JP5091603B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle navigation device having at least one of functions of a music player, a DVD player, a television receiver compatible with analog broadcasting and digital broadcasting, and in particular, with a navigation function. When a screen is displayed based on a function other than the navigation function during route guidance, when there are a plurality of similar guidance points in the vicinity of the current position in the route guidance, a navigation device is informed to that effect. It is about.

  Recently, various electronic devices such as a navigation device, a music player, a DVD player, a television receiver compatible with analog broadcasting and digital broadcasting have been miniaturized and are provided as portable devices or as in-vehicle devices. In particular, as a vehicle-mounted device, an electronic device having a combination of the various functions described above is also provided.

  In these electronic devices, various hard keys (physical and mechanical keys, switches, buttons, etc.) are arranged on the front surface of the electronic device so that the user can perform desired functions and operations. These hard keys are, for example, a power key for turning on and off the main power of the electronic device, a function selection key for selecting and switching various functions provided in the electronic device, and a menu provided for each function. Menu selection keys.

  For example, when an electronic device has a function such as a navigation function, a music player function, or a television receiver, the function selection key is used to determine which function to select and to operate each function. Various specifications necessary for the operation are determined by operating the menu selection keys.

  The display means such as a liquid crystal display unit provided in the electronic device normally displays an image required for one function when one function is operating, and simultaneously displays an image required for the other function. I can't do it. The display screen can be divided or the sub-image can be displayed by the display control means, or the contents to be displayed in other functions can be displayed as a text image superimposed on the image required by the function being operated. However, in order to enable such display control, cost increases.

  In particular, in a navigation device that functions as a navigation function, a map image is displayed during route guidance, and a current position mark that indicates the guidance route and the current position of the navigation device is displayed superimposed on the map image. When the current position arrives at a guidance point before a predetermined distance from the intersection where the traveling direction should be changed, such as a right turn or a left turn while traveling along the guidance route, guidance (guidance) is output by means such as voice guidance.

  With the route guidance activated, the audio function and television reception function provided in the navigation device are activated, and the music selection screen and program selection screen are displayed on the display means. When the current position arrives, the problem is how to output the guidance.

  In order to solve such a problem, for example, in the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-185456), there is a route guidance interrupt during video media playback in a navigation device having a video media playback function. An invention of a navigation device is disclosed in which a method for informing route guidance information in the case of being settable can be arbitrarily set.

  This navigation apparatus has a route guidance interrupt during a television broadcast when CM judgment (a CM judgment function for judging whether the broadcast content is commercial when a route guidance interrupt during a television broadcast) is set. If there is, the control unit determines whether or not the current television broadcast content is a commercial based on the CM detection signal from the CM detection unit, and if it is not a commercial but a television program, only the audio is transmitted in the NAVI mode ( In the case of a commercial, both the screen and sound are switched to the NAVI mode.

According to such a configuration, in a navigation device having multiple functions, when the route guidance is activated and the image necessary for a function other than the navigation function is displayed on the display means, the route guidance is interrupted. When this occurs, the display screen and sound can be switched to an image by the navigation function.
JP 2003-185456 A

  However, in the navigation device having the video media playback function disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the content of the broadcast content being received is commercial, both the screen and audio are switched to the NAVI mode. During commercial reception, the screen can be switched to the screen display and voice output by the navigation function without any problem. However, when the broadcast content being received is not a commercial but a television program, the output by the navigation function is only audio, and the user may not be able to recognize navigation route guidance.

  In particular, if you are guided through a guidance route where there are consecutive intersections between short distances, even if you hear guidance like “XXm ahead, turn left at the intersection” by voice guidance, the short distance If the intersections are continuous at intervals, there is a problem that it is not possible to determine which intersection to turn left.

  The inventor of the present application has made various studies in order to solve the above-described problems. When similar guidance points exist in close proximity, the fact that the user is able to switch to the route guidance screen by the navigation function can be solved by notifying that fact. The present invention has been completed.

  That is, the present invention is suitable when a plurality of similar guidance points are present in the vicinity of the current position in the route guidance when displaying a screen based on a function other than the navigation function during route guidance by the navigation function. An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device and a route guidance method capable of notifying guidance.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
A current position detecting means for detecting a current position, a route searching means, and a navigation device for displaying the guidance route searched by the route searching means on the display means and performing route guidance, wherein the navigation device is used during route guidance. In a navigation device capable of displaying a display screen based on a function other than the navigation function provided on the display means,
The navigation device includes display screen determination means for determining whether or not the display screen displayed on the display means is a route guidance screen, guidance point distance determination means, and caution notification output means,
When the current position detected by the current position detection means reaches a guidance point for a guidance point, the display screen determination means determines that the display screen displayed on the display means is not a route guidance screen, and When the guidance point distance determining means determines that there is at least one point having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point on the guide route, the warning notification The output means outputs a warning notice to that effect.

  Further, the invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the caution notification output means has a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point. Detailed guidance including the fact that at least one point exists is output by voice.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device includes screen switching means, and when the current position reaches a guidance point for the guidance point, the display screen discrimination means It is determined that the display screen displayed is not a route guidance screen, and the guide point distance determination unit is similar to the road structure of the guide point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point on the guide route. When it is determined that there is at least one point having a road structure, the screen switching unit switches the screen displayed on the display unit to a route guidance screen, and after the guidance at the guidance point ends, the screen before switching is displayed. It is characterized by returning.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is a navigation device for displaying a current position detecting means for detecting a current position, a route searching means, a guidance route searched by the route searching means on the display means, and performing route guidance. In the navigation device capable of displaying on the display means a display screen based on a function other than the navigation function provided in the navigation device during route guidance.
The navigation device includes display screen determination means for determining whether or not the display screen displayed on the display means is a route guidance screen, guidance point distance determination means, and screen switching means,
When the current position reaches the guide point for the guide point, the display screen determining unit determines that the display screen displayed on the display unit is not a route guide screen, and the guide point distance determining unit further includes the guide point distance determining unit. When it is determined that there is at least one point having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point on the route, the screen switching unit is displayed on the display unit. The screen is switched to the route guidance screen, and after the guidance at the guidance point is completed, the screen is returned to the display screen before the switching.

In the invention according to claim 1, the navigation device includes a display screen determination unit that determines whether or not the display screen displayed on the display unit is a route guidance screen, a guidance point distance determination unit, a caution notification output unit, With
When the current position reaches the guide point for the guide point, the display screen determining unit determines that the display screen displayed on the display unit is not a route guide screen, and the guide point distance determining unit further includes the guide route distance determining unit. In the above, when it is determined that there is at least one point having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point, the attention notification output means outputs a warning notification to that effect To do.

  According to such a configuration, on the guide route, when a plurality of points having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point approach and are continuously present and the navigation device reaches this point, the display means Even if a display screen with a function other than the navigation function is displayed, the user can be alerted.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the caution notification output means has at least one point having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point. A detailed guidance including the existence of the above information is output by voice.

  According to such a configuration, on the guide route, when a plurality of points having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point approach and are continuously present and the navigation device reaches this point, the display means Even if a display screen with a function other than the navigation function is displayed on the screen, the user can be alerted and detailed guidance is output, so even if the user is voice guidance, the guidance route You will be able to drive correctly along the road.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the navigation device includes screen switching means, and when the current position reaches the guidance point for the guidance point, the display screen determining means is the display means. It is determined that the displayed display screen is not a route guidance screen, and the guidance point distance determination unit is similar to the road structure of the guidance point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guidance point on the guidance route. When it is determined that there is at least one point having a road structure, the screen switching unit switches the screen displayed on the display unit to a route guidance screen, and after the guidance at the guidance point ends, the screen before switching is displayed. return.

  According to such a configuration, when a plurality of points having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point approach and are continuously present on the guide route, and the navigation device arrives at this point, the display means Even if the display screen is displayed by a function other than the navigation function, the user can be alerted, and the display screen can be forcibly switched to promote progress along the guidance route. become able to.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the navigation device comprises: a display screen determining means for determining whether or not the display screen displayed on the display means is a route guidance screen; a guidance point distance determining means; and a screen switching means. And when the current position reaches the guidance point for the guidance point, the display screen discrimination means determines that the display screen displayed on the display means is not a route guidance screen, and the guidance point distance determination means further includes When it is determined that there is at least one point having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point on the guide route, the screen switching unit displays on the display unit The displayed screen is switched to the route guidance screen, and after the guidance at the guidance point is completed, the screen is returned to the display screen before the switching.

  According to such a configuration, when a plurality of points having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point approach and are continuously present on the guide route, and the navigation device arrives at this point, the display means Even when a display screen by a function other than the navigation function is displayed, it is possible to prompt progress along the guide route by forcibly switching the display screen to the route guide screen.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiment shown below exemplifies a navigation device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not intended to identify the present invention as this navigation device, and claims The navigation device of other embodiments included in the scope can be equally applied.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a navigation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 1 may be of a type that is not only used for in-vehicle use by being mounted 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. The navigation device 1 includes a control unit 10, a current position detection unit 11, a map storage unit 12, a route search unit 13, a screen switching unit 14, a display screen determination unit 15, an input unit 16, a display unit 17, a caution notification output unit 18, Guide point distance determination means 19 is provided.

  The control means 10 is composed of 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 RAM and 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 the current position based on the received radio waves. is there.

  Further, the current position detecting means 11 may include a self-contained navigation unit including a distance sensor, a direction sensor, a rudder angle sensor, and the like, and a function of detecting the current position. In this case, the current position is obtained by detecting the travel distance, travel direction, and rotation angle of the vehicle, and integrating these values with respect to the reference position. The current position detection method by the self-contained navigation unit is effective in a tunnel where GPS radio waves cannot be received or in a high-rise building town where errors are likely to occur when combined with GPS reception.

  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, number of connection links, intersection names, etc., as well as guidance points corresponding to guidance points such as intersections, and guidance data that guides turning right, left, straight, etc. Is done. 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.

  Further, the map storage means 12 further stores background data including facility data including water system data such as coastlines, lakes, and river shapes, administrative boundary data, facility positions, shapes, and names.

  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.

  These road data, background data and map image data are extracted from the map storage means 12 by the display control means 14 when the navigation apparatus 1 is used, and a map of a predetermined range including the current position of the navigation apparatus 1 is extracted. Is displayed on the display unit 17 in a superimposed manner.

  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 input means 16 is for a user to specify a departure point and a destination, and to input support for switching a display screen, which will be described later, and includes a key, a button, a touch panel, and the like.

  The display means 17 is for displaying a map image or a guide route image so that the user can visually recognize it, and is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like. The display unit 17 may function as an input unit. In this case, selection input is performed when the user touches an icon displayed on the screen.

  When the route search means 13 searches for the optimum route from the starting point or the current position to the destination, the control means 10 edits the guide route data for route guidance based on the data stored in the map storage means 12. . In the guide route data, guide data for guiding a right turn, a left turn, a straight drive, etc. is added to the guide points stored corresponding to the guide points such as intersections and branch points. This guidance is generally output by voice through a speaker (not shown).

  In the case of guidance for turning right or left at an intersection, when the navigation device 1 reaches a guidance point in front of the intersection, which is the guidance point, for example, voice guidance such as "Turn right next corner at the next intersection" Is output. When there is an intersection with a similar road structure, the guidance may be a voice guidance such as “Turn right at the second intersection at the next 0.00 m”. Or, when the name of the intersection is known, there may be a case where “the road is ahead, xx, turn right at XX intersection”.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a route guidance screen displayed on the display unit 17 during route guidance. A map road image 172 is displayed on the display screen 171, and a guide route image 173 and a current position mark 174 indicating the current position of the navigation device 1 are displayed. In this case, there are intersections 175 and 176 approaching the traveling direction of the guide route, and roads 177 and 178 that turn left are branched, respectively. The guide route is a route that turns left at the intersection 176 and turns to the road 178. When the user is traveling while looking at such a guidance route screen, even if the voice guidance for turning left at the next intersection is output at the current position 174, the intersection turning left is easily determined from the image 173 of the guidance route. be able to.

  However, during the route guidance in the navigation device 1, another function provided in the navigation device 1, for example, a music player function is activated, and the display unit 17 displays a display screen based on the music player function, and the route is displayed. Information may be continued. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the music selection screen 181 displayed on the display means 17 when the music player function is activated. The music selection screen 181 is configured to display a music title 184 on the left side of the scroll bar 182 and a function selection button 183 on the right side.

  The user operates the scroll bar 182 to scroll the song name. When the desired song name is displayed, the user moves the cursor to the song name and operates any of the function buttons 183 to perform desired processing on the desired music. Can be made. For example, to play and listen to music, the “play” button is operated.

  When the voice guidance in the route guidance is output in a state where the display screen based on the function other than the navigation is displayed on the display means 17, a guidance point is displayed on the guidance route as shown in the guidance route screen shown in FIG. 2. If there is an intersection 175 having a road structure similar to the road structure of the intersection 176 in the vicinity, there is a risk that it will be mistaken for which intersection the guidance is just by listening to the voice guidance.

  In the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the display screen determination unit 15 determines whether the display image displayed on the display unit 17 is a display image by a navigation function or a display image by another function of the navigation device 1. To do. Further, the guidance point distance determining means 19 examines the guidance route based on the current position of the navigation device 1, and points such as an intersection having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guidance point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guidance point. It is discriminated whether or not there are a plurality of, continuously present.

  Specifically, the guidance point distance determination means 19 determines whether there is at least one point having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guidance point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guidance point on the guidance route. Determine. The predetermined distance range is set in advance based on the distance between the guide points and the set distance of the guide points with respect to the guide points. A similar road structure guide point is a guide point (intersection, branch point) having a road structure that can be branched in the same direction as the direction of the turn when the guide route is a right turn or a left turn.

  The caution notification output means 18 determines that the display screen determination means 15 has a display screen based on a function other than the navigation function displayed on the display means 17, and the guidance point distance determination means 19 provides guidance on the guidance route. Outputs a warning notice to call attention when it is determined that multiple points such as an intersection with a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point are approaching at a distance within a predetermined range from the point To do. For example, the caution notification is “A turning point is XXm ahead, there are many similar points. Please be careful”, and such caution notification is output as a voice.

  Further, the screen switching means 14 may forcibly switch the display screen from the music selection screen as shown in FIG. 3 based on functions other than navigation to the guidance route screen of FIG. 2 in the navigation function.

  With such a configuration, a plurality of points such as intersections having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point approach each other at a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point on the guide route. When the navigation device 1 arrives, even if a display screen of another function is displayed on the display means 17, the user can be alerted, and the guidance can be changed by forcibly switching the display screen. It will be possible to encourage progress along the route.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the navigation function 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above. When input of a destination for route search from the input unit 16 is started, the navigation device 1 determines whether the destination is input in the process of step S101. When the destination is not input, the discrimination process of step S101 is repeated. When the destination is input, the route search means 13 refers to the map information stored in the map storage means 12 in the process of step S102. The optimum route from the position or the input starting point to the destination is searched.

  When the route search means 13 searches for the optimum route, the navigation device 1 displays the map image, the guidance route image, and the current position mark on the display means 17 using the optimum route as the guidance route, and starts route guidance (step S103). . When the route guidance is started, the process proceeds to step S104, and the current position detection unit 11 detects the current position of the navigation device 1.

  Next, in the process of step S105, the control means 10 determines whether or not the current position is a guidance point for the guidance point on the guidance route. If the current position is not a guidance point, the process returns to the current position detection process in step S104. If the current position is a guidance point, the display screen determination unit 15 determines whether the display screen displayed on the display unit 17 is a route guidance screen. Is determined (step S106).

  If it is determined in step S106 that the route guidance screen is displayed on the display screen of the display means 17, the navigation device 1 proceeds to the process in step S107, and guides set at the guidance point (right turn or left turn). In step S108, it is determined whether or not the route guidance is completed (for example, arrival at the destination). If the route guidance is finished, the navigation device 1 finishes the process. If the route guidance is not finished, the navigation device 1 returns to the current position detection process in step S104.

  During the processing procedure from step S103 to step S106, the user of the navigation apparatus 1 activates a function other than the navigation function, for example, a music player function, and a music selection screen as shown in FIG. In such a case, it is determined in the determination process of step S106 that the route guidance screen (see FIG. 2) is not displayed on the display means 17, and the process proceeds to the determination process of step S109.

  In the determination process of step S109, the guidance point distance determination unit 19 determines whether there is a point having a road structure similar to the road structure at a distance within a predetermined range from the guidance point. Here, when there are at least one point having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point within a predetermined range, it is determined that a plurality of points such as intersections having a similar road structure are approaching and continuously exist. . If it is determined that the guide points as described above are not continuous, the process proceeds to step S107, and the navigation apparatus 1 performs the guide set as the guide point for the guide point. Since the route guidance screen is not displayed on the display means 17 in this case, only guidance by voice output is provided.

  If it is determined in the determination process of step S109 that there are a plurality of points such as intersections having similar road structures, the process proceeds to the process of step S110, and the caution notification output means 18 Outputs a reminder alert. For example, the caution notification is a guidance such as “Curve is XXm ahead and there are many similar points. Please be careful.” The route guidance screen is displayed on the display means 17. Since it is not displayed, only voice guidance is provided. Accordingly, the content of the caution notification is a detailed guidance as described above as compared with the case where the route guidance screen is displayed on the display means 17.

  When the output of the caution notification by the caution notification output means 18 is completed, the process proceeds to step S108, and the navigation device 1 determines whether or not the route guidance is finished (for example, arrival at the destination). If the route guidance is finished, the navigation device 1 finishes the process. If the route guidance is not finished, the navigation device 1 returns to the current position detection process in step S104.

  The processing procedure described above is performed when a plurality of points such as an intersection having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point are close to a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point and there are a plurality of continuous points. 18 is a procedure for outputting a caution notice to call attention, but the display screen displayed on the display means 17 is forcibly switched to the route guidance screen, and after executing detailed guidance at the guidance point, it is displayed until then. It is also possible to return to the original display screen.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing such a processing procedure. The flowchart in FIG. 5 may be a subroutine that follows the attention notification output process in step S110 in the flowchart in FIG. 4, or may be a subroutine that replaces the attention notification output process in step S110.

  Therefore, FIG. 5 shows a case where a plurality of points such as an intersection having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point approach each other at a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point in the determination process of step S109 of FIG. It is a flowchart showing only the processing procedure after it is determined that it exists.

  When the processing of the subroutine of FIG. 5 is started, the navigation device 1 switches the screen displayed on the display screen of the display means 17 to the route guidance screen (step S201). Next, the navigation device 1 proceeds to the process of step S202, and executes guidance set as a guidance point for the guidance point. In step S203, it is determined whether or not guidance execution (guidance notification) has ended.

  If the guidance is not completed, the process returns to the guidance notification process in step S202. If it is determined that the execution of the guidance is completed, the process proceeds to step S204, and the navigation device 1 changes the display screen of the display unit 17 from the route guidance screen. Switch to the original display screen. When the screen switching process in step S204 ends, the subroutine ends. After completion of the subroutine, the process proceeds to step S108 in FIG.

  In the above description, the subroutine is started by the discrimination process in step S109 of FIG. 4, and a point such as an intersection having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point approaches a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point. However, it may be started after the attention notification output process in step S110 of FIG. 4.

  As described above in detail, according to the navigation device 1 of the present invention, a plurality of similarities are displayed around the current position in route guidance when a screen is displayed based on a function other than the navigation function during route guidance by the navigation function. Appropriate guidance can be notified when the guide point is close and present.

The block diagram of the navigation apparatus concerning the Example of this invention is shown. It is a figure which shows an example of the route guidance screen displayed on the display means of a navigation apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the music selection screen displayed on a display means when a player is started in a navigation apparatus. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a plurality of similar guide points are present in the vicinity of the current position in route guidance while the music selection screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. It is a flowchart which shows the other process sequence at the time of a route selection guidance, when several similar guide points exist near the present position in the route guidance shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1: navigation device 10: control means 11: current position detection means 12: map storage means 13: route search means 14: screen switching means 15: display screen discrimination means 16: input means 17: display means 18: attention notification output means 19 : Guide point distance discrimination means

Claims (1)

A current position detecting means for detecting a current position, a route searching means, and a navigation device for displaying the guidance route searched by the route searching means on the display means and performing route guidance, wherein the navigation device is used during route guidance. In a navigation device capable of displaying a display screen based on a function other than the navigation function provided on the display means,
The navigation device includes display screen determination means for determining whether or not the display screen displayed on the display means is a route guidance screen, guidance point distance determination means, attention notification output means, and screen switching means. ,
When the current position has reached the guidance point for the guidance point, if the display screen discrimination means determines that the display screen displayed on the display means is not a route guidance screen, the caution notification output means A detailed guidance including that there is at least one point having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point at a distance within a predetermined range, and then the guide point distance determining means When it is determined that there is at least one point having a road structure similar to the road structure of the guide point at a distance within a predetermined range from the guide point on the route, the screen switching unit is displayed on the display unit. screen switching to the navigation screen, perform the guidance is set to the guide point for guiding point, the following guidance end of the guide point Navigation device, characterized in that the return on the display screen of the previous place.

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