JP5765726B2 - Address input device, navigation device using the same, and database used for the address input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides an address input device that inputs an address represented by a plurality of partial address information items hierarchically associated for each partial address information item, a navigation device using the same, and the address input device. It relates to the database used for processing.

  Conventionally, for example, in a car navigation apparatus, an address may be input as information for specifying a destination for setting a guidance route. This address is usually managed in a database. In the conventional address database (see Patent Document 1), the address (address information) is "Region (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, ..., Kyushu)", "Prefectures (Hokkaido, Aomori Prefecture, ..., Fukushima Prefecture) , ..., Tokyo, Fukuoka Prefecture) "," Administrative districts (..., Moji-ku, Kitakyushu City, Kokura-ku, Kitakyushu City, ...) "," Large characters (..., Mt. Abe, Ishida Town, ...・ ・） ”,“ Character / Chome (1 Chome, 2 Chome, ...) ”,“ Address (1st, 2nd, ...) ”,“ Branch (No. 2, 3 ... ) ", Etc. to manage hierarchically by multiple partial address information items (regional information item, prefecture information item, administrative district information item, large character information item, character / chome information item, street address information item, branch number information item) Furthermore, position information (longitude and latitude) is associated with each address. When such an address database is used, one or more partial address values (prefecture name, administrative district name, capital letter name, letter / chome name) included in each partial address information item according to the hierarchical order in the display section The name, the address value (number), the branch value (number), etc.) are displayed as candidate names, and the user can easily input an address by selecting them. And the point specified by the positional information corresponding to the input address can be designated as a destination for setting a guide route on the map.

JP 2007-226688 A

  By the way, for example, up to the “letter / chome” part (letter / chome information item) of the destination address desired by the user is in the address database, but the “address” part (“address” item) in the lowest hierarchy. And “Branch” part (“Bullet” item) may not be in the address database. In this case, an address closer to the address of the desired destination is selected. For example, a desired address can be selected without hesitation from a plurality of numbers representing addresses (partial address items in the lowest hierarchy) displayed on the display unit. It is difficult to select a single number representing an address that is closer to the address of the destination address.

  In addition, partial address values for all types of partial address information items representing the address of the destination desired by the user (prefecture name, administrative district name, capital letter name, letter / chome name, street number, Even if the number of the branch number is registered in the database, the display unit displays one of a plurality of numbers (partial address values) belonging to the displayed “address” item (partial address item of the lowest hierarchy), for example. It is desirable to be able to select numbers as easily as possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an address that can be more accurately input an address represented by a plurality of hierarchically related partial address information items for each partial address information item. An input device, a navigation device using the input device, and a database used for processing in the address input device are provided.

The address input device according to the present invention accesses a database in which a plurality of partial address information items constituting address information representing an address are hierarchically related, and a plurality of partial address values belonging to each partial address information item in hierarchical order The address input device has a processing unit that acquires a column of partial address values selected by the selection operation means in the process of sequentially displaying the address information as input address information, and the database includes the address information and the address information. The processing unit has a structure that associates facility information representing a facility existing at the address represented by the address information, and the processing unit displays a plurality of partial address values of the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy on the display unit. Table when to, based on said database, at least one information item contained in the facility information associated with the portion address value of the partial address information items on the display unit It has a first display control means for the processing unit, when the operation section associated with the portion address value of the partial address information item of a predetermined hierarchy of the higher than the lowest hierarchy is operated, the operating unit And at least one information item included in the facility information representing each facility existing in the address represented by the address information configured by the column of the partial address value corresponding to and the partial address value of the already selected hierarchy The second display control means for displaying a list on the display unit is provided .

With such a configuration, a plurality of partial address values belonging to each partial address information item are sequentially displayed on the display unit in a hierarchical order from a higher hierarchy, and one partial address value is displayed from the displayed partial address information items. When selecting a partial address value, at least one information item included in the facility information representing the facility existing in the address including the partial address value corresponding to the partial address value of the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy Is displayed, one partial address value can be selected from a plurality of partial address values with reference to at least one information item included in the facility information. Therefore, it becomes possible to input an address depending on the information about the facility. Further, a plurality of partial address values belonging to each partial address information item are sequentially displayed on the display unit in a hierarchical order from a higher hierarchy, and one partial address value is obtained from the plurality of partial address values of each displayed partial address information item. When the operation unit associated with the partial address value of the partial address information item of the predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy is operated, the partial address value corresponding to the operation part and the selection are already selected. At least one information item included in the facility information representing each facility existing in the address represented by the address information configured by the partial address value column in the hierarchy is displayed in a list on the display unit. . For this reason, before selecting the partial address value of the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy, many addresses existing in the address specified up to the partial address value of the partial address information item in the predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy are present. It becomes possible to select a partial address value for a partial address information item in a lower hierarchy after grasping information about the facility.

  The partial address information item is an information item representing a part of an address, and refers to each of a plurality of information items that hierarchically constitute address information representing the address. The partial address information item can be determined according to the hierarchical structure of the address. For example, from the highest hierarchy to the lowest hierarchy, “region”, “prefecture”, “city / town / village”, “town / "Region", "Prefecture", "Large", "Character / Chome", "Address", "Branch", "State", "City", " “Street (street, road)”, “house number”, or “Province”, “city”, “street (street)”, “house number” can be determined.

  In addition, each of a plurality of partial address values belonging to the partial address information item includes the name of the area to which the partial address information item belongs, the name of the prefecture, the value of a specific name or address such as the name of the city / town / village, A number representing the value of the branch name.

  The processing unit accesses an external database using communication means, or, when the address input device according to the present invention has storage means for storing the database, the database stored in the storage means It is possible to access

  In the address input device according to the present invention, when one of a plurality of partial address values of the partial address information item of the lowest hierarchy displayed on the display unit is specified, the specified partial address value is included. It can be set as the structure which has a means to display the predetermined | prescribed information item contained in the facility information matched with address information on the said display part.

  With such a configuration, when one partial address value is selected from a plurality of partial address values belonging to the lowest level partial address information item in order to specify the final address, the lowest level partial address information is selected. Since it becomes possible to display information on more detailed facilities corresponding to each of a plurality of partial address values belonging to the item, it is possible to more accurately select one partial address value from the plurality of partial address values become able to.

  Further, in the address input device according to the present invention, the first display control unit displays a mark corresponding to the facility represented by the facility information together with at least one information item included in the facility information. be able to.

  With such a configuration, facility information is displayed corresponding to each of a plurality of partial address values of the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy, and a mark corresponding to the facility represented by the facility information is displayed. Therefore, it becomes possible to intuitively grasp the facility existing at the address by the mark.

  Further, in the address input device according to the present invention, the database includes address information including the partial address value in the partial address value of the lowest partial address information item among the plurality of partial address information items constituting the address information. It can be set as the structure used as the structure where the facility information showing the facility which exists in the address represented by is matched.

  With such a configuration, in the database, a facility existing in the address represented by the address information including the partial address value in the partial address information item of the lowest hierarchy among the plurality of partial address information items is represented. Since the facility information is associated, when the processing unit displays a plurality of partial address values belonging to the lowest level partial address information item, the processing unit refers to the database and associates the partial address value with the partial address value. At least one information item included in the facility information can be displayed quickly and easily.

  In the address input device according to the present invention, the predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy may be a hierarchy immediately above the lowest hierarchy.

  With such a configuration, before selecting the partial address value of the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy, it exists in the address specified up to the partial address value of the partial address information item in the predetermined hierarchy immediately above the lowest hierarchy. After grasping information about many facilities, it becomes possible to select partial address values for the partial address information items in the lowest hierarchy.

  Furthermore, in the address input device according to the present invention, the database has a structure in which the facility information is associated with a partial address value of a partial address information item in a predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy. be able to.

  With such a configuration, in the database, the facility information representing the facility existing in the address represented by the address information including the address partial value as the partial address value of the partial address information item in the predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy is provided. Since they are associated with each other, the processing unit includes the partial address corresponding to the operation unit when the operation unit associated with the partial address value of the partial address information item of the predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy is operated. When displaying at least one information item included in the facility information representing each facility existing at the address represented by the address, it is included in the facility information associated with the partial address value with reference to the database. At least one information item to be displayed can be displayed quickly and easily.

  The navigation device according to the present invention includes any one of the address input devices described above, and the database has a structure in which the address information is associated with position information for specifying the position of the address represented by the address information. And further comprising position search means for searching for position information corresponding to the input address information acquired by the address input device using the database, and the position information obtained by the position search means The location to be used is the destination of route guidance.

  With such a configuration, in the address input device, a plurality of partial address values belonging to each partial address information item are sequentially displayed on the display unit in a hierarchical order from a higher hierarchy, and a plurality of parts of each displayed partial address information item are displayed. When one partial address value is selected from the address values, it is included in the facility information representing the facility existing at the address including the partial address value corresponding to the partial address value of the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy. Since at least one information item is displayed, one partial address value can be selected from a plurality of partial address values with reference to at least one information item included in the facility information. Since the position indicated by the position information corresponding to the input address information configured by the partial address value column selected from the partial address information items of each hierarchy is the destination of the route guidance, the route guidance The address corresponding to the destination location can be determined based on the information about the facility.

  According to the address input device of the present invention, when address information is input while selecting one partial address value from a plurality of partial address values of each partial address information item in a hierarchical order from a higher hierarchy, it exists in each address. Because it becomes possible to input the address information depending on the information about the facility to be performed, the address represented by a plurality of hierarchically related partial address information items is more accurately classified for each partial address information item. It becomes possible to input.

  Further, according to the navigation device according to the present invention using such an address input device, the address corresponding to the position serving as the destination of the route guidance can be determined by relying on the information about the facility as described above. Therefore, the destination of route guidance can be set more accurately.

  Furthermore, according to the database used for the address input device, the address input device as described above can be realized.

1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the part regarding the address of the database which the navigation apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the part regarding the facility of the database which the navigation apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has. Facility information that represents a facility that exists in an address represented by address information that includes the address value (number) belonging to the "address" item in the lowest hierarchy in the database of the navigation device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure where was matched. An example of a structure in which facility information is associated with a value “Tamachi” (partial address value) of a town / character hierarchy that is directly above the “address” item (lowest hierarchy) in the database of the navigation device shown in FIG. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence which concerns on the route setting performed with the process unit in the navigation apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of address input (the 1). It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of address input (the 2). It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of address input (the 3). It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of address input (the 4). It is a flowchart which shows another example of the process sequence which concerns on route setting. It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of address input (the 5). It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of address input (the 6). It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of address input (the 7).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A navigation device including an address input device according to the present invention is configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, a navigation device 100 is mounted on a vehicle such as a passenger car, and has a processing unit 11 constituted by a computer unit (including a CPU). The processing unit 11 includes a GPS unit 17 and sensors 18 (gyro sensor, wheel speed sensor, acceleration sensor, etc.) for providing position information necessary for vehicle navigation, a storage unit 14 for storing map information and various information. (For example, a hard disk unit) is connected. Further, the processing unit 11 includes a display unit 13 provided in the vehicle interior and configured by an LCD or the like, an operation unit 12 such as an operation button or a touch panel configured in the display unit 13, and a speaker provided in the vehicle interior. An output circuit 15 for supplying an audio signal to 16 is connected.

  The processing unit 11 executes processing related to vehicle navigation based on the position information from the GPS unit 17 and the sensors 18 and the map information read from the storage unit 14. In the processing related to the vehicle navigation, for example, a route (route) from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is searched and set based on the current position of the vehicle and the position of the destination obtained by the GPS unit 17 and the sensors 18. Then, the current position and set route of the vehicle are displayed on the display unit 13 together with the map related to the car navigation, and guidance (display or voice output) related to the route guidance of the vehicle is performed.

  In this navigation device 100, the position corresponding to the address (address information) input by the operation unit 12 can be set as the destination of the route to be guided. Addresses are input in a plurality of partial address information items (for example, “region” item, “prefecture” item, “city / town / village” item, “town / letter” item, and “address”) Multiple partial address values that belong to each of the items (for example, the name of the region (Tohoku etc.), the name of the prefecture (Fukushima etc.), the name of the municipality (Iwaki City, equality), the name of the town / character (Tamachi etc.) ), And the address value (1-1, 2-1 etc.)), one partial address value is selected by an operation on the operation unit 12 (selection operation means).

  In order to make it possible to input such address information, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of partial address information items (“region” item, “prefecture” item constituting address information) are stored in the storage unit 14. , “City / town / village” item, “town / letter” item, and “address” item) are stored in a hierarchical manner. In addition, in this database, as shown in FIG. 3, POI (Point of Interest) facility information consisting of the name, telephone number, address, coordinate value, type and other information about the facility is represented by an ID number (... , ID100,..., ID121,. Furthermore, in the database, as shown in FIG. 4, the value of the address (number: partial address value) belonging to the “address” item which is the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy of the address information includes the value of the address. Represents an address including the ID number corresponding to the facility information representing the facility existing in the address (the address and the address represented by the partial address value of the partial information item of each hierarchy above it) and the value of the address Position coordinate values are associated with each other.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the database has a partial address value of a “town / character” item which is a partial address information item in a predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy, specifically, a hierarchy directly above the lowest hierarchy. "Town name" (for example, "Tamachi"), "Town name" and the partial address information items ("City / town / village" item, "Prefectural item" item, "Region") In the address information (Hirata-cho, Iwaki-shi, Fukushima-ken, Tohoku) that consists of a column of partial address values (for example, "Hira", "Iwaki-shi", "Fukushima Prefecture", "Tohoku")) An ID number that identifies the facility is associated. Thus, through the ID number, the partial address value (town name) of the partial address information item (“town / character” item) in the immediately upper hierarchy of the lowest layer is added to the partial address value and the higher hierarchy part. The facility information (POI facility information) indicating the facility existing in the address constituted by the column of address values is associated.

  The processing unit 11 that can access the database having the structure as described above (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5) uses the position corresponding to the input address as the destination according to the procedure shown in FIG. Executes route setting processing.

  In FIG. 6, the processing unit 11 refers to the database having the structure shown in FIG. 2, and displays a plurality of partial address values belonging to each partial address information item in the hierarchical order from the “region” item in the highest hierarchy of the address information. The partial address values selected by the operation unit 12 in the process are sequentially acquired (S11). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a candidate display window 131, an input address display window 132, and a map display window 133 are formed on the display unit 13, and each partial address information item (for example, “ A plurality of partial address values (for example, town names: “Aiya”, “Akai”,..., “Tamachi”,...) Belonging to the “town / character” item) are displayed. Then, when one partial address value (for example, a town name: “Tamachi”) is selected from a plurality of partial address values displayed in the candidate display window 131, the selected one is selected as shown in FIG. The partial address information item (for example, “prefecture” item, “city / town / village” item) in which the partial address value (for example, the town name “Tamachi”) has already been entered in the input address display window 132 Displayed after the value (for example, “Iwaki-shi, Fukushima”), and a plurality of partial address values (for example, a plurality of addresses belonging to the “address” item) belonging to the partial address item of the next hierarchy are displayed in the candidate display window 131. Address value) is displayed.

  As described above, in the process of obtaining the partial address value selected in the partial address information item of each hierarchy, the processing unit 11 has displayed the partial address information item (“address” item) of the lowest hierarchy. Is determined (S12). The processing unit 11 refers to the database having the structure shown in FIG. 4 when displaying a plurality of address values (partial address values) belonging to the “address” item, which is partial address information in the lowest hierarchy, in the candidate display window 131. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the name of the facility existing in the address including the address value (the address represented by the address and the partial address value of the partial information item of each hierarchy higher than that) Display is performed so as to correspond to the value of the address (first display control means).

  When the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy is displayed in this way (YES in S12), the processing unit 11 indicates that the address value (partial address value) displayed in the candidate display window 132 is the cursor. It is repeatedly determined whether or not the detail button 134 formed on the screen is operated in the state specified in (S13) and whether or not the selection operation of the address value specified by the cursor is performed in the candidate display window 131. Determine (S14). In the process, when the detail button 134 is operated (YES in S13), the processing unit 11 displays the facility information about the facility (facility name) displayed corresponding to the address value designated by the cursor. The predetermined information items are displayed on the facility information display window 135, for example, as shown in FIG. 9 with reference to the POI facility information in the database shown in FIG. 3 (S15). At this time, the processing unit 11 displays the value of the designated address on the input address display window 132 and refers to the database having the structure shown in FIG. 4 to display the cursor on the map displayed on the map display window 133. The mark corresponding to the facility is displayed at the coordinate position corresponding to the address including the address value specified by (in the case of the example in FIG. 9, the mark corresponding to the hospital is displayed on the map).

  Thereby, the passenger | crew of a vehicle can know the detailed information about the plant | facility which exists in the address which can be set as a destination to go from now.

  The processing unit 11 determines whether or not the display of the “address” item of the lowest hierarchy has been returned (S16) while executing the facility information display process (S15). Then, when the “return” button of the display unit 13 shown in FIG. 9 is operated to return to the display about the “address” item in the lowest hierarchy as shown in FIG. 8 (YES in S16), the processing unit 11 Again, it is determined whether or not the detail button 134 has been operated (S13) and whether or not the address value designated by the cursor in the candidate display window 132 has been selected (S14). In this state, when the address value designated by the cursor is selected (YES in S14), the processing unit 11 displays the designated address value (for example, “2-1”) as an input address. Displayed after the partial address value of the partial address information item already input in the window 132 (for example, Hirata-cho, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture), and for each partial address information item arranged in the hierarchical order displayed in the input address display window 132 The column of partial address values is recognized as input address information (for example, 2-1 Tamachi, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture) (S17).

  The processing unit 11 searches the database having the structure shown in FIG. 4 for position information corresponding to the input address information recognized as described above, and sets a point specified by the position information obtained as a result as a destination. (S18). Then, the processing unit 11 searches for a route from the current position to the destination according to a predetermined algorithm based on the current position of the vehicle and the set destination (S19). A route for guiding the vehicle from the route is set (S20).

  According to the address input function (address input device) in the navigation device 100 as described above, a plurality of partial address values belonging to each partial address information item are sequentially displayed on the display unit 13 in a hierarchical order from a higher hierarchy. When one partial address value is selected from a plurality of partial address values of each partial address information item, the address including the partial address value corresponding to the partial address value of the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy 1 is displayed (see FIG. 8), and one partial address value can be selected from a plurality of partial address values by referring to the name of the facility. Therefore, it becomes possible to input an address depending on the name of the facility. For example, even if the correct address is not remembered, the desired address can be accurately input as long as the facility at the address is remembered. Also, for example, even if the address you want to enter (target point) is not registered in the database, you can enter an address that is as close as possible to the desired address if you remember about facilities in the vicinity of the target point You can also. In this way, since the address can be input depending on the name of the facility, the address represented by the plurality of hierarchically related partial address information items can be input more accurately for each partial address information item. Will be able to.

  As a result, in the navigation device 100 described above, the address corresponding to the position serving as the route guidance destination can be determined based on the name of the facility as described above, so that the route guidance destination can be determined more accurately. Will be able to be set.

  Further, in the navigation device 100, one partial address value (address value) from a plurality of partial address values (address values) belonging to the lowest level partial address information item ("address" item) is designated in order to designate a final address. When selecting (address value), it is possible to display more detailed information about the facility corresponding to the partial address value (address value) (see FIG. 9). Reliably, one partial address value (address value) can be more accurately selected from a plurality of partial address values (address values).

  Further, when the processing unit 11 displays the name of the facility on the candidate display window 131 corresponding to the partial address value (address value) belonging to the partial address information item (“address” item) in the lowest hierarchy, As shown in FIG. 10, a mark corresponding to the facility can be displayed together with the name of the facility. In this case, it becomes possible to intuitively grasp the facility existing at the address by the mark. In this case, the mark can be displayed at the coordinate position of the corresponding facility in the map display window 133 (see FIG. 10).

  The processing unit 11 can execute a process related to address input according to the procedure shown in FIG. 11 instead of the procedure shown in FIG. In this example, when an operation unit associated with a partial address value of a partial address information item in a predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy, specifically, a hierarchy directly above the lowest hierarchy, is operated. The name of each facility existing in the address represented by the address information composed of the column of the partial address value corresponding to and the partial address value of the already selected hierarchy is displayed on the display unit 13 as a list.

  In FIG. 11, the processing unit 11 refers to the database having the structure shown in FIG. Are displayed on the candidate display window 131, and partial address values selected by the operation unit 12 in the process are sequentially acquired (S11). When the processing unit 11 displays the partial address value (town name) belonging to the partial address information item (“town / character” item) directly above the lowest hierarchy in the candidate display window 131, FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the partial address value (town name: “Tamachi”) associated with the ID number identifying the facility in the database is shown. ) To display the facility list button (operation unit) so as to correspond.

  The processing unit 11 obtains the partial address value selected in the partial address information item of each layer as described above, and the partial address information item (“town / character” item) that is directly above the lowest layer. Whether or not the facility list button (see FIG. 12) displayed in the candidate display window 131 corresponding to the partial address value (town name: “Tamachi”) is operated (S21) and the lowest hierarchy It is determined whether the partial address information item ("address" item) has been displayed (S12). In the process, when the facility list button displayed in the candidate display window corresponding to the partial address value (town name: “Tamachi”) is operated as shown in FIG. 12 (YES in S21), the processing unit 11 refers to the database of the structure shown in FIG. 5, the partial address value (town name: “Tamachi”) corresponding to the facility list button and the partial address value of the already selected hierarchy (Fukushima Prefecture, Iwaki City, As shown in FIG. 13, the name of the facility existing at the address represented by the address information composed of the column of flat is displayed on the facility list display window 136 of the display unit 13 (S22: second display). Control means). At this time, the processing unit 11 uses the name of the facility associated with the partial address value (address value) of the partial address information item (“address” item) in the lowest hierarchy (see the structure in FIG. 4). The partial address value (address value) is displayed in association.

  The processing unit 11 determines the presence / absence of a selection process for the facility list display window 136 of FIG. 13 while executing the processing (S22) related to the facility list display (S23). When it is determined from the facility name list displayed in the facility list display window 136 that a certain facility, for example, “D hotel” is selected (YES in S23), the processing unit 11 is selected. The corresponding address information is searched from the information of the facility ("D hotel"), and the address information is recognized as the input address information (S17). Then, the position information for the input address information is searched from the database, and the route search and setting for the destination specified by the position information is performed (S18 to S20 shown in FIG. 6 omitted in FIG. 11). reference).

  In addition, the processing unit 11 performs the process (S22) related to the facility list display, and determines whether or not there is a selection process for the facility list display window 136 (S23), and the partial address directly above the lowest hierarchy. It is determined whether or not the display of the information item (“town / character” item) has been restored (S24). Then, the “return” button on the display unit 13 shown in FIG. 13 is operated to display the partial address information item (“town / character” item) that is directly above the lowest hierarchy as shown in FIG. When returning (YES in S24), the processing unit 11 repeatedly determines whether or not the display of the lowest hierarchy has been made again (S12) and whether or not the facility list button (see FIG. 12) has been operated (S21). However, it will be in the state which performs the display and selection process (S11) of the partial address value in each partial address information item. In this state, when the display is performed for the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy (YES in S12), the processing unit 11 performs the same processing (S13 to S17) as described above and is input in the hierarchical order. Address information consisting of a column of each partial address value of the partial address information item is recognized as input address information (S17). Then, the position information corresponding to the input address information is searched from the database, and the route search and setting with the point specified by the position information as the target value is performed (S18 shown in FIG. 6 omitted in FIG. 11). To S20).

  According to the address input according to the processing procedure as shown in FIG. 11, the partial address value (town name: “Tamachi”) of the partial address information item (“town / character” item) in the immediately upper hierarchy of the lowest hierarchy is used. When the associated facility list button is operated, an address composed of a partial address value (town name: “Tamachi”) corresponding to the facility list button and a partial address value column of the already selected hierarchy Since the names of the facilities existing at the address represented by the information are displayed as a list on the display unit 13 (facility list display window 136) (see FIG. 13), the partial address information of the immediately upper hierarchy of the lowest hierarchy Partial address about the lowest level partial address information item ("address" item) after grasping many facilities existing at the address specified up to the partial address value of the item (town name: "Tamachi") You can select the value (address value) To become.

  When the processing unit 11 displays a list of facility names in the facility list display window 136, the facility unit 11 can display a mark corresponding to the facility along with the facility name, as shown in FIG. In this case, it is possible to intuitively grasp the facility existing in the address (the address specified up to the partial address information item (“town / character” item) in the immediately upper hierarchy of the lowest hierarchy) by the mark.

  In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the name of the facility is displayed in association with the address. However, other information items such as the type of facility and a plurality of information items included in the facility information are displayed. You may make it display.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the facility list is displayed (see FIGS. 13 and 14) for the partial address information item (“town / character” item) immediately above the lowest hierarchy. Any hierarchy can be performed as long as the hierarchy is higher than the lower hierarchy. However, from the viewpoint of providing information useful for selecting a partial address value belonging to the partial address information item of the lowest hierarchy, a hierarchy as close as possible to the lowest hierarchy is desirable (more desirably, a hierarchy directly above).

  As described above, the address input device according to the present invention can input more accurately the addresses represented by the hierarchically related partial address information items for each partial address information item. It has an effect and is useful as an address input device that inputs an address represented by a plurality of hierarchically related partial address information items for each partial address information item.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Processing unit 12 Operation part 13 Display part 131 Candidate display window 132 Input address display window 133 Map display window 134 Detail button 135 Facility information display window 136 Facility list display window 14 Memory | storage part 15 Output circuit 16 Speaker 17 GPS unit 18 Sensors

Claims (8)

A database in which a plurality of partial address information items constituting address information representing an address are hierarchically associated is accessed, and a plurality of partial address values belonging to each partial address information item are sequentially displayed on the display unit in hierarchical order. An address input device having a processing unit for acquiring a column of partial address values selected by a selection operation means in the process as input address information,
The database has a structure for associating address information with facility information representing facilities existing at the address represented by the address information,
When the processing unit displays a plurality of partial address values of the partial address information item in the lowest hierarchy on the display unit, the facility information associated with the partial address value of the partial address information item based on the database First display control means for displaying at least one information item included in the display unit,
When the operation unit associated with the partial address value of the partial address information item of the predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy is operated, the processing unit is already selected with the partial address value corresponding to the operation part. 2nd display control which makes the said display part display a list of at least 1 information item contained in the facility information showing each facility which exists in the address represented by the address information comprised in the column of the partial address value of the hierarchy Address input device having means.   The address input device according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the database.   Facility information associated with address information including the designated partial address value when one of a plurality of partial address values of the lowest partial address information item displayed on the display unit is designated. The address input device according to claim 1, further comprising means for causing the display unit to display predetermined information items included in the address.   The address input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first display control means displays a mark corresponding to the facility represented by the facility information together with at least one information item included in the facility information. .   The database includes a facility present in an address represented by address information including the partial address value in the partial address information item of the lowest hierarchy among the plurality of partial address information items constituting the address information. The address input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which has a structure in which facility information to be represented is associated.   The address input device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy is a hierarchy immediately above the lowest hierarchy.   The address input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the database has a structure in which the facility information is associated with a partial address value of a partial address information item in a predetermined hierarchy higher than the lowest hierarchy. . The address input device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The database has a structure in which the address information is associated with position information that specifies the position of the address represented by the address information.
Furthermore, it has a position search means for searching for position information corresponding to the input address information acquired by the address input device using the database,
A navigation device having a position indicated by position information obtained by the position search means as a destination for route guidance.

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