JP4993712B2 - Simple map display control apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for guiding a user's current position using a simplified map.

In a car navigation system, a map image is displayed on a display device, the current position of the user is grasped using GPS (Global Positioning System), and a mark indicating the current position of the user is superimposed on the map image. It is generally done to display. The map used at this time is a general road map in which latitude and longitude are assigned to a map image (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-146463 A

  By the way, in a system that displays a map on a user terminal device and provides route guidance, a simplified map (for example, a characteristic road shape, etc.) that is a simplified map rather than a city map that accurately reproduces an actual road shape. In some cases, a deformed map in which other information is discarded is used. Advantages of using a simple map include that the simple map is easier for the user to see and intuitively understand, and that the amount of map data can be reduced.

  However, since the accuracy of the simple map is inferior as a map, even if the current position (latitude and longitude) of the user terminal device is accurately grasped, the position cannot be immediately associated with the position on the simple map. There is a problem.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to display the current position of the terminal device on the simple map when displaying the simple map on the portable terminal device.

  The simplified map display control device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a means for storing image data of a simplified map, position data indicating positions of the registered points on the simplified map, and a plurality of registered points. Means for storing registration point data corresponding to position data indicating the position of the registration point on the earth, means for acquiring position data indicating the position of the mobile communication device on the earth, and the registration point data Means for detecting the nearest registered point closest to the mobile communication device that acquired the position data, a simplified map based on the image data, and a display indicating the nearest registered point on the simplified map; Means for outputting a display indicating a distance from the nearest registered point to the mobile communication device for display on the display device.

  In a preferred embodiment, the display indicating the nearest registered point on the simplified map and the display indicating the distance from the nearest registered point to the mobile communication device are centered on the nearest registered point on the simplified map. A circle having a radius corresponding to a distance from the nearest registration point to the mobile communication device may be used.

  In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of an intersection or a building in the simplified map may be the registration point.

  In a preferred embodiment, means for displaying a simplified map based on the image data, means for receiving designation of a point on the displayed simplified map, and on the earth at the point on the designated simplified map Means for accepting input of position data indicating the position of the position, position data of a designated point on the simplified map, and position data indicating a position on the earth that has accepted the input, And a means for generating data.

  In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for displaying the simplified map and a road map of an area included in the simplified map, and the means for accepting designation of a position on the simplified map is the displayed simplified map. The means for accepting designation of a position on a map and accepting input of position data indicating a position on the earth may accept designation of a position on the displayed road map.

  A navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a navigation device that provides position guidance using a simple map to a user terminal device, and stores each means for storing image data of a simple map and a plurality of registration points. Means for storing registration point data in which position data indicating the position of the point on the simplified map and position data indicating the position of each registered point on the earth are associated with each other from the user terminal device; Means for acquiring position data indicating a position of the terminal device on the earth; means for detecting a nearest registered point closest to the user terminal device with reference to the registered point data; and image data of the simplified map; , Information indicating the nearest registered point on the simplified map and the distance from the nearest registered point to the user terminal device to the user terminal device A simple map based on the image data, the nearest registered point on the simplified map, and a predetermined distance indicating the distance from the nearest registered point to the user terminal device. Display and display.

  A map data storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: means for storing image data of a simplified map; means for displaying the simplified map on a display device; and designation of a point on the displayed simplified map. Means for accepting, means for accepting input of position data indicating the position of the designated point on the earth, position data of the designated point on the simplified map, and position on the earth that accepted the input Storage means for associating and storing position data indicating.

  Hereinafter, a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the navigation system according to the present embodiment.

  The system includes a navigation device 1 and one or more user terminal devices 3. The navigation device 1 is further connected to an operator terminal device 7.

  The navigation device 1 receives position data indicating the current position from the user terminal device 3 and returns map image data for guiding the current position of the user. In particular, the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment guides the current position of the user terminal device 3 on the deformed map.

  The user terminal device 3 is, for example, a mobile communication device that includes an input device and a display device, and is typically a mobile phone that can identify its current location by a GPS (Global Positioning System) function. Further, a non-portable terminal device including an input device and a display device may be used to communicate with the navigation device 1 by wire. Note that the current position of the user terminal device 3 is specified by, for example, latitude and longitude.

  The navigation device 1 is configured by, for example, a general-purpose computer system, and individual components or functions in the navigation device 1 described below are realized by executing a computer program, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 includes an interface unit 11 for communicating with the user terminal device 3, a deformed map data storage unit 21 that stores image data of a deformed map, and a registration point data storage unit 23. A road map data storage unit 25 that stores general road map data, a registration processing unit 13 that performs registration processing of registration point data, a nearest registration point extraction unit 15, and a map synthesis unit 17 are provided.

  The interface unit 11 communicates with the user terminal device 3. The interface unit 11 communicates with the user terminal device 3 by, for example, wired or wireless.

  The deformed map data storage unit 21 stores image data of the deformed map.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a deformed map. As shown in the figure, the deformed map is a map that enhances the visibility by emphasizing the characteristic part. Therefore, unlike general digital map data such as a city map, map data of a deformed map has only image data of a map image and does not have position information such as latitude and longitude.

  The registered spot data storage unit 23 stores registered spot data for one or more registered spots on the deformed map.

  The registered point is an arbitrary point included in the deformed map. The registered points are, for example, points that become landmarks in the deformed map, and may be intersections, buildings, highway interchanges, junctions, signs, signs, and the like. The registered point data is data in which the position coordinates on the deformed map of the registered point are associated with the position on the earth, that is, the latitude and longitude.

  An example of the data structure of the registration point data storage unit 23 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the registered spot data storage unit 23 includes a spot ID 231 that is identification information of the registered spot, a registered spot name 232, a latitude and longitude 233 of the registered spot, and a position coordinate 234 on the deformed map. As a data item.

  The road map data storage unit 25 stores digital road map data such as general city areas including latitude and longitude information together with map image data.

  The registration processing unit 13 performs registration processing of registration point data using an operator terminal device 7 including an input device and a display device.

  For example, the registration processing unit 13 displays the interface screen 100 shown in FIG. 4 on the operator terminal device 7 and performs registration processing according to an input operation by the operator. For example, the interface screen 100 includes a deformed map display area 110, a registration point position coordinate input area 120 on the deformed map, a road map display area 130, and a latitude / longitude of the registered points, as shown in FIG. Input area 140 and an association button 150.

  The registration processing unit 13 first displays the interface screen 100 on the operator terminal device 7. At this time, the registration processing unit 13 displays the deformed map registered in advance in the deformed map data storage unit 21 in the deformed map display area 110 of the interface screen 100. Similarly, the registration processing unit 13 displays a road map image registered in advance in the road map data storage unit 25 in the road map display area 130 of the interface screen 100. The road map displayed in the road map display area 130 includes at least all or part of the area of the deformed map displayed in the display area 110.

  When the operator selects one point on the deformed map displayed in the display area 110 using the pointing device of the operator terminal device 7 on the interface screen 100, the XY on the deformed map of the selected point is displayed. The coordinates are specified and displayed in the position coordinate input area 120. Similarly, when the operator selects a point on the road map displayed in the display area 130 corresponding to the point selected on the deformed map by using a pointing device or the like, the latitude of the point on the selected road map is displayed. And the longitude are specified and displayed in the latitude / longitude input area 140.

  Instead of specifying the image on the map, latitude and longitude using a pointing device, the operator may directly input the XY coordinates on the deformed map of the registered point in the position coordinate input area 120, or input the latitude and longitude. The latitude and longitude of the registration point may be directly input in the area 140.

  When the operator selects the association button 150, the registration processing unit 13 generates registration point data by associating the position coordinates of the position coordinate input area 120 and the latitude / longitude of the latitude / longitude input area 140, and the registration point data storage unit 23. Register with.

  The operator can sequentially register a plurality of registration points by the above procedure.

  Referring to FIG. 1 again, the nearest registration point extraction unit 15 acquires the current position data of the user terminal device 3 via the interface unit 11. Then, the nearest registration point extraction unit 15 extracts the registration point closest to the current position of the user terminal device 3 based on the registration point data in the registration point data storage unit 23. For example, since the current position data of the user terminal device 3 is specified by latitude and longitude, the closest registered point is extracted from the user terminal device 3 as compared with the latitude and longitude 233 of the registered point data. The nearest registration point extraction unit 15 sends the extracted record of the nearest registration point data to the map synthesis unit 17.

  The map synthesis unit 17 synthesizes a display indicating the current position of the user terminal device 3 with the image of the deformed map. The map synthesizing unit 17 transmits the synthesized image data to the user terminal device 3 via the interface unit 11 and causes the user terminal device 3 to display the image data.

  For example, the map synthesizing unit 17 generates a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the display indicating the nearest registered point and the display showing the distance from the nearest registered point to the user terminal device 3 on the deformed map. As an example, the map composition unit 17 uses a circle centered on the position of the position coordinate 234 on the deformed map (that is, the registered point on the deformed map) of the nearest registered point data record acquired from the nearest registered point extracting unit 15. The image of C is synthesized so as to overlap the deformed map. FIG. 2 is an example of a composite image. At this time, the radius of the circle C is determined according to the distance between the position coordinates 234 on the deformed map and the user terminal device 3. That is, the map composition unit 17 calculates the distance between the specific point and the user terminal device 3 from the latitude and longitude of the user terminal device 3 and the latitude and longitude 233 of the specific point, and the radius of the circle C is reduced as the distance is smaller. The radius of the circle C is increased as the distance is reduced and the distance is increased.

  In this embodiment, the nearest registration point and the distance from the user terminal 3 to the nearest registration point are represented by circles. However, the nearest registration point and the distance may be displayed by other methods. For example, the distance from the nearest registration point to the user terminal device may be displayed as a numerical value such as “within 1 km”.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the navigation system having the above-described configuration. Hereinafter, a processing procedure for displaying the position of the user terminal device on the deformed map will be described according to this flowchart.

  First, the registration processing unit 13 displays the interface screen 100 on the operator terminal device 7, and registers registration point data in accordance with the operator's operation on the screen 100 (S1). The operator may register a plurality of registration points.

  After the registration of the registration point data is completed, the nearest registration point extraction unit 15 acquires the current position data of the user terminal device 3 specified by the GPS function from the user terminal device 3 via the interface unit 11 (S2).

  Then, the nearest registered spot extraction unit 15 extracts the nearest registered spot from the registered spot data registered in the registered spot data storage unit 23 based on the current position data of the user terminal device 3 (S3).

  The map synthesis unit 17 synthesizes an image for displaying the current position of the user terminal device 3 on the deformed map registered in the deformed map data storage unit 21 (S4). That is, the map composition unit 17 is a circle centered on the position (XY coordinate) of the nearest registered point on the deformed map, and has a radius corresponding to the distance between the nearest registered point and the current position of the user terminal device 3. A composite image (see FIG. 2) in which the circle C is superimposed on the deformed map is generated.

  The interface unit 11 transmits the synthesized image synthesized by the map synthesizing unit 17 to the user terminal device 3, and displays the synthesized image on the display device of the user terminal device 3 (S5).

  Thereby, the user can confirm his / her approximate position on the deformed map even while the user terminal device 3 is being carried. As a result, even when moving to the destination while referring to the deformed map, the user's position can be grasped.

  Furthermore, when the deformed map is used, the data transfer amount between the navigation device 1 and the user terminal device 3 can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where the road map is used, and navigation can be performed without imposing a burden on the network. .

  The above-described embodiments of the present invention are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, functions and configurations are assigned to the navigation device and the user terminal device, respectively, but the assignment of functions and configurations to the navigation device and the user terminal device is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the user terminal device may have a function or part of data of the navigation device. For example, the user terminal device may include all or part of the processing of the map synthesis unit and the nearest registration point extraction unit.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An example of a deformed map is shown. An example of the data structure of a registration point data storage part is shown. An example of an interface screen is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the navigation system which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 3 User terminal apparatus 7 Operator terminal apparatus 11 Interface part 13 Registration process part 15 Registration point extraction part 17 Map composition part 21 Deformation map data storage part 23 Registration point data storage part 25 Road map data storage part 100 Interface screen

Claims (8)

Means for storing image data of a simplified map;
Means for storing registration point data associating position data indicating the position of each registered point on the simplified map and position data indicating the position of each registered point on the earth for a plurality of registered points;
Means for obtaining position data indicating a position of the mobile communication device on the earth;
Means for detecting the nearest registration point closest to the mobile communication device that acquired the position data with reference to the registration point data;
A simple map based on the image data, a display showing the nearest registered point on the simple map, and a display showing the distance from the nearest registered point to the mobile communication device are output for display on the display device. A simplified map display control device.   The display indicating the nearest registered point on the simplified map and the display indicating the distance from the nearest registered point to the mobile communication device are centered on the nearest registered point on the simplified map, and from the nearest registered point. 2. The simplified map display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control device is a circle having a radius corresponding to a distance to the mobile communication device.   3. The simplified map display control device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of an intersection or a building in the simplified map is the registered point. Means for displaying a simplified map based on the image data;
Means for accepting designation of a point on the displayed simplified map;
Means for receiving input of position data indicating a position on the earth of the designated point on the simplified map;
Means for associating position data of a designated point on the simplified map with position data indicating a position on the earth that has received the input, and generating the registered point data. The display control apparatus for a simplified map according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Means for displaying a road map of a region included in the simplified map;
The means for accepting input of position data indicating a position on the earth accepts designation of a position corresponding to a point on the designated simplified map on the displayed road map. Item 5. The simplified map display control device according to Item 4. Storing image data of a simplified map;
Storing, for a plurality of registration points, registration point data in which position data indicating the position of each registration point on the simplified map is associated with position data indicating the position of each registration point on the earth;
Obtaining position data indicating the position of the mobile communication device on the earth;
Detecting the nearest registered point closest to the mobile communication device with reference to the registered point data;
A simple map based on the image data, a display showing the nearest registered point on the simple map, and a display showing the distance from the nearest registered point to the mobile communication device are output for display on the display device. A simplified map display control method. A computer program for displaying a simplified map,
Storing image data of a simplified map;
Storing, for a plurality of registration points, registration point data in which position data indicating the position of each registration point on the simplified map is associated with position data indicating the position of each registration point on the earth;
Obtaining position data indicating the position of the mobile communication device on the earth;
Detecting the nearest registered point closest to the mobile communication device with reference to the registered point data;
A simple map based on the image data, a display showing the nearest registered point on the simple map, and a display showing the distance from the nearest registered point to the mobile communication device are output for display on the display device. And a computer program for causing a computer to execute the step. A navigation device that provides position guidance using a simple map to a user terminal device,
Means for storing image data of a simplified map;
Means for storing registration point data associating position data indicating the position of each registered point on the simplified map and position data indicating the position of each registered point on the earth for a plurality of registered points;
Means for acquiring position data indicating the position of the user terminal device on the earth from the user terminal device;
Means for detecting the nearest registration point closest to the user terminal device with reference to the registration point data;
Means for transmitting the image data of the simplified map, the nearest registered point on the simplified map, and information indicating the distance from the nearest registered point to the user terminal device, to the user terminal device,
The user terminal device displays a simplified map based on the image data, the nearest registered point on the simplified map, and a predetermined display indicating a distance from the nearest registered point to the user terminal device. A navigation device.

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