only used for in-vehicle use by being placed on a dashboard of a vehicle such as an automobile, but may be of a type that can be removed from the vehicle and carried by the user. Good. In the following description, the vehicle-mounted navigation device 1 is simply referred to as the navigation device 1.

  The navigation apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a current position detection unit 11, a map storage unit 12, a route search unit 13, a photographing unit 14 including a CCD camera, a character string extraction unit 15, an input unit 16, a display unit 17, an image file. A storage unit 18, a vehicle state detection unit 19, and a file name determination unit 20 are provided.

  The control means 10 is constituted by a processor including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and controls the operation of each part of the navigation device 1 according to a control program recorded in the ROM. The current position detection means 11 is composed of, for example, a GPS receiver and receives radio waves including time information from a plurality of GPS satellites orbiting the earth and calculates current position information based on the received radio waves. It is.

  Further, the current position detection means 11 may use a distance sensor or an orientation sensor. In this case, the travel distance and travel direction of the vehicle are detected, and the current position is obtained by adding these values to the reference position. This current position detection method, when combined with GPS reception, is effective in tunnels where GPS radio waves cannot be received or in high-rise buildings where errors are likely to occur.

  The map storage means 12 stores road node data including road node data and road link data in which nodes such as intersections and branch points of roads are nodes and links between the nodes are links. The road node data includes road node numbers, position coordinates, the number of connection links, intersection names, and the like. The road link data includes the number of road nodes as starting and ending points, road type, link length (link cost), required time, number of lanes, road width, and the like. Further, data such as bridges, tunnels, railroad crossings, and toll gates are added to the road link data as link attributes. The road type is information including a distinction between an expressway and a toll road and a distinction such as a national road or a prefectural road.

  The map storage means 12 further stores background data including facility data including water system data such as coastline, lake and river shape, administrative boundary data, facility location, shape, and name.

  In addition to the road data and background data, the map storage means 12 may include map image data stored in a vector format in order to display the map image in an easily viewable manner.

  When the navigation device 1 is used, the road data, background data, and map image data are extracted from the map storage means 12 in a predetermined range including the current position of the navigation device 1, and a current position mark indicating the current position. And the guide route image are superimposed and displayed on the display means 17.

  The route search means 13 searches for the optimum route from the departure place to the destination by referring to the road data stored in the map storage means 12 when the departure place or destination is designated by the user. The search for the optimum route is performed by various methods such as Dijkstra's method for linking and nodes from the road node corresponding to the current position or the starting point designated by the user to the road node corresponding to the destination designated by the user. Search, accumulate link length (link cost) and required time, etc., provide the route with the shortest total link length or total required time as a guide route, and provide road nodes and links belonging to the route as guide route data Is.

  The photographing means 14 is composed of a CCD camera or the like, and takes a desired image such as a peripheral image by operating a photographing button included in the input means 16. The captured image data has its file name determined by the file name determination unit 20 and stored in the image file storage unit 18. The user takes out a desired image file from the image file storage unit 18 and transfers it to a portable storage medium. Thereafter, the portable storage medium can be connected to a PC or a printing apparatus for processing or output.

  The file name determination unit 20 determines a file name attached to the image data photographed by the photographing unit 14, and the image data with the file name is stored in the image file storage unit 18. By default, the file name determination unit 20 determines the shooting date and time taken by the shooting unit 14 as the file name of the image data. In addition to the shooting date and time, a serial number indicating the shooting order may be attached. The serial number is determined by resetting every shooting date and counting sequentially.

  The vehicle state detection means 19 detects the vehicle state, that is, whether the vehicle is running or stopped, from the output of an acceleration sensor, a steering angle sensor, or an ignition sensor provided on the vehicle.

  Based on the current position detected by the current position detecting means 11 and the map data, the character string extracting means 15 is a place where the vehicle is located, such as a place name, road name, facility name around the current position of the vehicle, or the vicinity thereof, for example, A character string specifying an area having a radius of 100 m is extracted from the map data.

  In the navigation apparatus 1 of the present invention, the image data photographed by the photographing means 14 uses the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting means 19 and character strings such as place names and road names extracted by the character string extracting means 15. File names according to the shooting location and vehicle status. For this reason, when an image is taken by the photographing means 14, the file name determining means 20 includes a vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting means 19 and a character string such as a place name or a road name extracted by the character string extracting means 15. Data is sent.

  The file name determination means 20 is a file of image data based on the state of the vehicle detected by the vehicle state detection means 19 and the character string data such as the place name and road name extracted by the character string extraction means 15 as follows. The name is determined and the image data is stored in the image file storage means 18.

  In determining the file name, the file name determining means 20 sets a character string at the end of the file name as a predetermined character string depending on whether the vehicle is running or stopped. For example, when the vehicle is stopped, the character string “...” or “...” is used as a character string, and the character string “...” is Is used when the name of the facility that identifies the stopping point is extracted, and the character string "... near" is the place name or facility around the point where the vehicle is stopped by the character string extracting means 15 Used when names are extracted.

  When the vehicle is traveling, a character string such as “... is traveling” or “... is moving in the vicinity” is used. The character string “... traveling” is used when the name of the road on which the vehicle is traveling is extracted by the character string extraction means 15, and the character string “... moving in the vicinity” This is used when the names of places and facilities around the vehicle where the vehicle is traveling are extracted by the column extraction means 15.

  In this way, the file name of the image data photographed by the photographing means 14 is determined by combining the character string indicating the place name or name of the photographing point and the fixed character string selected according to the state of the vehicle. When organizing data or selecting desired image data, it is possible to more easily work on storage of trips and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the fixed character strings added in determining the file name based on the vehicle state and the character string extraction result. As described above, the fixed character string is a place name, a facility name, a road name, or a place name around the shooting point that specifies the state of the vehicle (stopped or running) and the shooting point extracted by the character string extraction unit 15. 2 are combined as shown in FIG. The file name determining means 20 determines a combination of the character string and the fixed character string shown in FIG. 2 and uses it as the file name of the captured image data.

  If the character string extraction unit 15 cannot extract a character string such as a place name, a facility name, or a road name from the map data, the file name determination unit 20 adds the current position information (latitude and longitude) to the default shooting date and time. The file name is determined. In addition to the above-described character string and fixed character string, a default shooting date and time and a serial number can be added to the file name when the character string can be extracted.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a management procedure of image data in the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above. The control means 10 detects the activation of the camera as the photographing means 14 (step S101), and monitors whether or not photographing has been performed by detecting the operation of the shutter, flash or photographing button (input means 16) in step S102. To do. When photographing is performed (YES in step S102), the photographed image data is temporarily stored in a temporary storage unit (not shown) such as a RAM (step S103).

  In step S104, the vehicle state detection means 19 determines whether the vehicle is traveling or stopped. When the state of the vehicle is stopped, the process proceeds to step S105 to acquire information on the current position detected by the current position detection means 11, and when the state of the vehicle is not stopped, that is, when traveling, step Proceeding to the processing of S109, information on the current position detected by the current position detecting means 11 is acquired.

  When the current position is acquired in the process of step S105, the character string extracting means 15 refers to the map data including the current position, and the current position of the vehicle, that is, the place name, facility name, and the like at the position where the image is taken by the photographing means 14. A character string such as a road name is extracted and sent to the file name determination means 20. Further, the character string extracting unit 15 can extract characters such as a place name, a facility name, and a road name in an area within a predetermined distance range around the current position when a character string such as a place name, a facility name, and a road name at the current position cannot be extracted. The column is extracted and sent to the file name determination means 20.

  In the process of step S106, it is determined whether or not the character string extraction means 15 described above has extracted the character string. If the character string cannot be extracted, the fact that the character string has not been extracted is sent to the file name determining means 20, and the file name determining means 20 uses the shooting date and time (serial) as the file name of the image data temporarily stored in step S103 according to the default. The file name is determined using the current position information and the image data is stored in the image file storage means 18 (step S107).

  If it is determined in step S106 that the character string has been extracted, the file name determination unit 20 determines the file name of the image data temporarily stored in step S103 according to the character string extracted by the character string extraction unit 15. A file name is determined based on a combination of character strings to which “in” or “in the vicinity” of the standard character string shown in FIG.

  When the vehicle state is traveling and the current position is acquired (step S109), the character string extraction unit 15 refers to the map data including the current position, and the vehicle current position, that is, the position where the image is captured by the imaging unit 14. A character string such as a road name specifying (current position) is extracted and sent to the file name determination means 20. Further, the character string extracting unit 15 can extract the name of the surrounding place in the area (periphery) of the predetermined distance range centered on the current position when the character string such as the road name, the place name at the current position, the facility name, and the road name cannot be extracted. Character strings such as facility names and road names are extracted and sent to the file name determination means 20.

  In the process of step S110, it is determined whether or not the character string extracted by the character string extracting unit 15 by the character string extracting unit 15 described above is a character string such as a surrounding place name or facility name. When the surrounding character string is extracted, the process proceeds to the process of step S111, and the file name determination unit 20 adds “near the neighborhood of the standard character string shown in FIG. 2 to the character string such as the place name extracted by the character string extraction unit 15. “Moving” is added to determine the file name of the image data and stored (saved) in the image file storage means 18.

  If no surrounding character string is extracted in the determination process of step S110, the process proceeds to the determination process of step S112. In the determination process in step S112, it is determined whether a road name has been extracted. If the road name has been extracted, the process proceeds to step S113, and the file name determining means 20 is running the standard character string “shown in FIG. 2 in the character string of the road name extracted by the character string extracting means 15. ”Is added to determine the file name of the image data and stored (saved) in the image file storage means 18.

  If the character string of the road name is not extracted in the determination process of step S112, the process proceeds to the process of step S107, and the file name determination unit 20 takes the image according to the default as the file name of the image data temporarily stored in step S103. The file name is determined using the date and time (a serial number may be added) and the current position information, and the image data is stored in the image file storage means 18.

  As described above, according to the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle state and the character string extraction unit 15 are extracted from the map data based on the current position in the image data captured by the imaging unit 14. Since a file name that combines fixed character strings according to the character string is stored and stored, when storing a large amount of image data or selecting desired image data at a later date To be able to work easily.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus provided with the imaging | photography means concerning the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the combination of the character string extracted in connection with the imaging | photography point according to the state of the vehicle, and a fixed character string. It is a flowchart which shows the management procedure of the image data in the vehicle-mounted navigation apparatus provided with the imaging | photography means concerning the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: vehicle-mounted navigation device 10: control means 11: current position detection means 12: map storage means 13: route search means 14: imaging means 15: character string extraction means 16: input means 17: display means 18: image file storage means 19: Vehicle state detection means 20: File name determination means

Claims (4)

Current position detecting means for detecting the current position, photographing means, image file storage means for storing image data taken by the photographing means, map storage means for storing map information, and displaying the image data and map image In-vehicle navigation device comprising display means for
The vehicle-mounted navigation device includes vehicle state detection means for detecting a vehicle state indicating whether the vehicle is traveling or stopped.
A character string extracting means for extracting a character string of a place name or facility name or road name around the current position or the current position from the map information;
File name determining means for determining a file name of image data captured by the image capturing means;
With
The file name determination means has a fixed character string corresponding to the vehicle state and the character string ,
When the image is taken by the photographing means, the vehicle state detecting means detects the vehicle state , and the character string extracting means detects the current position or a place name or facility name or road name around the current position from the map information. Extract the string,
Said file name determining means, the file name of the image data to which the imaging means has captured a combination of the extracted and the fixed character string corresponding to the extracted and detected the vehicle state the string the string A vehicle-mounted navigation device characterized by determining. The in- vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed character string includes a character string indicating that the vehicle is stopped and a character string indicating that the vehicle is traveling. 3. The fixed character string includes a fixed character string indicating that the character string extracted by the character string extraction unit is a character string extracted from a predetermined area around a current position. In- vehicle navigation device. Current position detecting means for detecting the current position, photographing means, image file storage means for storing image data taken by the photographing means, map storage means for storing map information, and displaying the image data and map image In an image management method in a vehicle-mounted navigation device comprising display means for
The in- vehicle navigation device includes a vehicle state detection unit that detects a vehicle state indicating whether the vehicle is running or stopped, and a character string of a current position, a place name around the current position, a facility name, or a road name from the map information. A character string extracting means for extracting, and a file name determining means for determining a file name of the image data photographed by the photographing means,
Said file name determining means has a fixed character string corresponding to the character string and the vehicle state,
When the image is taken by the photographing means, the vehicle state detecting means detects the vehicle state , and the character string extracting means is the current position or a place name or facility name or road around the current position from the map information. Extracting a name string;
Said file name determining means, the file name of the image data to which the imaging means has captured a combination of said character string extracted as the standard character string corresponding to the extracted and detected the vehicle state the string And determining the image data.

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