JP4983496B2 - Electronic map display device, electronic map display method, and medium storing electronic map display program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic map display device such as an in-vehicle navigation device, an electronic map display method, and a medium storing an electronic map display program.

As a conventional electronic map display device, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1.
The conventional electronic map display device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 displays a plurality of area names such as place names on the screen in a superimposed manner, and is selected when one area name is selected from the superimposed area names. The map of the range set for the selected area name is enlarged and displayed at a scale that is maximum on the screen. Then, the area name is further superimposed on the enlarged map, and when one area name is selected from the displayed area names, the map in the range set for the selected area name is enlarged and displayed. .
This electronic map display device can easily display a detailed map of the target area on the screen by repeating the selection of the area name and the enlarged display of the map of the area set to the selected area name. In this way, user convenience is improved.
JP 2004-170785 A

In the case of the device of Patent Literature 1, the map range set in the area name is hierarchized based on the address notation hierarchy defined in the administrative district. Therefore, when the user selects a region name and a map of the range set for the selected region name is displayed, the displayed map range is the range of the map that the user recalled from the region name. Inconsistencies can occur.
For example, if the user selects the area name “Yokohama”, the map of the entire city of Yokohama will be displayed according to the map division defined in the administrative district on the enlarged map screen that is displayed next. It is possible that a map in a range recalled from the name “Yokohama”, for example, a map different from the map around Yokohama station, is displayed.
In this case, since the displayed map is different from the map in the recalled range, the user may not be able to smoothly perform a target operation such as setting a destination, for example.

  Therefore, the present invention switches the map while selecting the region name superimposed on the map image so that the map range recalled from the region name matches the map range set in the region name. It is an object of the present invention to display the range of the map recalled from the area name on the map image after switching when the map is enlarged and displayed.

The present invention determines, for each name superimposed on the map image, whether or not the range set for the name overlaps the range set for another name, and the range set for the name is other In the case of overlapping with the range set for the name, the ratio of the overlapping portion to the range set for each of these two names is obtained, and the ratio is set for one of the overlapping portions. When the ratio is larger than the first threshold and the ratio of the overlapping portion to the range set in the other name of the overlapping portion is smaller than the second threshold smaller than the first threshold, the one threshold By determining that an inclusion relationship is established between the name and the other name, the range set for the name is set to another name for each of the plurality of names superimposed on the map image. Model Compared to, it is determined whether inclusion relation is established between the other names, the name inclusion relation is not established between the other names and registers the highest hierarchy, the other A name that has an inclusive relationship with the name is registered in a layer below the level in which the name that has an inclusive relationship with the name is registered. When one of a plurality of names superimposed on is selected and the map image is switched to a map image in the range set for the name selected on the map image, The name of the inclusive relationship is configured to generate a map image that is superimposed and displayed on the map image after switching, and the area's common name is adopted as the name, and the range set for the name is a landmark that includes the common name Decided to be based on the distribution of

According to the present invention, the presence / absence of an inclusion relationship between names is determined by comparing ranges set for the names, and the names are classified based on the determination result. At this time, names that do not have an inclusion relationship with other names are registered in the highest hierarchy, and names that have an inclusion relationship are registered with names that have an inclusion relationship with the name. Registered in the lower hierarchy.
When one of a plurality of area names superimposed on the map image is selected and the map image is switched to a map image in a range set for the selected name, the area between the selected names is displayed. The names for which the inclusion relationship is established are superimposed on the switched map image.
Here, the common name of the region is adopted as the superimposed name, and the range on the map set for the name is determined based on the distribution of landmarks including the common name, so it is set to the common name. The map range is a map range that reflects the actual use of the common name.
Therefore, when the region name superimposed on the map image is selected and the map image is switched to the map image in the range set for the selected region name, the map range displayed in the switched map image is The map almost matches the map range recalled from the area name.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic map display device according to an embodiment.
The electronic map display device includes a touch panel 10, a display area determination unit 20, a map image generation unit 30, a display 40, an inclusion relationship determination unit 50, an area name hierarchization unit 60, and a map data storage unit 70. Prepare.

The touch panel 10 allows the user to change the scale of the map image displayed on the display 40, to enlarge the map within the range set in the region name superimposed on the map image, and to change the display position of the map image. It is an input interface.
The touch panel 10 detects selection of an area name or icon superimposed on the map image on the display 40, and instructs execution of processing assigned to the selected icon. For example, when an area name superimposed on the map image is selected, an instruction to input an enlarged display of a map in a range set in the selected area name is input.
When an icon indicating enlargement / reduction of the map superimposed on the map image is selected, an instruction to input enlargement / reduction of the map displayed on the display 40 is input.
Further, when the arrow icon superimposed on the map image is selected, an instruction is input to change the map display position so that the map in the direction indicated by the arrow of the selected arrow icon is displayed on the display 40.

The display area determination unit 20 determines the display position (center position) of the map to be displayed on the display 40, the display range, and the scale of the map.
For example, when the user selects one area name from among a plurality of area names superimposed and displayed on the map image, an enlarged display of the map in the range set for the selected area name is input. In this case, the map display position, display range, scale, etc. are determined so that the map range set for the selected area name is enlarged and displayed on the entire display 40.
In addition, when a change in the display position of the map, for example, horizontal movement is requested, the display position and display range of the map after horizontal movement is determined, and when a change in the scale of the map is requested, Determine the scale and display range after the change.

  The map image generation unit 30 reads the map data of the display range determined by the display area determination unit 20 from the map data storage unit 70, and displays the map image of the range on the display 40 based on the read map data. Create map image data.

The display 40 displays a map image with a display range and a scale specified in the map image data. At this time, the area name included in the map range displayed on the display 40 is superimposed on the map image.
The display 40 is a CRT or a liquid crystal monitor.

For each of the area names stored in the map data storage unit 70, the inclusion relation determination unit 50 compares the map range set for the area name with the map range set for another area name, It is determined whether or not an inclusive relationship is established with another area name.
The region name hierarchization unit 60 performs region name hierarchization based on the determination result of the inclusion relationship by the inclusion relationship determination unit 50.

  Each functional block of the display area determination unit 20, the map image generation unit 30, the inclusion relation determination unit 50, and the region name hierarchization unit 60 is configured by a well-known microcomputer, and is not shown in the electronic map display device. This is realized by the CPU executing a program stored in a ROM (not shown).

The map data storage unit 70 stores map data, and is realized by various information recording media such as an HDD drive, a DVD drive, and a memory and their drivers.
Map data is the region name superimposed on the map image, the corresponding map indicating which range on the map is set as the range of the region name, and the layer where the region name is registered This means a hierarchical map, road data and background data necessary for generating map image data, and landmark data.
The landmark data is data necessary for determining the map range set for the area name, and is data indicating the position and contents of landmarks such as direction guidance signs and buildings installed on the road.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a correspondence map that defines the relationship between an area name and a map range set in the area name.
In the correspondence map, for each area name stored in the map data storage unit 70, it is specified which range on the map is set for the area name.

  For example, a map range surrounded by an ellipse indicated by symbol A in the figure is set for the area name “Yokohama”, and a map range surrounded by an ellipse indicated by symbol B in the figure is set for the area name “Sagamihara”. The area name “Kamakura” defines a correspondence relationship in which a map range surrounded by an ellipse indicated by a symbol C in the figure is set.

In this embodiment, common names indicating specific areas such as “Yokohama”, “Kamakura”, “Hakone”, and “Shonan” are used as area names (names) to be superimposed on the map image. ing.
And the predetermined range on the map set to the area name is not a range according to the existing administrative district, but a range on the map generally recalled from the common name.
Therefore, for example, in the case of the area name “Kamakura”, the map is not the map area of the entire Kamakura city defined by the existing administrative area of Kamakura City, but the predetermined range on the map generally recalled from the common name of the area “Kamakura” The map range is set to the area name “Kamakura”.
By doing so, it is possible to handle a common name of an area that cannot be handled by a map according to the classification of existing administrative districts, such as “Shonan”.
In addition, the user is displayed such that the range of the map recalled by the user from the region name and the range of the map displayed when the region name superimposed on the map image is selected are not significantly different. I try to relieve the feeling of strangeness on the map.

The map range set for the region name will be described.
In this embodiment, the map range set for the area name is determined based on the distribution of landmarks including the area name, such as buildings with direction information signs installed on the road and names including the area name. decide.

The direction guide signs installed on the road are provided at the junctions and intersections of the road, and the area name (direction name) in the direction in which the branched (crossed) road is headed is displayed together with the direction of the road.
Referring to FIG. 2, for example, when going from Odawara through Hiratsuka and Fujisawa via National Highway 1 (not shown), the direction until the vehicle enters the area represented by the area name “Hiratsuka” “Hiratsuka” is displayed on the guide sign.
Then, when entering the area represented by the area name “Hiratsuka”, the next area name “Fujisawa” existing in the direction of travel of the road is displayed, and when entering the area represented by the area name “Fujisawa” “Yokohama” which is the next area name existing in the traveling direction of the road is displayed.
The same can be said when traveling from Atsugi to Yokohama through National Route 246 (not shown) or when traveling from Kawasaki to Yokohama through National Route 1 (not shown).

That is, the direction name displayed on the direction guidance sign is displayed until just before entering the area indicated by the direction name, and is not displayed when entering the area.
Therefore, for example, when determining the range of the area name “Yokohama”, the area name “Yokohama” displayed in the direction name of the direction guidance sign is displayed with reference to the data of the direction guidance sign installed on the road. An area indicating the range of the area name “Yokohama” can be determined by obtaining a boundary point that disappears and connecting the obtained boundary points.
By performing such processing for all area names, an area indicating the area name range can be set.
In this embodiment, an elliptical area indicating the range of the area name as shown in FIG.

Moreover, the building with the name including the area name means, for example, a building such as an apartment or a public facility with the name including the area name “Yokohama”.
The map data stores locations such as apartments, public facilities, and station names along with their names. For example, in the case of public facilities that include the area name “Yokohama”, there are “Yokohama Station”, “Yokohama Park”, etc. In addition to this, a lot of data such as condominiums and commercial buildings that include the area name “Yokohama” are stored. ing.

Therefore, the range of the area name “Yokohama” can be determined based on the distribution range of buildings with names including the area name “Yokohama”.
Similarly, ranges for other regional names such as “Kamakura” and “Shonan” can be set based on the distribution range of buildings including the regional names.
Here, the area name “Shonan” is an area name that does not exist in the administrative division, and it is difficult to set the range, but a method based on the distribution range of buildings with names including area names is used. If adopted, the map range of the area name “Shonan” can be set easily.

  The details of the method for determining the range of the area name from the distribution range of facilities having names including the common area name are disclosed in JP-A-2002-163265.

The determination of the presence / absence of the inclusion relationship between the area names and the classification of the area names based on the determination results performed by the inclusion relation determination unit 50 and the area name hierarchization unit 60 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining region name hierarchization processing.
In this flowchart, description will be made by taking as an example the hierarchy of area names included in the wide area map of Kanagawa Prefecture.

  In step 101, the inclusion relationship determination unit 50 acquires the area name (area name included in the wide area map of Kanagawa Prefecture) to be classified from the area names stored in the map data storage unit 70. The area name is read and held in a memory (not shown).

In step 102, the inclusion relationship determination unit 50 sets an identifier k indicating a destination hierarchy to which the area name is registered to a default value “1”. Here, the identifier k indicates the level in which the area name is registered, and the identifier “1” means that the registered level is the highest level, that is, “level 1”. Yes.
In step 103, the inclusion relationship determination unit 50 determines whether or not an inclusion relationship is established with another region name for each acquired region name, that is, there is a region name included in another region name. Check whether or not.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining how to determine that an inclusion relationship is established when two area names in which map ranges overlap each other overlap.
In this figure, when the map area A of a certain area name and the map area B of another area name overlap each other, the ratio of the area C of the overlapping area C of the map area to the area of the map area A (r1 ) On the horizontal axis, and the ratio (r2) of the area of the overlapping area C in the map range to the area of the map range B is set on the vertical axis, and the ratio r1 when the inclusion relationship is established between the two regional names, The relationship with r2 is illustrated.

The inclusion relationship determination unit 50 has a ratio (r1) that the area of the overlapping area C of the area of the map in the two area names where the map areas overlap at least partially overlaps the area of the map area A of the one area name, The ratio (r2) of the area C where the map ranges overlap to the area of the map range B of the other area name is obtained.
If one of the ratios r1 and r2 is greater than or equal to the first threshold (80%) and the other is less than the second threshold (40%), an inclusive relationship is established between the two regional names. And determining that the area name in which the ratio of the overlapping part C in the map range is equal to or greater than the first threshold is included in the area name in which the ratio of the overlapping part C in the map range is less than the second threshold. .
In the case of FIG. 4, it is determined that there is an inclusion relationship when the relationship between the portions surrounded by the upper right and lower left thick lines is established.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a map range set for each area name, (a) is a wide area map of Kanagawa Prefecture, (b) is a map range of the area name “Yokohama” in (a), It is the figure which extracted the map range of area name "Nagatsuta".

In the case of the example shown in FIG. 5A, the map range of the area name “Yokohama” and the map range of the area name “Nagatsuta” overlap each other.
Therefore, as shown in (b) of FIG. 5, the inclusion relationship determination unit 50 determines the ratio (r1) of the area of the overlapping region indicated by the reference symbol C to the area of the map range A of the region name “Yokohama” and the region The ratio (r2) in the area of the map range B of the name “Nagatsuda” is obtained.

As is clear from the figure, between the map range A of the area name “Yokohama” and the map range B of the area name “Nagatsuta”, the ratio of the overlapping area C to the map range B of the area name “Nagatsuda” (r2 ) Is 80% or more, and the ratio (r1) of the overlapping area C to the map area A of the area name “Yokohama” is less than 40%.
Therefore, since the relationship of the part surrounded by the thick line at the lower left of FIG. 4 is established, the inclusion relationship determination unit 50 establishes the inclusion relationship between the region name “Nagatsuda” and the region name “Yokohama”. “Nagatsuda” is determined to be an area name included in the area name “Yokohama”.

  If there is a region name included in another region name in step 103, in step 104, the inclusion relationship determination unit 50 stores the region name included in the other region name in the memory. Exclude from the name.

  If there is no area name included in another area name in step 103, in step 105, the area name hierarchizing unit 60 specifies the hierarchy of area names held in the memory by the identifier k. A hierarchy is registered in the hierarchy map of the map data storage unit 70.

The processing of step 103 to step 104 is repeated until there are no region names included in other region names, and the region names included in the other region names are excluded from the region names held in the memory. .
As a result, only the area names (area names not included in other area names) that do not have an inclusion relationship with other area names remain and are registered in the hierarchy specified by the identifier k.

In FIG. 5, among the regional names included in the wide area map of Kanagawa Prefecture, the regional names belonging to “Level 1” and the regional names belonging to “Level 2” are superimposed and displayed on the map. In this figure, an elliptical area indicated by a dotted line is included in another elliptical area indicated by a solid line, indicating that an inclusion relationship is established.
By repeating the processing of Step 103 to Step 104 described above, the area name corresponding to the elliptical area indicated by the dotted line is deleted from the area names included in the wide area map of Kanagawa Prefecture, and corresponds to the elliptical area indicated by the solid line. Only the region name remains in memory.
Accordingly, only the area names corresponding to the other elliptical areas indicated by the solid lines in the figure, that is, the area names shown in FIG. 2, remain in the memory and are registered in “tier 1”.

Many of the regional names registered in this "Level 1" are regional names with a wide area range, but even in a narrow area range such as the regional name "Misaki" If it is not included, it is registered in a higher hierarchy.
Therefore, the map range set with the area name “Misaki” can be displayed by only one-step processing for selecting the area name “Misaki” displayed on the wide area map.

Here, in the case of the conventional method of dividing the region name based on the administrative division, the layer is divided based on the size of the map range set in the region name, and a wide area range is set. The region name with the narrow area range set is set in the lower hierarchy.
For this reason, a region name with a narrow area range such as the region name “Misaki” is registered in the lower hierarchy, so the user can enter the region name “Misaki” in a detailed map with a narrow display range. Searching for the regional name “Misaki” may not be easy.
However, since the region name hierarchization unit 60 determines the layer based on the inclusion relation of the map range set in the region name, such a problem does not occur.

In step 106, the inclusion relationship determination unit 50 checks whether there is an area name for which registration of a hierarchy has not been completed.
For example, at the time when the registration to the hierarchy 1 is completed, the area name excluded from the memory when searching for the area name included in the hierarchy 1 is an area name that has not been registered in the hierarchy. Become.

If there is an area name for which the registration of the hierarchy has not been completed in step 106, in step 107, the inclusion relation determining unit 50 stores the area name in the memory.
In step 108, the inclusion relationship determination unit 50 increments the identifier k. For example, when the identifier before increment is “1”, the identifier “2” indicating that the registration target layer is “hierarchy 2” is set.

The inclusion relationship determination unit 50 performs the above-described processing of Step 103 to Step 105 for the area name newly stored in the memory, searches for the area name belonging to the identifier “2”, and The hierarchy is registered in the map data storage unit 70 as “hierarchy 2”.
Then, until there is no region name for which layer registration has not been completed, storage of the region name for which layer registration has not been completed (step 107), increment of an identifier (step 108), and other regions The process of excluding the area name included in the name (step 103, step 104) is repeated.

FIG. 6 shows the remaining area names excluding the area name registered in “Level 1”, and is included in the map range set in the area name “Yokohama” registered in “Level 1”. It is the figure which superimposed and displayed the thing on the map image.
In this figure, an elliptical area indicated by a solid line indicates an area name belonging to “Level 2”, and an elliptical area indicated by a dotted line indicates an area name belonging to “Level 3”.
FIG. 7 is a diagram in which the remaining area names excluding the area names registered in “Level 2” from FIG. 6 are superimposed and displayed on the map image.

In the case of the area name shown in FIG. 6, the area name such as “Nagatsuda”, “Yamato”, “Totsuka”, etc. is changed to level 2 by the above-described processing of Step 103 to Step 105 when the identifier “2” is set. Registered in
In addition, as a result of the processing of Step 103 to Step 105 described above when the identifier “3” is set, the region names such as “Ichigao”, “Nakayama”, “Seya” as shown in FIG. be registered.

  In this way, each region name is registered in which layer by the region name classification process, and the region name registered in the lower layer is the region name among the region names registered in the upper layer. A hierarchical map indicating whether it is included in the name is completed and stored in the map data storage unit 70 as map data.

A map display operation in the electronic map display device according to the embodiment will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the electronic map display device.
Here, a plurality of area names included in a wide area map of Kanagawa Prefecture are superimposed on a map image, and a map in a range set to one area name selected by the user from among the plurality of area names superimposed and displayed. A case where an image is enlarged and displayed will be described as an example.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the transition of the map image displayed on the display 40 when the processing described in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is performed.

In step 201, the map image generation unit 30 displays map image data of a predetermined range and a predetermined scale on the display 40 based on the map data acquired with reference to the map data storage unit 70. Is output to the display 40. Thereby, on the display 40, for example, a map (default map image) as shown in FIG. 9A is displayed on the screen.
Here, of the region names included in the region indicated by the map image, only the region name registered in the hierarchy 1 is superimposed and displayed on the map image.

  The display position, display range, and scale of the default map image are always fixed to be the same. However, the display position, display range, and scale of the map image displayed on the display 40 when the previous map display processing by the electronic map display device is completed are stored in a storage medium such as the map data storage unit 70. Alternatively, it may be read so that the same map image as that at the end of the previous map display process is displayed.

  In step 202, the display area determination unit 20 detects a user's instruction input by the touch panel 10, and one of a plurality of area names superimposed on the map is selected and set to the selected area name. Confirm that the enlargement display of the map of the specified range has been instructed.

  In the case where an enlargement display of a map within the range set in the selected area name is instructed by selection of any area name in step 202, in step 203, the display area determining unit 20 selects the selected area name. The display position and scale are determined so that the map range set to be enlarged and displayed on the entire surface of the display 40.

In step 204, the map image generation unit 30 reads out the map data in the range set for the selected region name from the map data storage unit 70, and the display region determination unit 20 determines the map image of the region. Map image data to be displayed on the display 40 at the display position and scale is created and output to the display 40.
Thereby, the map image of the range which belongs to the selected area name is displayed on the display 40 at the determined display position and scale.

For example, when the area name “Yokohama” is selected by the user on the map image shown in FIG. 9A and an enlargement display of the map in the range set to the area name “Yokohama” is instructed, the display area is determined. The unit 20 specifies the map range set in the area name “Yokohama” with reference to the map data stored in the map data storage unit 70. Then, the optimal display position and scale for enlarging and displaying the map in such a range on the entire screen of the display 40 are determined.
Then, the map range displayed on the display 40 is switched to the enlarged map of the range belonging to the area name “Yokohama” shown in FIG.
At this time, since the area name “Yokohama” is an area name registered in “Level 1”, the area name registered in a hierarchy lower than “Level 1” is displayed in (b). In this figure, only the area names registered in “Level 2” are displayed.

In step 205, the display area determination unit 20 confirms whether or not an instruction to end the map display process is given.
If termination is instructed in step 205, the process is terminated.
If the end is not instructed in step 205, the process proceeds to step 202.
Therefore, when a new region name is selected on the map image shown in FIG. 9B, the above-described processing of step 202 to step 204 is performed and the newly selected region name is set. A map image of the range is displayed on the display 40.

  For example, when the area name “Totsuka” is selected on the map image shown in FIG. 9B, the map range displayed on the display 40 is changed from the map range shown in FIG. 9B to (c). It will be changed to the enlarged map of the range set in the area name “Totsuka” shown. Incidentally, since the area name “Totsuka” is registered in “Level 2”, the area name belonging to “Level 3” is displayed in the diagram shown in FIG.

If the area name is not selected in step 202, the display area determination unit 20 confirms in step 206 whether or not an instruction to change the map display position is instructed by selecting an icon superimposed on the map image. To do.
When the change of the map display position is instructed in step 206, in step 107, the display area determination unit 20 determines the display position after the change.
As a result, the processing of step 204 and step 205 described above is performed, and the map image is displayed on the display 40 at the changed display position.

  For example, when an instruction to display a map in the traveling direction of the vehicle is given, the display area determining unit 20 determines the display position of the map after moving the map to the traveling direction side of the vehicle. Then, map image data for displaying the map at the determined display position is generated by the map image generation unit 30, and the map image is displayed on the display 40 based on the generated map image data.

When the change of the map display position is not instructed in step 206, in step 208, the display area determining unit 20 determines whether or not the change of the map scale is instructed by selecting the icon superimposed on the map image. Confirm.
When the change of the map scale is instructed in step 208, in step 209, the display area determination unit 20 determines the scale after the change.
As a result, the processing of step 204 and step 205 described above is performed, and the map image is displayed on the display 40 at the scale after the change.

  For example, when an instruction to enlarge and display the map to be displayed is given, the display area determination unit 20 determines the display range and display position of the map when displaying the map image at the specified scale. . Then, map image data for displaying the map at the determined scale is generated by the map image generation unit 30, and the map image is displayed on the display 40 based on the generated map image data.

As described above, in this embodiment, when one of a plurality of area names superimposed on a map image is selected, the map image is switched to a map image in a range set for the selected area name. In the map display device to be displayed, for each of a plurality of regional names, the range set for the regional name is compared with the range set for the other regional names, and the inclusion relationship with other regional names An inclusive relation determining unit 50 that determines whether or not is established and an area name that does not have an inclusive relation with other area names are registered in the highest hierarchy and included with other area names. A region name hierarchization unit 60 that registers a region name where the relationship is established in a lower layer of the layer where the region name where the inclusion relationship is established is registered with the region name, and divides a plurality of region names. And superimposed on the map image When one of a plurality of names is selected and the map image is switched to a map image in a range set to the name selected on the map image, an inclusion relationship is established with the selected name. And a map image generation unit 30 that generates a map image superimposed on the switched map image, and adopts regional names such as “Yokohama” and “Shonan” The range set in the name is determined based on the distribution of landmarks, such as a direction guide sign that displays the direction name including the area name or a building with the name including the area name.
As a result, the area on the map that is set for the area name becomes a map area that reflects the actual use of the area name, and the map area that is recalled from the area name rather than the conventional map area that is determined based on the administrative division To become consistent.
Therefore, when the region name superimposed on the map image is selected and the map image is switched to the map image in the range set for the selected region name, the map range displayed in the switched map image is The map is more consistent with the map range recalled from the region name.
In addition, since the regional common name is adopted as the regional name, the map can be operated / viewed with an idiomatic name (region name) that has a high affinity for the user, which is different from the one specified for convenience. The map range set for the region name superimposed on the subsequent map image is included in the map range set for the region name selected on the map image before switching. By simply selecting the displayed area names sequentially, the area map can be switched to the detailed map in order.
Therefore, it is possible to perform a task such as examining in detail the range of the displayed map by paying attention to a certain area name in a natural procedure.

Further, the map image generation unit 30 limits the plurality of area names to be superimposed and displayed simultaneously to only the area names registered in the same hierarchy, and sets the map image to the area name selected on the map image. When switching to a map image of the selected area, only the area name registered in the lower hierarchy of the hierarchy where the selected area name is registered is superimposed on the map image after switching. .
As a result, the area name displayed on the map image at the same time is only the area name registered in the same hierarchy. By simply designating the place names displayed on the map image in sequence, the area name is changed to the detailed map. And the map image can be switched sequentially. Therefore, the regularity of the scale change of the map image is guaranteed, and the user's confusion caused by the lack of order can be avoided.
In addition, the switching direction when the map is switched and displayed by selecting the area name superimposed on the map image is always the direction of enlarging the map, and enlargement and reduction are not mixed. The behavior is easy to understand. Therefore, the electronic map display device is easy to use for the user.

In addition, when the map range set for the region name overlaps with the map range set for another region name, the inclusion relation determining unit maps the map range where the overlapping portion is set for each of these two region names. Respectively, the ratio of the overlapping portion to the map range set for one of the region names is larger than the first threshold and occupies the map range set to the other region name of the overlapping portion. When the ratio is smaller than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold, it is determined that an inclusion relationship is established between one area name and the other area name.
As a result, even in regions that are vaguely defined and the crisp property is not guaranteed, a relationship according to the inclusion relationship can be defined based on a rational and objective standard.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the display method of the area name to be superimposed on the map image.
In the above embodiment, the operation of the electronic map display device has been described by taking as an example the case where only the region name is displayed on the map image. However, the region name is displayed on the map together with the map range set to the region name. It may be displayed in a superimposed manner.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the map range set for each region name is surrounded by a solid line or the like and expressed as an elliptical region, for example, which range on the map corresponds to the region name. You can visually see if it is set.
In this case, even if the user cannot recall the area name, it is possible to reach the detailed map of the target area with reference to the map range displayed on the map image.

Furthermore, in the case where area names belonging to different hierarchies are simultaneously displayed on the map image, as shown in FIG. 10, the area indicating the range set in the area name is in the hierarchy where the area name is registered. It may be displayed in a color that is determined accordingly.
In this case, the map range of the name registered in the lower hierarchy is filled with a darker color than the map range of the name registered in the upper hierarchy. For example, the area name registered in the hierarchy 1 is light blue, By making the area name registered in the hierarchy 2 dark blue, it becomes possible to easily grasp which hierarchy the area name belongs to.

In addition, when not displaying the map range set as the region name but displaying only the region name belonging to different layers on the map image at the same time, the region name displayed on the map image belongs to the region name. What is necessary is just to display it color-coded for every hierarchy.
Also in this case, it is possible to easily grasp which level the displayed area name belongs to.

Furthermore, in the said Example, it was set as the structure which performs the process which registers the hierarchy map created by the division | segmentation of the area name into the map data storage part 70 as map data as a part of process of an electronic map display apparatus.
However, it is also possible to create a hierarchical map by executing hierarchical classification of area names in advance and incorporate the created hierarchical map in part of the map data.
In this case, the processing time of the electronic map display device can be shortened by the time required for creating the hierarchical map.

A modification of the processing of the electronic map display device will be described.
In the electronic map display device according to the above-described embodiment, when the region name superimposed and displayed on the map image is selected, the map range set to the selected region name is enlarged and displayed.
However, there is a need to place the position of the selected region name at the center of the map and to display the map by moving it in parallel without changing the scale of the map.
Therefore, when a region name is selected, whether to enlarge the map within the range set for the selected region name, or whether to translate the map so that the selected region name is at the center of the map image These may be processed separately.

  In this case, when the touch panel 10 detects a single touch that selects the area name superimposed on the map image only once, it moves in parallel, and when it detects a double touch that touches twice in a short time, it displays an enlarged display. The contents of the instruction can be distinguished by setting to instruct each of them.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the electronic map display device according to the modification.
Of the processing in the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the processing in step 301, the processing in step 306 and step 307, and the processing in step 308 and step 309 are each processing in step 201 in the flowchart shown in FIG. , Step 204 and Step 205, and Step 208 and Step 209.
Therefore, in the following description, only a part that performs processing different from the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 will be described.

When one of a plurality of area names superimposed on the default map is selected in step 302, in step 303, the display area determination unit 20 confirms whether or not an enlarged map display is instructed. .
When the region name is touched and an enlargement display of the map is instructed in step 303, in step 304, the display region determination unit 20 displays the map in the range set for the selected region name on the display 40. A display position and a scale that can be enlarged and displayed on the entire surface are determined.
On the other hand, if the area name is single-touched and the map enlargement display is not instructed, in step 305, the display area determining unit 20 displays the map with the position of the selected area name placed at the center of the map. Determine the position.

In the above embodiment, the touch panel is adopted as the input device for inputting the user's request. However, the pointing device for selecting the area name displayed on the display 40 with a cursor or the like, or the effect of selection by speaking the area name. You may employ | adopt the voice input device etc. to convey.
Here, when adopting a voice input device, set to display the enlarged display of the map when uttering `` enlarge Yokohama '', and to indicate parallel movement when uttering `` go to Yokohama ''. Thus, it is possible to determine whether or not an enlarged display of the map to which the selected area name belongs is instructed.

In the above embodiment, when one of a plurality of names superimposed on a map image is selected, the map image is displayed by switching to a map image in a range set for the selected name. The present invention has been described as a function of the display device.
However, the present invention can also be embodied as an electronic map display program that causes a computer to execute the functions of the electronic map display device described above, or a medium that stores this program.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic map display apparatus which concerns on an Example. It is explanatory drawing of a correspondence map. It is a flowchart explaining the division | segmentation process of the area name. It is explanatory drawing explaining the judgment of the presence or absence of the inclusion relationship between area names. It is explanatory drawing explaining a map range. It is explanatory drawing explaining a map range. It is explanatory drawing explaining a map range. It is a flowchart explaining the process in the electronic map display apparatus concerning an Example. It is explanatory drawing explaining the transition of the map image displayed on a display part. It is explanatory drawing explaining the example of a display of the map image made to superimpose on a map image. It is a flowchart explaining the modification of the process in the electronic map display apparatus concerning an Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Touch panel 20 Display area determination part 30 Map image generation part 40 Display part 50 Inclusion relation determination part 60 Area name hierarchization part 60 Name hierarchization part 70 Map data storage part

Claims (6)

When one of a plurality of names superimposed on a map image is selected, the electronic map display device displays the map image by switching to a map image in a range set for the selected name.
For each of the plurality of names, an inclusive relationship that determines whether an inclusive relationship is established with another name by comparing a range set in the name with a range set in another name A determination unit;
Register a name that does not have an inclusive relationship with another name in the highest hierarchy, and a name that has an inclusive relationship with another name that has an inclusive relationship with another name A name hierarchization unit that registers the plurality of names into a hierarchy,
When one of a plurality of names superimposed on the map image is selected and the map image is switched to a map image in a range set to the name selected on the map image, the selected A map image generation unit that generates a map image in which an inclusive relationship is established with the name and superimposed on the map image after switching,
When the range set for the name overlaps with the range set for another name, the inclusion relation determining unit obtains the ratio of the overlapping portion in the range set for each of these two names, The proportion of the overlapping portion in the range set in one name is greater than the first threshold, and the proportion in the range set in the other name of the overlapping portion is greater than the first threshold. Is smaller than the smaller second threshold, it is determined that an inclusion relationship is established between the one name and the other name,
An electronic map display device characterized in that a common name of a region is adopted as the name, and a range set in the name is determined based on a distribution of landmarks including the common name. The map image generation unit
Limiting the plurality of names to be superimposed and displayed on the map image to only names registered in the same hierarchy,
When the map image is switched to a map image in the range set for the name selected on the map image, only the name registered in the lower hierarchy of the hierarchy in which the selected name is registered. The electronic map display device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic map display device superimposes and displays the map image after switching. When one of a plurality of names superimposed on a map image is selected, the electronic map display device displays the map image by switching to a map image in a range set for the selected name.
For each of the plurality of names, an inclusive relationship that determines whether an inclusive relationship is established with another name by comparing a range set in the name with a range set in another name A determination unit;
Register a name that does not have an inclusive relationship with another name in the highest hierarchy, and a name that has an inclusive relationship with another name that has an inclusive relationship with another name A name hierarchization unit that registers the plurality of names into a hierarchy,
When one of a plurality of names superimposed on the map image is selected and the map image is switched to a map image in a range set to the name selected on the map image, the selected A map image generation unit that generates a map image in which an inclusive relationship is established with the name and superimposed on the map image after switching,
Adopting a local common name as the name, the range set in the name is determined based on the distribution of landmarks including the common name, and
An electronic map display device characterized in that a range set for the name is displayed in a color determined according to a hierarchy in which the name is registered on the map image. Range set in the name registered in the lower hierarchy, claim 3, characterized in that than the range set in the name registered in the higher hierarchy, are filled in a dark color The electronic map display device described in 1. When one of a plurality of names superimposed on a map image is selected, the electronic map display method displays the map image by switching to a map image in a range set for the selected name. ,
The range set for the name is determined based on the distribution of landmarks including the common name of the area adopted as the name,
For each name superimposed on the map image, determine whether the range set for the name overlaps the range set for the other name, and set the range set for the name to the other name When the overlapping area overlaps, the ratio of the overlapping part to the range set for each of these two names is obtained, and the ratio of the overlapping part to the range set for one of the names is The one name and the other when the ratio of the overlapping portion to the range set in the other name of the overlapping portion is smaller than a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value. By determining that an inclusion relationship is established with the name of the name, for each of the names superimposed on the map image, the range set for the name is compared with the range set for the other names, other A judgment of whether the inclusion relation is established between the names,
Register a name that does not have an inclusive relationship with another name in the highest hierarchy, and a name that has an inclusive relationship with another name that has an inclusive relationship with another name Is registered in a lower hierarchy of the registered hierarchy, and the plurality of names are divided into hierarchies,
When one of a plurality of names superimposed on the map image is selected and switching to a map image within the range set in the selected name is instructed, it is included between the selected names. Generate a map image that superimposes the name on which the relationship was established on the switched map image,
An electronic map display method, comprising: displaying a generated map image on a display unit. The range on the map set to the name superimposed on the map image is determined based on the distribution of landmarks including the common name of the area adopted as the name,
For each name superimposed on the map image, determine whether the range set for the name overlaps the range set for the other name, and set the range set for the name to the other name When the overlapping area overlaps, the ratio of the overlapping part to the range set for each of these two names is obtained, and the ratio of the overlapping part to the range set for one of the names is The one name and the other when the ratio of the overlapping portion to the range set in the other name of the overlapping portion is smaller than a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value. By determining that an inclusion relationship is established with the name of the name, for each of the names superimposed on the map image, the range set for the name is compared with the range set for the other names, other A judgment of whether the inclusion relation is established between the names,
Register a name that does not have an inclusive relationship with another name in the highest hierarchy, and a name that has an inclusive relationship with another name that has an inclusive relationship with another name Is registered in a lower hierarchy of the registered hierarchy, and the plurality of names are divided into hierarchies,
When one of a plurality of names superimposed on the map image is selected and switching to a map image within the range set in the selected name is instructed, it is included between the selected names. The medium which memorize | stored the electronic map display program which produces | generates the map image which superimposes and displays the name where the relationship was established on the map image after switching.

Images