JP5749057B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device having a function of searching for a recommended route from a departure point to a destination and a function of extracting facilities existing around the searched recommended route.

  In general, the navigation device has a map display function that displays a map image around the current position, a route search function that searches for a recommended route from a departure point to a destination specified by the user, and a user along the searched recommended route. It has a route guidance function for guidance.

  There is also known a navigation device having a peripheral facility search function for searching for facilities existing around a recommended route. For example, in Patent Document 1, sample nodes are extracted at fixed distances on a recommended route, and facilities whose one side around the sample node is within a square having a predetermined length (for example, 1 km) are searched and displayed. A navigation device with functionality is described.

  However, in the navigation device described in Patent Document 1, when extracting the peripheral facilities of the recommended route, a plurality of squares of a predetermined size centering on a plurality of points on the recommended route are defined, and each facility has each square. Since the inside / outside determination process for determining whether or not it is included is necessary, there is a problem that the processing load is large.

JP-A-11-287762

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to provide route search means for searching for a recommended route from the starting point to the destination, and around the recommended route that has been searched. In a navigation apparatus having peripheral facility extraction means for extracting existing facilities, the processing load required when searching for facilities around the route is reduced.

The present invention provides a navigation device comprising a route searching unit that searches for a recommended route to a destination, the surrounding facilities extracting means for extracting the facilities which are located around the searched recommended route, from the departure point, the map the includes a road data storage unit for storing road data managed in units of meshes obtained by dividing the predetermined size, the facility data storage unit that stores facility data managed in the units of meshes, wherein the surrounding facilities extract The means selects a mesh including the road data corresponding to the recommended route searched by the route search means, and stores facility data managed by the selected mesh from the facility data storage unit. possess the property data extracting means for extracting, wherein the road data, the boundary node corresponding to the position of the boundary of the mesh in the road Comprising a multi-address, the mesh selection means, the mesh that contains the position of departure of the recommended route, a navigation device to select the meshes included mesh that contains the destination location, and the boundary node.

  According to the present invention, in a navigation device having route search means for searching for a recommended route from a departure place to a destination, and peripheral facility extraction means for extracting facilities existing around the searched recommended route, The processing load required when searching for facilities can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the navigation apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the road data in the navigation apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows schematic operation | movement of the navigation apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the surrounding facility extraction process in FIG. It is a figure which shows the selection object mesh in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the route guidance process in the navigation apparatus of embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<System configuration of navigation device>
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a navigation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device of this embodiment includes a navigation server 10 and a mobile terminal device 20 that can communicate via a network 1 such as the Internet. The mobile terminal device 20 is connected to the network 1 via the base station 2.

<Configuration of mobile terminal device>
The mobile terminal device 20 includes a control unit 21, a GPS receiver 22, an operation unit 23, a display unit 24, an audio output unit 25, a communication unit 26, and a storage unit 27 that are connected to the control unit 21.

  The control unit 21 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory) (not shown), and the CPU stores the programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 27. As functions realized by executing as a work area, a route search request unit 28 and a route guide unit 29 are provided.

  The GPS receiver 22 receives and calculates radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites, thereby measuring a reception point, that is, a current position (latitude and longitude) of the mobile terminal device 20 and generating current position information. To do.

  The operation unit 23 is a means for inputting various commands when the user uses the mobile terminal device 20, and includes a touch panel on the screen of the display unit 24, buttons on a device housing (not shown), or a combination thereof. Become.

  The display unit 24 includes a thin display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display, and displays a map, a recommended route, and the like transmitted from the navigation server 10. The voice output unit 25 includes a speaker and outputs a voice message at a predetermined guide point (a road branch point or the like) on the recommended route.

  The communication unit 26 is means for communicating with the navigation server 10 via the base station 2 and the network 1. The storage unit 27 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, and can store map data downloaded from the navigation server 10, route guidance history information, various fixed information registered by the user, and the like.

  The route search request unit 28 generates a route search request signal to be transmitted to the navigation server 10. This route search request signal includes position information including departure point information and destination information. The departure point information and the destination information are input from the operation unit 23 by the user. However, the current position information generated by the GPS receiver 22 can be used as departure place information.

  The route guidance means 29 performs route guidance using the map data and recommended route data provided from the navigation server 10 in response to the route search request signal. More specifically, based on the map information and the recommended route information transmitted from the navigation server 10 and the current position information generated by the GPS receiver 22, display image data in which the recommended route and the current position are superimposed on the map image is displayed. It is generated and sent to the display unit 24, and a voice message is sent to the voice output unit 25 at a predetermined guidance point on the recommended route.

<Configuration of navigation server>
The navigation server 10 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12 connected to the control unit 11, and a map DB (database) 13. The communication unit 12 is means for communicating with the mobile terminal device 20 via the network 1. The control unit 11 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown), and functions that are realized when the CPU executes a program stored in the ROM using the RAM as a work area. Facility extraction means 15 and transmission data generation means 16 are provided.

  The map DB 13 stores map data for displaying a map on the mobile terminal device 20. Map data includes facility data and road data. Since the number of data such as facilities and roads stored in the map DB 13 is enormous, the facility data and road data are managed in units of meshes obtained by dividing the area into rectangles at predetermined intervals. Each mesh is given a unique identification number called a mesh code. That is, facility data and road data are managed and stored in association with meshes.

  The facility data is information regarding a facility (POI: Point of Interest), and specifically includes, for each facility, the number of vertices for displaying the facility as a polygon, vertex coordinates, facility attribute information, and the like. . The vertex coordinates are the coordinates of the mesh including the facility, and are normalized X and Y coordinates (relative coordinates). The attribute information of the facility includes the mesh code of the mesh that includes the facility, the type and floor number (or height) of a general house, a gas station, a convenience store, etc., the name of the facility, and if the facility is a building, Store information, and detailed information on baby rooms and toilets.

  The road data is information regarding the road, and specifically includes links corresponding to the road, nodes corresponding to the road end points and corresponding to the intersections, and link and node attribute information. The link attribute information includes a mesh code of a mesh including the link, coordinates of end points, coordinates of link constituent points, road types such as toll roads and national roads, and height (elevation) information. The node attribute information includes a mesh code of a mesh including the node, information on an intersection name, and the like.

  The map DB 13 stores map image data in vector format corresponding to road data. This map image data includes data such as coastline, lake and river shape, administrative boundary data, facility position and shape.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of meshes, links, and nodes constituting the road data. Here, four meshes A to D are shown. In addition to the intersection node corresponding to the intersection, the node includes a boundary node corresponding to the boundary point of the mesh when one link extends over a plurality of meshes. The boundary node has position information of each mesh straddling. For example, the boundary node α has position information of the mesh A and position information of the mesh C, and is included in both the meshes A and C.

  Returning to the description of FIG. Based on the departure point information and destination information included in the route search request signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 20, the route search unit 14 recommends route information (node information, link) from the departure point to the destination. Information) is searched from the map DB 13.

  The peripheral facility extraction unit 15 extracts the facility data of the facility existing around the recommended route from the node information and link information of the recommended route searched by the route search unit 14 and the facility data stored in the map DB 13. (Details will be described later).

  The transmission data generation means 16 is based on the recommended route information searched by the route search means 14, the facility data acquired by the surrounding facility extraction means 15, and the map information (map image data, road data) corresponding to the recommended route information. Then, transmission data to be transmitted to the mobile terminal device 20 is generated.

  Here, the transmission data is a portion of a predetermined range (for example, up to 1 km ahead) near the current position of the mobile terminal device 20 among the map information, recommended route information, and facility information (facility data). This transmission data is updated to map information, recommended route information, and facility information in a certain range in the moving direction in response to a transmission request accompanying the movement of the mobile terminal device 20.

  In FIG. 1, the facility data and the road data are stored in the common map DB 13, but may be stored in another DB. Further, the map DB 13 may be provided outside the navigation server 10 and connected via a dedicated line or the Internet.

<Operation of navigation device>
The operation of the navigation device having the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of the navigation apparatus.
As shown in the figure, in the mobile terminal device 20, the route search request means 28 operates, and the departure point and destination for the recommended route search request are input (step S1). That is, the display 24 displays a departure point / destination input screen, and the departure point / destination input by the user from the operation unit 23 is stored in the RAM in the control unit 21 as departure point information / destination information. . When the GPS receiver 22 is generating current position information, it can be used as departure place information.

  Next, the route search request means 28 reads the position information (departure point information and destination information) held in the RAM, generates a route search request signal including them, and causes the communication unit 26 to transmit it to the navigation server 10. (Step S2).

  In the navigation server 10, the route search request signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 20 is received by the communication unit 12 and sent to the control unit 11, whereby the route search process (step S <b> 11) starts.

  In this route search processing, the route search unit 14 recommends a recommended route from the departure point to the destination based on the departure point information and the destination information included in the route search request signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 20. Information (node information, link information) is searched from the map DB 13.

  When the route search process (step S11) ends, the surrounding facility extraction means 15 executes the surrounding facility extraction process (step S12). FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the peripheral facility extraction process. As shown in the figure, first, a boundary node included in the recommended route searched by the route searching means 14 is extracted (step S21), and then a mesh including the position of the departure place, a mesh including the position of the destination, and A mesh including a boundary node is selected (step S22). Next, the facility data of the facility managed by the selected mesh is extracted (step S23), and the flow (peripheral facility extraction process) in this figure is finished.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining steps S21 and S22 of FIG. In this figure, 30 (5 × 6) rectangles are meshes. First, in step S21, a boundary node (◯ in the figure) included in the recommended route from the departure point S to the destination G is extracted. In the next step S22, a mesh including the position of the departure point S, a mesh including the position of the destination G, and a mesh including the previously extracted boundary node are selected.

  In this way, in addition to the mesh that includes the boundary node, all meshes including the recommended route are extracted with a simple process of selecting the mesh that includes the position of the starting point and the mesh that includes the position of the destination. be able to.

  As a result, the mesh with the shading in the figure is selected. As described above, since the facility includes the mesh code as attribute information, in step S23, the facility around the route is picked up by extracting the facility including the mesh code of the mesh selected in step S22 as attribute information. can do. In other words, the location information (latitude, longitude) for each facility as in the conventional apparatus is acquired, and the inside / outside determination processing for determining whether or not to enter the rectangle is unnecessary, so the processing load is greatly reduced.

  Returning to the description of FIG. When the peripheral facility extraction process (step S12) is completed, the transmission data generating unit 16 corresponds to the recommended route information searched by the route searching unit 14, the peripheral facility information extracted by the peripheral facility extracting unit 15, and the recommended route information. Among the map information to be transmitted, transmission data including information on a portion of a predetermined range near the current position of the mobile terminal device 20 is generated and transmitted to the mobile terminal device 20 via the communication unit 12 (step S13).

  In the mobile terminal device 20, map information, recommended route information, and peripheral facility information are received by the communication unit 26 (step S3), sent to the control unit 21, and written into the RAM. Next, the route guidance means 29 performs route guidance processing (step S4).

《Route guidance processing》
Next, route guidance processing (step S4 in FIG. 3) will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing route guidance processing.

  When the route guidance unit 29 starts the route guidance process, the GPS receiver 22 measures the current position (step S31), and the display unit 24 displays the map, the recommended route, the facility, and the current position (step S32).

  Next, the route guidance unit 29 determines whether the map information ahead of the current position, the recommended route information, and the facility information are stored in the RAM (step S33). When it is determined that the information is not stored (step S33: No), the navigation server 10 is requested for such information (step S34), and then the process proceeds to step S35. When it is determined that the information is stored (step S33). : Yes), the process proceeds to step S35. The navigation server 10 that has received the information request in step S <b> 34 transmits the information to the mobile terminal device 20.

  In step S35, it is determined whether or not the destination has been reached. As a result of the determination, if it has arrived (step S35: Yes), the flow (route guidance processing) in this figure is finished. If it has not reached (step S35: No), the process proceeds to step S31.

  As described above, according to the navigation device of the embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the mesh including the boundary node, the mesh including the position of the departure point and the mesh including the position of the destination are selected. Then, after all the meshes including the recommended route are extracted, the facility around the route can be picked up by a simple process of extracting the facility including the mesh code of the extracted mesh as attribute information. That is, the load on the process of extracting the facilities around the route is not necessary because the internal / external determination process for determining whether or not the position information (latitude and longitude) for each facility is acquired and enters the rectangle is required as in the conventional device. Is greatly reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a system including a mobile terminal device and a server, but the present invention can also be applied to a stand-alone navigation device including a map DB.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Network, 10 ... Navigation server, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Communication part, 13 ... Map DB, 14 ... Route search means, 15 ... Peripheral facility extraction means, 16 ... Transmission data generation means, 20 ... Portable terminal device, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Control part, 22 ... GPS receiver, 23 ... Operation part, 24 ... Display part, 25 ... Audio | voice output part, 26 ... Communication part, 27 ... Memory | storage part, 28 ... Route search request means, 29 ... Route guidance means.

Claims (3)

A navigation device comprising a route search means for searching for a recommended route to a destination, and the surrounding facilities extracting means for extracting a facility that exists in the vicinity of the search has been recommended route, from the starting point,
Includes a road data storage unit for storing road data managed in units of meshes obtained by dividing a map into a predetermined size, the facility data storage unit that stores facility data managed in the mesh unit, the,
The surrounding facility extraction unit includes a mesh selection unit that selects a mesh including the road data corresponding to the recommended route searched by the route search unit, and the facility data managed by the selected mesh. and facility data extracting means for extracting from the data storage unit, the possess,
The road data includes boundary node information corresponding to the position of the boundary of the mesh on the road,
The navigation apparatus that selects a mesh including a starting position of the recommended route, a mesh including a destination position, and a mesh including a boundary node . The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein
The navigation device includes a mobile terminal device and a navigation server that can communicate via a network . The navigation device according to claim 2 , wherein
The mobile terminal device has route search request means for making a route search request to the navigation server, and route guidance means for making route guidance by a recommended route searched by the navigation server, wherein the navigation server A navigation device comprising route search means and surrounding facility extraction means .

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