JP6099195B2 - Portable navigation system, navigation method, portable terminal, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable navigation system and a navigation method for providing guide information to a user via a portable terminal, and a portable terminal, a server device, and a computer program used in the portable navigation system. Is.

  A portable navigation system that guides a route to a destination mainly for a pedestrian using a portable terminal is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In Patent Literature 1, a route from an input starting point to a destination is calculated from road data, and a landmark that matches the calculated route is registered in advance as a landmark suitable for confirmation from a pedestrian. A pedestrian road guidance system for selecting and presenting to a user is disclosed. The pedestrian road guidance system described in Patent Document 1 presents the selected landmark to the user, receives confirmation from the user whether the presented landmark is visible, and allows the user to visually recognize the landmark. If not, another landmark is selected.

JP 2001-165695 A

  When the user gets lost, the user must immediately return to the correct route or check a new route. However, in the system described in Patent Document 1 described above, confirmation of whether or not the landmark is visible is not accepted unless the landmark is presented. For this reason, it is inconvenient that the user cannot input the fact that he has lost his way to the system unless the confirmation is being accepted.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to immediately provide a user with information for returning to a correct route or confirming a new route when the user gets lost.

(1) The present invention is a portable navigation system including a portable terminal, and generates route search means for searching a route from a departure place to a destination, and guidance information related to the route searched by the route search means. The guidance information generating means, and the guidance information generated by the guidance information generating means, at least from the start of displaying the guidance information until the display of the plurality of guidance information to the destination ends. Display means to be displayed on the portable terminal, and the display means always has a first operation unit for accepting a first operation indicating that the user has not acted according to the guidance information on the portable terminal. When the guide information is generated by the guide information generation means, the guide information and a second indicating that the user has acted according to the guide information. Characterized in that it is configured so as to display a second operation unit for accepting work in the portable terminal, a portable navigation system.

  According to the present invention, since the first operation unit is always displayed on the portable terminal, the user operates the first operation unit when he / she gets lost and does not take action according to the guidance information. In response to this, the system can return to the correct route or immediately provide information to the user for confirming the new route. In addition, when the guide information is generated, the guide information and the second operation unit are displayed on the portable terminal. Therefore, when the user takes an action according to the guide information, the user operates the second operation unit. In response, the system can perform the necessary processing after taking the action.

(2) It further comprises means for accepting input as a departure place landmark that can be visually recognized by the user, and the guidance information generation means can generate initial guidance information, and the initial guidance information is the departure place It is information including initial direction information indicating an initial direction that the user should face with respect to the landmark and travel direction information indicating a travel direction that the user should travel from the departure place, and the travel direction information is the travel direction Is preferably information indicated by a relative direction as viewed from the user facing the initial direction.
In this case, the initial direction in which the user should be directed with respect to the input departure landmark is indicated, and the direction in which the user should proceed is indicated by the relative direction viewed from the user facing the initial direction, and thus the user proceeds. It is possible to easily grasp the power direction.

The system further comprises landmark search means for searching for other landmarks in the vicinity of the departure place landmark, and the guide information generating means indicates a positional relationship indicating a positional relationship that the user should take with respect to the searched other landmarks. It is preferable to generate the information by including it in the initial direction information.
If the departure place landmark is in contact with multiple roads, the user's position cannot be determined only with the departure place landmark, so the user should proceed by indicating the positional relationship with other landmarks. The direction can be easily grasped.

  Preferably, the other landmark is a landmark on the opposite side of the departure place landmark across a road where the departure place landmark touches.

  The positional relationship information is information indicating that the other landmarks should be located behind the user, and the initial direction information is the other landmarks located behind the user and in front of the user. It is information indicating that the departure place landmark should be located, and the traveling direction information is information indicating the traveling direction by a relative direction when viewed from the user facing the direction in which the departure place landmark is the front. Is preferred.

  The road is preferably a road that is a part of the route to the destination.

  The traveling direction information is preferably information indicating the traveling direction as a relative direction when viewed from the user facing the direction in which the departure landmark is the front direction.

(3) The portable navigation system further includes an input unit that receives a first operation on the first operation unit and a second operation on the second operation unit, and the display unit is configured to receive the first operation by the input unit. When an operation is accepted, return guidance information for guiding the user from the current location to the destination is displayed on the portable terminal, and when the second operation is accepted by the input means, the portable type is displayed. It is preferable that guide information subsequent to the guide information displayed on the terminal is displayed on the portable terminal.
In this case, when the first operation is received from the user, the return guidance information can be presented to the user, and the user travels the correct route toward the destination by taking action according to the return guidance information. Can do. In addition, when the second operation is received from the user, Keita can present the guide information following the guide information displayed on the other terminal to the user, and the user takes action according to the guide information. , You can get closer to your destination.

(4) In the portable navigation system, when the first operation is received by the input means, the route search means searches for a new route from the current position to the destination, and the display means It is preferable that new guidance information related to the new route searched by the route search means is displayed on the portable terminal as the guidance information.
In this case, when the user gets lost, the user can be guided to a new route from the current location to the destination.

(5) It further comprises landmark search means for searching for landmarks that are landmarks of the route searched by the route search means, and the guide information generating means is a guide indicating the landmarks searched by the landmark search means. Preferably, the information is generated, and the first operation indicates that the user has lost his way, and the second operation indicates that the user has reached the landmark indicated in the guidance information.
In this case, since a landmark effective in the road guidance for the pedestrian can be presented by the guidance information, it is suitable as a portable navigation system for pedestrians.

(6) The landmark search unit searches for a landmark that is a marker of a turning angle included in the route searched by the route searching unit, and a landmark that is a marker that has turned around the turning corner, and generates the guidance information The means generates a plurality of guide information indicating each landmark in the order from the departure place to the destination, and the display means includes one guide information indicating one landmark and the second operation unit. Displayed on the portable terminal, and when the second operation is accepted by the input means, the next guidance information indicating the next landmark of the one landmark is displayed on the portable terminal. It is preferable.
Pedestrians who receive route guidance often lose their way by overlooking a corner. Thus, by providing the user with guidance information indicating landmarks that serve as landmarks for turning corners, the user can easily find turning corners. In addition, by presenting the user with a landmark at a corner after turning, it is possible to easily check whether the user has turned a correct corner with the landmark, and preventing the user from overlooking the corner. It becomes possible.

(7) When the distance from one turn to the next turn is less than a predetermined value, the landmark search means, as a landmark next to the landmark that is the first turn after the turn, The landmark that becomes the landmark of the next turn is searched, and when the distance from the first turn to the next turn is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the landmark that becomes the mark after turning the first turn As a next landmark, it is preferable that a landmark serving as a mark of a point between the one turn angle and the next turn angle is searched.
If a single road from one corner to the next corner is a long distance, the user will get lost if he / she cannot confirm whether he / she is following the right path from the first corner to the next corner. You may be worried that you may have gone, or you may be on the wrong path. Therefore, by presenting the user with guidance information indicating landmarks that serve as landmarks between the one corner and the next corner, the user may become uneasy or wrong even on a long one-way street. It is possible to prevent going on the road.

(8) The landmark search means, when the route searched by the route search means passes through a square, an entrance landmark that serves as a landmark of the square and an exit that serves as a landmark of the square Preferably, it is configured to search for landmarks.
When a route passes through a square, the user often gets lost in the square. Therefore, by presenting the entrance landmark and the exit landmark to the user, it is possible to guide the user how to proceed in the square and to prevent the user from getting lost in the square. it can.

(9) The guidance information generation means, from the entrance landmark to the exit land, as guidance information indicating the exit landmark when the landmark search means searches for the entrance landmark and the exit landmark. It is preferable that the guide information indicating the traveling direction to the mark is generated.
There are no roads in the square, and the user may not know which direction to go. Therefore, by presenting the user with the direction of travel from the entrance landmark to the exit landmark, the user can easily confirm which direction to proceed in the square, It is possible to prevent getting lost.

(10) The portable navigation system further includes a storage unit that stores facility position information related to a location of a facility that is a landmark and type information that indicates a type of the landmark, and the landmark search unit is stored in the storage unit. A facility for a landmark candidate is searched based on the stored facility position information, and a landmark is determined from the landmark candidate based on the facility type information of the searched landmark candidate facility. It is preferable.
If the presented landmark is difficult to find, the user may not be able to confirm the landmark. On the other hand, depending on the type of facility, there are easy-to-find facilities such as convenience stores and family restaurants, and difficult-to-find facilities such as offices in buildings. Therefore, by classifying facilities and determining easy-to-find facilities as landmarks, easy-to-understand guidance information can be provided to the user.
(11) The portable terminal is configured to sequentially display a plurality of the guidance information on a timeline, the second operation unit is displayed in the timeline display, and the second operation unit is It is preferably displayed in a fixed position outside the timeline display.

(12) The present invention viewed from another viewpoint is a navigation method for guiding a route from a departure point to a destination by a portable terminal, and a route search step for searching a route from the departure point to the destination. A guide information generating step for generating guide information on the route, and a first operation unit for accepting a first operation indicating that the user has not acted according to the guide information, at least starting display of the guide information Until the display of the plurality of guidance information up to the destination is finished, when the guidance information is generated while being always displayed by the portable terminal, the generated guidance information and the user A display step of displaying, on the portable terminal, a second operation unit for receiving a second operation indicating that an action according to the guidance information has been taken. That is a navigation method.

(13) The present invention as viewed from still another aspect is a portable terminal used in a portable navigation system, and is in accordance with a receiving means for receiving guidance information regarding a route from a departure place to a destination, and the guidance information. The first operation unit for accepting a first operation indicating that the user has not taken an action until at least the display of the plurality of guidance information from the start of the display of the guidance information to the end of the display is completed. When the guide information is received by the receiving means while being always displayed, a second operation for receiving the guide information and a second operation indicating that the user has acted according to the guide information. And a display means for displaying the display unit.

(14) The present invention viewed from still another aspect is a server device used in a portable navigation system, which is searched by a route search means for searching a route from a departure place to a destination, and the route search means. Guide information generating means for generating guide information related to the route, providing means for providing the guide information generated by the guide information generating means to the portable terminal, and the fact that the user did not take action according to the guide information A first receiving means capable of always receiving one information from a portable terminal device at least from the start of generation of the guide information until the end of generation of a plurality of guide information to the destination; After the providing means provides the guidance information to the portable terminal, the portable terminal device receives second information relating to the user taking an action according to the guidance information. Characterized in that it comprises a second receiving means for receiving et a server device.

(15) The present invention viewed from still another viewpoint is a computer program for causing a portable terminal including a display unit to function as a portable navigation device, and obtains guidance information regarding a route from a departure place to a destination. Steps and a first operation unit for receiving a first operation indicating that the user has not acted according to the guidance information, at least a plurality of guidance from the start of displaying the guidance information to the destination Until the display of the information is completed, when the guide information is acquired while being always displayed by the display unit, the acquired guide information and that the user has taken action according to the guide information. A computer program for causing the portable terminal to execute a step of displaying a second operation unit for receiving a second operation to be displayed on the display unit. It is.

(16) The present invention viewed from still another aspect is a computer program for causing a computer having a communication unit to function as a server device for portable navigation, wherein a route from a departure place to a destination is searched. A step of generating guidance information related to the route searched by the route search means, a step of transmitting the guidance information generated by the guidance information generation means to the portable terminal by the communication unit, and a user following the guidance information While receiving the first information about not taking any action from the portable terminal device at least during the period from the start of the generation of the guide information to the end of the generation of the plurality of guide information to the destination The user can always accept from the portable terminal device, but after sending the guidance information to the portable terminal, The is a computer program for executing the step of receiving second information relating to taking action in accordance with the guidance information from the portable terminal device to the computer.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when a user gets lost, it becomes possible to return to a correct path | route or to provide a user with the information for confirming a new path | route immediately.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the portable navigation system which concerns on embodiment. 1 is a functional block diagram of a portable navigation system according to an embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the portable navigation system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the portable navigation system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the portable navigation system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the portable navigation system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the portable navigation system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a landmark search process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the landmark search process for a confirmation. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the other example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the screen of a portable navigation system.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Hereinafter, a configuration and operation of a portable navigation system that provides route guidance information to a user using a portable terminal will be described.

[1. Configuration of portable navigation system]
The portable navigation system according to the present embodiment searches for a route from a departure place to a destination, searches for landmarks serving as landmarks of the route, generates a guidance sentence indicating the landmark, and transmits the guidance sentence to the portable terminal. Is displayed to the user. First, the configuration of the portable navigation system will be described. In the present embodiment, the service target area of the portable navigation system will be described as an underground mall around a station (such as Osaka Station) in an urban area.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a portable navigation system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the portable navigation system 100 includes a server device 200 and portable terminals 300, 300,. The server device 200 is connected to a communication network 400 configured from the Internet or a dedicated communication network. The communication network 400 includes a mobile phone communication network or a wireless communication network, and the server device 200 and the portable terminals 300, 300,... Can communicate data with each other via the communication network 400.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the portable navigation system according to the present embodiment. The server device 200 is configured by a computer including a CPU and a memory as a main storage device. A computer program (hereinafter referred to as “server program”) for causing the computer to function as the server device 200 of the portable navigation system 100 is installed in the computer constituting the server device 200. The following functions of the server device 200 are exhibited when the computer program is executed by a computer.

  The server device 200 has functions as a route search unit 201, a landmark search unit 202, a guidance sentence generation unit 203, and a communication unit 204. Further, the server device 200 incorporates an auxiliary storage device comprising a hard disk device, and a road network database 205 and a facility information database 206 are constituted by this auxiliary storage device.

  The route search unit 201 is for searching for a route from the departure point to the destination from the departure point and the destination given from the portable terminal 300. For this route search, road data in the road network database 205 is used. The route search unit 201 also has a function of extracting a passing point in the middle of the route. Note that the road data in the road network database 205 of the present embodiment is data indicating roads (sidewalks) in an underground mall, but may include road data indicating roads on the ground.

  The landmark search unit 202 is for searching for a facility that is a mark of the passing point extracted by the route search unit 201 as a landmark. The facility information in the facility information database 206 is used for this landmark search.

  The guidance sentence generation unit 203 is for generating a guidance sentence for guiding the landmark searched by the landmark search unit 202.

  The communication unit 204 is for performing data communication with the portable terminal 300. The communication unit 204 receives the data of the departure point and the destination from the portable terminal 300, and transmits route data and guidance text data to the portable terminal 300.

  In the road network database 205, road data of a service target area (for example, an underground shopping area around Osaka Station) of the portable navigation system 100 is stored. Such road data includes information on the position of the corner (latitude / longitude).

  The facility information database 206 stores information (facility information) on facilities (for example, restaurants, convenience stores, clothing stores, banks, etc.) existing in the service target area. The facility information includes information on the name of the facility, the genre of the facility (restaurant, convenience store, clothing store, bank, etc.), and the latitude and longitude of the facility.

  The portable terminal 300 is configured by a portable information processing terminal with a communication function such as a multi-function mobile phone (so-called smartphone) having a CPU and a memory as a main storage device. The portable information processing terminal includes a touch panel including a liquid crystal display unit and a touch pad, and also includes a wireless communication interface for communicating with a mobile phone communication network, a wireless LAN, and the like.

  The portable terminal 300 includes a computer program (hereinafter referred to as “client program”) for causing the information processing terminal to function as the portable terminal 300 that is a portable navigation device (client device) of the portable navigation system 100. Installed. The following functions of the portable terminal 300 are exhibited when the computer program is executed by the portable information processing terminal.

  The portable terminal 300 has functions as an input unit 301, a display unit 302, and a communication unit 304. The portable terminal 300 includes a positioning unit 303 including an acceleration sensor, and the positioning unit 303 can detect the current position of the portable terminal 300.

  The input unit 301 is for receiving input from the user for data necessary for route search and generation of guidance text, such as a departure point and a destination.

  The display unit 302 is for displaying necessary information from the portable navigation system 100 such as route information and guidance text.

  The communication unit 304 is for performing data communication with the server device 200. By this communication unit 304, the data of the departure place and the destination are transmitted to the server apparatus 200, and the route data and the guide sentence data are received from the server apparatus 200.

[2. Operation of portable navigation system]
Hereinafter, the operation of the portable navigation system 100 will be described.

  3A to 3E are flowcharts showing a processing procedure of the portable navigation system according to the present embodiment. First, when the client program of the portable terminal 300 is activated, an initial screen for navigation is displayed on the display unit 302 (step S101). On a navigation screen (hereinafter referred to as “navigation screen”), a “lost button” to be described later is always displayed. That is, the display screen of the portable terminal 300 described below always includes a “lost button”. Here, “always” means that the client program is being executed in the portable terminal 300.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an initial screen of the portable navigation system. The initial screen D01 is a screen for inputting a destination. On the navigation screen of the portable navigation system 100, the user information input and the system information output proceed in an interactive manner. The initial screen D01 includes system-side output information S01 including a message prompting the user to input a destination “Where do you want to go?” And an input box N01 for the user to input the destination And are included.
Each of the output information S01 and the input box N01 on the system side is displayed inside a balloon-shaped frame. In the balloon of the output information S01 on the system side, the vertex of the triangle points to the left end of the screen, and in the balloon of the input box N01 on the user side, the vertex of the triangle points to the right end of the screen. Thus, the output information S01 and the input box N01 are displayed as if the system is speaking from the left side of the screen and the user is speaking from the right side of the screen. On the navigation screen, not only the output information S01 and the input box N01 but also all of the output information on the system side and the input information on the user side are displayed in an interactive format using the above-described balloons. In this way, the user can check the output information on the system side and input information as if the user is talking to the system, so that the portable navigation system can be used with friendliness. .

  The initial screen D01 includes a software keyboard SK, and the user can input a destination in the input box N01 by operating the software keyboard SK. In addition, the initial screen D01 includes a lost button B01 for operating when the user is lost, and a destination change button B02 for operating when changing the destination. The lost button B01 and the destination change button B02 are button controls that can be operated (selected) by the user. The user can operate the buttons B01 and B02 by tapping (operation with a fingertip) on the positions of the buttons B01 and B02 on the touch panel. These buttons B01 and B02 are always displayed on the navigation screen.

The user operates the software keyboard SK to input a destination (for example, “XXX”). When the input of the destination is completed, the navigation screen changes to the departure place input screen (departure place landmark input screen). FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a departure place input screen of the portable navigation system.
On the navigation screen, new system output information and user input information are additionally displayed while the past system output information and user input information displayed in an interactive format remain. Also, the output information of these systems and the user's output information are displayed in time series in order of input / output from the upper side to the lower side of the screen (timeline display). In the example shown in FIG. 6B, the output information S01 on the system side on the initial screen D01 remains, and the input information U01 (“I want to go to XXX”) indicating the destination input by the user is displayed below the output information S01. The system-side output information S02 corresponding to the input information U01 ("I understand" and "Please tell me the store that you can see from where you are") is displayed below the input information U01. . As described above, the output information S02 includes a message that prompts the user to input a departure place (a departure place landmark visible to the user). On the departure place input screen D02, an input box N02 for the user to enter the departure place is displayed below the output information S02.

  By continuing the navigation process as described below, new system-side output information and user-side input information are added in the timeline display field of the navigation screen, and history system-side output information and user-side input are added. Information history accumulates. Since the size of the timeline display field on the navigation screen is limited, it is impossible to display the past output information on the system side and part of the input information on the user side in the timeline display field. In this case, the output information on the system side and the input information on the user side are not displayed in the oldest order, and only recent information is displayed. The user can scroll the timeline by flicking the position of the timeline display field on the touch panel (the operation of sliding the fingertip), and the past output information on the system side and input information on the user side can be displayed. It is possible to browse.

  Further, the software keyboard SK is not displayed on the departure place input screen D02. Thus, while the input box for inputting character information is displayed, the software keyboard SK can be switched between display and non-display. When inputting the departure place in the input box N02, the user calls the software keyboard SK and operates the software keyboard SK to thereby enter the departure place (departure place landmark; store name visible from the current position). Enter.

  When the input unit 301 of the portable terminal 300 receives the input of the departure place and the destination from the user (step S102), the departure / destination data indicating the departure place and the destination is transmitted by the communication unit 304 to the server device 200. (Step S103).

  When the departure / destination data is received by the communication unit 204 of the server device 200 (step S104), the route search unit 201 of the server device 200 uses the road network database 205 to find a route from the departure point to the destination. Search is performed (step S105).

  When the route is searched, the route search unit 201 searches for a passing point on the route (step S106). In this passing point search process, a corner included in the route is selected as a passing point. In addition, a bend angle here is a location where the advancing direction changes 30 degrees or more. In the passing point search process, when adjacent corners are separated by a predetermined distance or more (for example, 80 m or more), an intermediate position of the corner is selected as a passing point. Further, in the passing point search process, when the searched route passes through a plaza, each of the entrance and exit of the plaza is selected as a passing point.

  When the passing point search process is completed, the landmark search unit 202 searches for a facility (other landmark) near the departure place using the facility information database 206 (step S107). In this process, a shop (facility; departure place landmark) at the departure place and a facility (other landmark) at a position facing the road across the road are searched.

  Next, the landmark search unit 202 selects the first passing point (step S108), and executes the landmark searching process using this passing point (step S109).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of landmark search processing. The landmark search unit 202 first searches the facility information database 206 for facilities that are within a radius of 20 m of the passing point (step S201). Next, the landmark search unit 202 determines whether or not one or more facilities are included in the search result (step S202). If the search result is zero (NO in step S202), the landmark search unit 202 determines whether the search result includes one or more facilities. Without selecting (Step S203), the process returns.

  In step S202, when the search result includes one or more facilities (YES in step S202), the landmark search unit 202 determines whether or not the search result includes two or more facilities. A determination is made (step S204). When only one facility is included in the search result (NO in step S204), the landmark search unit 202 determines one facility in the search result as a landmark (a landmark landmark) (step S205). , Return processing.

  In step S204, when the search result includes two or more facilities (YES in step S204), the landmark search unit 202 searches the facility information database 206 for the location information and genre of each facility searched. Information is acquired (step S206).

  Next, the landmark search unit 202 compares the location information of each facility acquired in step S206 with the location information of the passing point, and determines whether or not there is a facility before the passing point (on the departure point side of the route). Is discriminated (step S207). When there is a facility in front of the passing point (YES in step S207), the landmark search unit 202 selects a facility of a genre with the highest priority among the facilities in front of the passing point as a landmark (a landmark land). Mark) (step S208). Here, the process of step S208 will be described. The auxiliary storage device of the server device 200 stores priority information. For example, the genre of facility and the priority are associated such that the priority of the bank is 3, the priority of the restaurant and convenience store is 2, and the priority of the clothing store is 1. Here, it is assumed that the higher the numerical value of the priority, the higher the priority. That is, when a bank and a convenience store are searched as a facility in front of a corner, a bank having a high priority is selected as a landmark. Further, when there are a plurality of facilities having the same priority, a facility whose position is close to the passing point is selected as a landmark. Further, when there is only one facility before the passing point, the facility is determined as a landmark.

  In addition, although the facility was classified according to the genre, the priority is associated with each genre, and the facility that becomes the landmark is selected based on the priority, the configuration is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Rather, depending on the degree of conspicuousness of the facility signboard and the famousness of the facility, a facility with a high degree of conspicuousness or a high degree of famousity may be selected as a landmark, or a facility that takes into consideration the degree of conspicuousness, famousness, genre A priority may be determined for each, and a facility with a high priority may be selected as a landmark.

  On the other hand, when there is no facility in front of the passing point (NO in step S207), the landmark search unit 202 determines a facility to be a landmark from the distance from the passing point and the genre (step S209). In this process, a facility with a high genre priority is preferentially selected as a landmark, and if there are a plurality of facilities with the same priority, a facility close to the passing point is selected as a landmark.

  When the processes of steps S208 and S209 are completed, the landmark search unit 202 returns the process.

  When the landmark search process as described above is completed, the guidance sentence generation unit 203 generates a guidance sentence (guidance information) (step S110). In this process, a guide sentence (hereinafter referred to as “guidance summary sentence”) that briefly summarizes the guidance to the next passing point (passing point selected in step S108) and the direction of travel from the departure point will be described. A guide sentence as initial guide information (hereinafter referred to as “travel direction guide sentence”) and a guide sentence indicating the searched landmark (hereinafter referred to as “landmark guide sentence”) are generated.

  The guidance summary sentence tells the user in advance what action should be taken until the next passing point, and is displayed before the traveling direction guidance sentence and the landmark guidance sentence. The guidance summary is generated using the facility input as the departure place and the searched landmark. As an example of the guidance summary sentence, we will start before “△△△△△”. Turn left at the intersection near “□□ Department Store”. ". Here, “ΔΔΔΔΔ” is a facility input as a departure place, and “□□ Department Store” is a landmark.

The traveling direction guidance sentence indicates the direction that the user should face using the facility (departure place landmark) input as the departure place, and specifies the traveling direction of the user relative to the direction that the user faces. Note that the relative direction is a direction based on the direction in which the user is facing, such as front, rear, left, right.
In the travel direction guide sentence of this embodiment, in order to more appropriately specify the travel direction of the user, in addition to the departure place landmark, the facility in the vicinity of the departure place searched in step S107 (the road that the departure place landmark touches) The direction that the user should face is also indicated by using a landmark on the opposite side of the departure landmark.
As an example of the direction guidance text, tap on the button when you walk in the left direction with "XXXXXX" on your back and "△△△△△" in front. ". Here, “xxxx” is a facility near the departure place.
Also, as a direction guidance text, tap on the button when you walk forward with “XXXXXX” on your left hand and “△△△△△” on your right hand. Or the like.
If the departure place landmark is in contact with only one road, a traveling method guidance sentence may be used in which facilities in the vicinity of the departure place are omitted. However, if the departure place landmark is in contact with multiple roads, the system recognizes the current direction by indicating the direction of travel using facilities near the departure place on the opposite side across the road. It is possible to prevent the position from deviating from the current position recognized by the user.
Further, when the departure place landmark is in contact with a plurality of roads, a road that is a part of the route to the destination is used as a reference road for searching for facilities near the departure place. Even if it is a road that touches the departure place landmark, if it is a road outside the route, it will be necessary to generate a guide sentence with a departure point that is different from the departure place recognized by the system. If it is a part of the road, such a problem will not occur.

  The landmark guidance sentence describes the distance from the current location to the landmark (marker landmark) and the position of the landmark on the road. An example of a landmark guide is “□□ Department Store” on the left about 96m away. ".

  When the guidance sentence is generated as described above, the route data and the guidance sentence data are transmitted to the portable terminal 300 by the communication unit 204 (step S111).

  When route data and guidance text data are received by the communication unit 304 of the portable terminal 300 (step S112), a map indicating the route and a guidance start confirmation button are displayed by the display unit 302 (step S113). FIG. 6C shows a display example of a map showing a route and a guidance start confirmation button. In the navigation screen D03, a part of the timeline display column (the upper part of the screen) of the output information on the system side and the input information on the user side is changed to an area for displaying the map MP indicating the route. On the map MP, a human-type mark indicating a user (hereinafter referred to as “user mark”) is shown at the current position on the map. In the timeline display column, input information U02 (“ΔΔΔΔΔ” is shown) indicating the facility of the departure place input by the user and output information S03 on the system side corresponding to the input information U02 ( “I understand.”, “Search for the route from“ △△△△△ ”to“ XXX ””, and “Search is complete. Is displayed. A guidance start confirmation button B03, which is a button control that can be selected by the user, is displayed below the output information S03 in the timeline display field.

  A destination display field TP is provided on the map MP of the navigation screen D03. In this destination display column TP, the destination and estimated time until arrival at the destination (for example, “4 minutes until XX”) are displayed. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the software keyboard SK is not displayed, a lost button B01 and a destination change button B02 are displayed at the bottom of the screen (below the timeline display field).

  The user can input guidance start confirmation by tapping the position of the guidance start confirmation button B03 on the touch panel. When the input unit 301 of the portable terminal 300 receives the guidance start confirmation input (step S114), the display unit 302 displays a guidance summary up to the next passing point (step S115). A progress start confirmation button is displayed (step S116).

  FIG. 6D shows a display example of a guidance summary sentence, a traveling direction guidance sentence, and a progress start confirmation button. In the timeline display field of the navigation screen D04, the above-described guidance summary sentence S04 and the traveling direction guidance sentence S05 are displayed as output information on the system side. Further, a progress start confirmation button B04, which is a button control that can be selected by the user, is displayed below the traveling direction guidance sentence S05 in the timeline display column. In the navigation screen D04, a next waypoint display field NP is provided between the timeline display field and the buttons B01 and B02. In the next way point display field NP, the facility of the departure place or the next landmark (for example, “the next route point is around ΔΔΔΔΔ”) is displayed.

  As shown in the navigation screen D04, by displaying the guidance summary sentence S04, it is possible to notify the user what action should be taken to the next passing point, thereby giving the user a sense of security. be able to. Also, for example, if you explain the direction of travel with only one facility, such as “Tap the button when you walk to the right when you see store A in front,” facility A is on the road in two sides. In such a case, depending on which surface of the facility A the user is facing, two interpretations of the traveling direction occur, which causes the user to get lost. As described above, in the traveling direction guidance sentence S05, the user uses the facility input as the departure point and the facility in the vicinity of the searched departure point (facility facing the departure point facility across the road). Since the direction of the user is indicated and the user's direction of travel is specified in a direction relative to the direction of the user, the direction of the facility that is input as the starting point is specified, and the direction of travel is interpreted in multiple ways. It will not be done. This prevents the user from being guided in the wrong direction.

  The user inputs a progress start confirmation by tapping the position of the progress start confirmation button B04 on the touch panel after starting the progress according to the travel direction guidance text. When the input unit 301 of the portable terminal 300 receives an input of confirmation of progress (step S117), the display unit 302 displays a landmark guidance sentence and a passage point confirmation button (step S118).

  FIG. 6E shows a display example of landmark guidance text and passage confirmation buttons. When the progress start confirmation button B04 is operated by the user, the balloon in which the progress direction confirmation button B04 is displayed changes from the travel direction confirmation button B04 to the user input information U03 that “starts walking”. In addition, the landmark guidance sentence S06 described above is displayed as output information on the system side below the input information U03 in the timeline display column of the navigation screen D05. Also, below the landmark guidance sentence S06 in the timeline display column, the system-side output information S07 “Turn the button to the left at the nearby intersection” and a user-selectable button A pass confirmation button B05 as a control is displayed. The passage confirmation button B05 displays a character string “turned left”. The guidance sentence as described above shows the traveling direction at the landmark and the turning angle, and prompts the user to turn the turning angle designated by the landmark in the designated traveling direction. The passage confirmation button B05 is a button for accepting an operation indicating that the user has acted in accordance with the above-described guidance sentence. In the navigation screen D05, the next waypoint display field NP indicates the landmark and the distance to the landmark (“approximately □□ to department store is about 96 m”).

  The user proceeds according to the landmark information and passes through the designated passing point. In the example of FIG. 6E, the user proceeds toward the landmark □□ department store. The positioning unit 303 of the portable terminal 300 detects the user's walking motion using an acceleration sensor and estimates the movement distance. The positioning unit 303 estimates the current position of the user. As the user travels, the travel distance and direction are measured by the positioning unit 303, and the navigation screen is updated according to the measured values. Specifically, the estimated time until arrival at the destination in the destination display field TP, the position of the user mark on the map MP, and the distance to the landmark in the next waypoint display field NP are updated. In the map MP, the route is displayed as a line, but the route that the user should proceed from and the route that the user has traveled so far are displayed and distinguished by different color lines.

  When the user approaches within a predetermined distance (for example, 20 m) of the landmark, the positioning unit 303 detects this. When the positioning unit 303 detects that the user has approached the landmark within a predetermined distance, the display unit 302 outputs a message indicating that the user has approached the landmark (hereinafter referred to as a “landmark approach guide sentence”). (Step S119).

  FIG. 6F shows a display example of the landmark approach guidance text. When it is detected that the user has approached within the predetermined distance of the landmark, the landmark approach guidance sentence S08 (between the output information S07 on the system side in the timeline display column of the navigation screen D06 and the passage confirmation button B05 ( “Soon, it ’s around“ □□ Department Store ””). Thereby, the user can recognize that he / she has approached the landmark, and can efficiently search for the landmark from nearby facilities.

  When the user searches for the landmark according to the landmark guidance sentence and the landmark approach guidance sentence and confirms that the vehicle has passed the designated passing point, the user confirms the passage by tapping the position of the passage confirmation button B05 on the touch panel. Input. The input unit 301 of the portable terminal 300 determines whether or not an input for confirming passage has been received (step S120). When the passage confirmation input is accepted (YES in step S120), the communication unit 304 of the portable terminal 300 transmits data requesting the next guidance sentence to the server device 200 (step S121).

  On the other hand, if the input unit 301 does not accept the passage confirmation input (NO in step S120), the current position of the user is detected by the positioning unit 303, and it is determined whether or not the user has passed the landmark ( Step S134). If the user has not yet passed the landmark (NO in step S134), the process returns to step S120, and it is determined whether a passage confirmation input has been accepted again.

  If it is determined in step S134 that the user has passed the landmark (YES in step S134), the display unit 302 displays a message indicating that the landmark has been passed (hereinafter referred to as “landmark passage guide”). .) Is displayed (step S135).

  FIG. 6G shows a display example of the landmark passage guidance text. When it is detected that the user has passed the landmark, the landmark passage guidance sentence S09 (““ □□ ”is displayed between the output information S08 on the system side in the timeline display field of the navigation screen D07 and the passage confirmation button B05. “May have passed the department store”) ”. Thereby, the user can recognize that he / she was lost. In addition, the display in the next waypoint display field NP of the navigation screen D07 is updated to “□□ Near department store”.

  As described above, the lost button B01 (operation unit) is always displayed on the navigation screen, and the user can always operate the lost button B01. As described above, when the user gets lost or deviates from the route, the user inputs that he has lost his way by tapping the position of the lost button B01 on the touch panel. The input unit 301 of the portable terminal 300 determines whether or not an operation input of the lost button B01 has been accepted (step S136). When the operation input of the lost button B01 is not received (NO in step S136), the input unit 301 repeats the process of step S136 and waits until the operation of the lost button B01 is received. On the other hand, when an operation input of the lost button B01 is accepted (YES in step S136), the display unit 302 displays a screen for inputting the current location (step S137).

  FIG. 6H shows a display example of the current location input screen. As shown in FIG. 6H, in the current location input screen D08, the map MP displayed so far is deleted, and the history of the system side output information and the user side input information in the timeline display column is also deleted. In the timeline display field of the current location input screen D08, output information S10 on the system side including a message that prompts the user to input the current location (facility visible from the current location), such as “Please tell me the shops that can be seen from the current location.” And an input box N03 for the user to input the current location.

  When the input unit 301 of the portable terminal 300 receives an input of the current location from the user (step S137), the process proceeds to step S102, and the current location is set as a new departure location and the departure location and destination (in step S102). Departure / destination data indicating the received destination) is transmitted to the server device 200 by the communication unit 304 (step S103). Thereafter, as described above, the processing after step S104 is executed using the current location (new departure location).

  The screen display of the portable terminal 300 after operating the lost button B01 will be described with reference to FIG. 6I. In the example shown in FIG. 6I, the case where the user inputs “XX bank XX branch office” as the current location is shown. In this case, the map MP of the navigation screen D09 shows the route from the current location “xxx bank xxx branch office” to the destination “XXX”, and the destination display column TP has “XXXX”. 4 minutes ". In addition, you can see “XX bank XX branch office” which is the input information U04 on the user side. ", The route from" XX Bank XX branch office "to" XXX "which is the output information S11 on the system side is searched. ”And“ Search is completed. Guidance starts now. ”And guidance start confirmation button B06 are displayed in the timeline display area in time series (step S113). When the user operates the guidance start confirmation button B06 (step S114), guidance is started.

  A case where the user operates the guidance start confirmation button B06, navigation proceeds, and the user returns to the original route will be described. It is assumed that the corner (intersection) near the □□ department store is selected as the passing point. When the user turns the turning point of the passing point according to the guidance text and operates the passage confirmation button (YES in step S120), the communication unit 304 of the portable terminal 300 requests the server device 200 to request the next guidance text. Is transmitted (step S121).

  When the request data described above is received by the communication unit 304 of the portable terminal 300 (step S122), the landmark search unit 202 determines whether the currently selected passing point is a corner (step S123). As described above, the passing point includes a corner, an intermediate position on a straight road, an entrance and an exit of a plaza, and when the passing point is a corner (YES in step S123), the landmark search unit 202 performs a landmark inspection for confirmation. Processing is executed (step S124). On the other hand, when the passing point is not at the corner (NO in step S123), the process proceeds to step S125 without executing the confirmation landmark inspection process. Now, since the corner near the □□ department store is selected as the passing point, the landmark search process for confirmation is executed. Note that the confirmation landmark is a landmark for confirming whether or not the vehicle is turned at a correct turning angle, and is a landmark at a point after turning the turning corner.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the confirmation landmark search process. First, the landmark search unit 202 searches the facility information database 206 for a facility that is within a radius of 20 m of a turning point that is a passing point and is ahead of the turning corner (step S301). Next, the landmark search unit 202 determines whether or not one or more facilities are included in the search result (step S302). If the search result is 0 (NO in step S302), the landmark search unit 202 confirms the search result. The process returns without selecting a landmark (step S303).

  In step S302, when one or more facilities are included in the search result (YES in step S302), the landmark search unit 202 determines whether or not two or more facilities are included in the search result. A determination is made (step S304). When only one facility is included in the search result (NO in step S304), the landmark search unit 202 determines one facility in the search result as a landmark for confirmation (step S305), and performs processing. Return.

  In step S304, when the search result includes two or more facilities (YES in step S304), the landmark search unit 202 searches the facility information database 206 for the location information and genre of each facility searched. Information is acquired (step S306).

  Next, the landmark search unit 202 determines a facility of a genre having the highest priority among the searched facilities as a landmark (step S307). Since the process of step S307 is the same as the process of step S208 described above, the description thereof is omitted.

  When the process of step S307 ends, the landmark search unit 202 returns the process.

  Here, it is assumed that the radius is within 20 m of the corner near the □□ department store, which is the passing point, and there is no facility at the end of the corner. In this case, the facility is not selected as the confirmation landmark.

  Next, the landmark search unit 202 selects the next passing point (step S125). Here, it is assumed that the next passing point at the corner near □□ Department Store is the entrance of the square. In the process of step S125, the entrance of this square is selected as a passing point.

  The landmark search unit 202 executes a landmark search process using the selected passing point (step S126). Since the landmark search process in step S126 is the same as the landmark search process in step 109, description thereof is omitted. Here, it is assumed that “XX bank XX branch office” is selected as the landmark at the entrance of the plaza, which is a passing point.

  When the landmark search process as described above is completed, the guide sentence generation unit 203 generates a guide sentence (step S127). Since the entrance of the square is selected as the passing point, in the process of step S127, a guidance summary to the entrance of the square, a landmark guidance showing the searched landmark, and guidance for entering the square. Are generated. For example, in the processing of step S127, “Enter the square” is generated as the guidance summary sentence, and “XX Bank XX branch office” is about 140 m ahead on the left as the landmark guidance sentence. "Is generated, and" You should be a square from there. Tap the button when you enter the square. "

  When the guidance text is generated as described above, the guidance text data is transmitted to the portable terminal 300 by the communication unit 204 (step S128).

  When the guidance text data is received by the communication unit 304 of the portable terminal 300 (step S129), the guidance summary up to the next passing point is displayed on the display unit 302 (step S130), and the confirmation landmark is searched. If so, a confirmation landmark guidance sentence (hereinafter referred to as “confirmation landmark guidance sentence”) at a corner is displayed (step S131). Here, since the confirmation landmark has not been searched, the confirmation landmark guide has not been generated.

  Next, it is determined by the portable terminal 300 whether or not the next is the destination (step S132). If the next is not the destination (NO in step S132), the process proceeds to step S118, and a landmark guidance sentence and a passage confirmation button are displayed on the display unit 302 (step S118). Further, in this process, when the passing point is the entrance of the plaza, a guidance text for informing that the square is to be entered is also displayed.

  An example of the navigation screen in this case is shown in FIG. 6J. In the timeline display column of the navigation screen D10, there is a guidance summary sentence S12 (“I will enter the square”), a landmark guidance sentence S13 (“There is“ XX Bank XX branch office ”on the left about 140m away.” ), And a guidance sentence S14 ("It should be a square from there. Tap the button when you enter the square.") Is displayed, and the passage below the guidance sentence S14 A passage confirmation button B07 is displayed for inputting that the vehicle has passed the entrance of the square as a point.

  In the navigation screen D10, the destination display field TP shows “3 minutes left until XX”, and the next waypoint display field NP is “about 140m to XX bank XX branch office”. "It is shown.

  When the user proceeds according to the guidance text and approaches within a predetermined distance of the landmark, this is detected by the positioning unit 303, and the display unit 302 outputs the landmark approach guidance text (step S119).

  An example of the navigation screen in this case is shown in FIG. 6K. In the timeline display field of the navigation screen D11, between the guidance sentence S14 that informs you to enter the square and the passage confirmation button B07, the landmark approach guidance sentence S15 ("Soon, it is around" ○○○ Bank ○○ branch office "") Is displayed. Thereby, the user can recognize that he / she has approached the landmark, and can efficiently search for the landmark from nearby facilities.

  In the navigation screen D11, the display of the destination display column TP is updated to “1 minute to XX”, and the display of the next waypoint display column NP is about 7m to the XX bank XX branch office. It has been updated. Further, the position of the user mark on the map MP is also updated.

  When the user progresses according to the guidance text and passes through the entrance of the plaza, the passage confirmation input is performed by tapping the position of the passage confirmation button B07 on the touch panel. This passage confirmation input is detected by the input unit 301 (YES in step S120), and the communication unit 304 transmits data requesting the next guidance sentence to the server device 200 (step S121).

  When the request data is received by the communication unit 304 of the portable terminal 300 (step S122), it is determined whether or not the currently selected passing point is a corner (step S123). Here, the currently selected passing point is the entrance of the plaza, but the traveling direction is changed, so that it is also treated as a corner. Therefore, in step S123, it is determined that the passing point is a corner, and a confirmation landmark search process is executed (step S124). Here, it is assumed that the confirmation landmark has not been searched. When the confirmation landmark search process is completed, the next passing point is selected (step S125). Here, the next passing point is the exit of the plaza. The landmark “ΔΔ shop” near the exit of the plaza is searched by the landmark search processing in step S126.

  Next, the guidance sentence generation unit 203 generates a guidance sentence (step S127). In this process, when the exit of the plaza is selected as the passing point, a guidance sentence that guides the traveling direction from the entrance to the exit of the plaza (hereinafter referred to as “square proceeding direction guidance sentence”) is generated. That is, in the process of step S127, the guidance summary sentence to the exit of the square, the square travel direction guidance sentence, the landmark guidance sentence indicating the searched landmark, and the guidance sentence for guiding the exit from the square Is generated. For example, “Leave the square” is generated as the guidance summary sentence, “Go ahead diagonally from the square entrance” is generated as the square travel direction guidance sentence, and “About 43 m ahead” as the landmark guidance sentence There is “△△ Shop” on the left. ”Is generated, and“ That is the exit of the square. When you get there, tap the button. ”Is generated as a guide to guide you out of the square.

  When the guidance text is generated as described above, the guidance text data is transmitted to the portable terminal 300 by the communication unit 204 (step S128).

  When the guidance text data is received by the communication unit 304 of the portable terminal 300 (step S129), the guidance summary up to the next passing point is displayed on the display unit 302 (step S130), and the confirmation landmark is searched. If so, a confirmation landmark guidance sentence (hereinafter referred to as “confirmation landmark guidance sentence”) at a corner is displayed (step S131). Here, since the confirmation landmark has not been searched, the confirmation landmark guide has not been generated.

  Next, it is determined by the portable terminal 300 whether or not the next is the destination (step S132). If the next is not the destination (NO in step S132), the process proceeds to step S118, and a landmark guidance sentence and a passage confirmation button are displayed on the display unit 302 (step S118). Also, in this process, when the passing point is an exit of the square, a square travel direction guidance sentence and a guidance sentence for notifying the exit from the square are also displayed.

  An example of the navigation screen in this case is shown in FIG. 6L. In the timeline display column of the navigation screen D12, there are a guidance summary sentence S16 ("Leave the square"), a square progress direction guidance sentence S17 ("Go ahead and right diagonally from the square entrance"), landmark Guidance S18 (“There is“ △△ Shop ”on the left about 43m ahead.”) And Guidance S19 (“That is the exit of the plaza. When you get there, tap the button.”) ) Is displayed, and a passage confirmation button B08 for inputting that it has passed the exit of the square as a passage point is displayed below the guidance sentence S19.

  Further, on the navigation screen D12, the display of the next waypoint display column NP is updated to “approximately 43m until ΔΔ shop”. Further, the position of the user mark on the map MP is also updated.

  When the user proceeds according to the guidance text and approaches within a predetermined distance of the landmark, this is detected by the positioning unit 303, and the display unit 302 outputs the landmark approach guidance text (step S119). Further, when the user proceeds according to the guidance sentence and passes the exit of the square, the passage confirmation input is performed by tapping the position of the passage confirmation button B08 on the touch panel. This passage confirmation input is detected by the input unit 301 (YES in step S120), and the communication unit 304 transmits data requesting the next guidance sentence to the server device 200 (step S121).

  When the request data is received by the communication unit 304 of the portable terminal 300 (step S122), it is determined whether or not the currently selected passing point is a corner (step S123). Here, the currently selected passing point is the exit of the plaza, but it is assumed that it is also treated as a corner because the direction of travel has changed. Therefore, in step S123, it is determined that the passing point is a corner, and a confirmation landmark search process is executed (step S124). Here, it is assumed that “▽▽▽▽” has been searched as a confirmation landmark. When the confirmation landmark search process is completed, the next passing point is selected (step S125). Here, the next passing point is the destination “XXX”. If the passing point is the destination, the destination is determined as a landmark in the landmark search process in step S126.

  Next, the guidance sentence generation unit 203 generates a guidance sentence (step S127). In this process, when a confirmation landmark is searched, a confirmation landmark guide sentence is generated. That is, in the process of step S127, a guidance summary sentence to the destination, a confirmation landmark guidance sentence, and a landmark guidance sentence indicating the landmark that is the destination are generated. For example, it passes "" ▽▽▽▽ "as a guide summary sentence. ”,“ Destination “XXX”. ”Is generated, and if you see“ ▽▽▽▽ ”on the left hand side as soon as you turn (approx. 11m away) as a landmark guide for confirmation, you are proceeding correctly. Will be generated as a guide sentence, “Tap the button if you pass there, and let me know.” As a landmark guide sentence, you will see “○○○” on the right hand side about 91m away. The Is generated.

  When the guidance text is generated as described above, the guidance text data is transmitted to the portable terminal 300 by the communication unit 204 (step S128).

  When the guidance sentence data is received by the communication unit 304 of the portable terminal 300 (step S129), the display unit 302 displays the guidance summary sentence to the destination (step S130), and the confirmation landmark is searched. If so, a confirmation landmark guidance text is displayed (step S131).

  An example of the navigation screen in this case is shown in FIG. 6M. In the timeline display column of the navigation screen D13, there is a guidance summary sentence S20 (“passes“ ▽▽▽▽ ””, “the destination is“ XX ””), a confirmation landmark guidance sentence S21. ("As soon as you turn (approx. 11m ahead), if you have" ▽▽▽▽ "on your left hand, you are proceeding correctly."), And guidance S22 ("Tap the button and let me know.") Is displayed, and a passage confirmation button B09 for inputting that the landmark for confirmation has been passed is displayed below the guidance sentence S22.

  In the navigation screen D13, the display of the next waypoint display field NP is updated to “about 11 m until ▽▽▽▽”. Further, the position of the user mark on the map MP is also updated.

  When the user proceeds according to the guidance text and passes the confirmation landmark, the user confirms the passage by tapping the position of the passage confirmation button B09 on the touch panel. When the input of the passage confirmation is detected by the input unit 301, the portable terminal 300 determines whether or not the next is the destination (step S132). If the next is the destination (YES in step S132), the landmark guidance text to the destination is displayed on display 302 (step S133), and the process ends.

  FIG. 6N shows a display example of the landmark guideline for the destination. When the passage confirmation button B09 is operated by the user, the balloon on which the passage confirmation button B09 is displayed changes from the passage confirmation button B09 to the user input information U05 “passed”. Also, in the timeline display field of the navigation screen D14, below the input information U05, the landmark landmark guidance sentence S23 (“I think you can see the destination“ ○○○ ”on the right hand side about 91m”. ) And system-side output information S23 “Thank you for your work”.

  In the navigation screen D14, the display of the destination display field TP is updated to “coming soon to XX”, and the display of the next waypoint display field NP is updated to “about 26m until XX”. Yes. Further, the position of the user mark on the map MP is also updated.

  In the above embodiment, in order to simplify the description, the operation input of the lost button B01 is accepted in step S136. However, the client program of the portable terminal 300 is actually event-driven. Type of computer program that can accept the operation of the lost button B01 at an arbitrary timing. The server program of the server device 200 is also an event-driven computer program, and accepts departure / destination data generated in association with operating the lost button B01 at an arbitrary timing.

As described above, according to the portable navigation system 100 according to the present embodiment, the lost button for operation when the user is lost (when the user does not take action according to the guidance sentence) is always displayed. Therefore, the user can operate the lost button B01 when he / she gets lost and does not take an action in accordance with the guidance sentence. It is possible to immediately provide the user with information for confirming. Moreover, since the lost button B01 is always displayed, the user can operate it even when the passage confirmation button (not always displayed) is not displayed.
In other words, the user may feel anxious about guidance at an unintended timing of the system, but since the lost button B01 is always displayed, the user can always operate the lost button B01 if he feels anxiety. , The user experience is improved. In addition, since the lost button B01 is always displayed with its display position fixed, the user can easily recognize the presence of the lost button B01.
In addition, when the guidance sentence is generated, the landmark guidance sentence and a passage confirmation button for confirming that the landmark (passing point in the vicinity) has been displayed are displayed. When the action according to the action is taken, the passage confirmation button can be operated, and in response to this, the system can execute a process (display of the next guidance sentence) necessary after taking the action. it can.

  In addition, according to the portable navigation system 100 according to the present embodiment, landmarks can be searched along the route, and landmarks that are effective in the route guidance for pedestrians can be presented by guidance text. It is suitable as a portable navigation system.

  In addition, according to the portable navigation system 100 according to the present embodiment, a corner is extracted as a passing point, and a guide sentence indicating a landmark that serves as a landmark of the corner is presented to the user. Can make it easier to find. Also, by presenting the user with a confirmation landmark at the corner of the corner, it can be easily confirmed whether or not the user has turned the correct corner with the landmark for confirmation. It becomes possible to prevent.

  Further, according to the portable navigation system 100 according to the present embodiment, when a distance between adjacent passing points is a long distance, the intermediate position is extracted as a passing point, and a landmark serving as a mark of the intermediate position is shown. Since the guidance sentence is presented to the user, it is possible to prevent the user from becoming uneasy or going on the wrong road even if the road is long.

  In addition, when the route passes through a square, the user often gets lost in the square. Therefore, according to the portable navigation system 100 according to the present embodiment, each of the entrance and exit of the plaza is extracted as a passing point, and the landmark is presented to the user at each of the entrance and exit of the plaza. It is possible to guide the user how to proceed in the area and to prevent the user from getting lost in the square. In addition, there are no roads in the square, and the user may not know which direction to go. Therefore, by presenting the direction of travel from the entrance to the exit of the plaza to the user, the user can easily confirm which direction to proceed through the plaza and get lost in the plaza. Can be prevented.

  If the presented landmark is difficult to find, the user may not be able to confirm the landmark. On the other hand, depending on the type of facility, there are easy-to-find facilities such as convenience stores and family restaurants, and difficult-to-find facilities such as offices in buildings. Therefore, according to the portable navigation system 100 according to the present embodiment, facilities are classified into a plurality of genres, and facilities that are easy to find are determined as landmarks, so that the user can easily find the landmarks. Can prevent getting lost.

[3. Other Embodiments]

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the traveling direction from the entrance of the plaza to the exit is indicated by the direction viewed from the user entering the entrance of the plaza from the front (for example, diagonally right front from the entrance of the plaza) has been described. It is not limited to. For example, you may show the advancing direction which goes to the exit of a square using the display of the guide board installed in the ceiling etc. of an underground mall. FIG. 7 shows an example of guiding the traveling direction toward the exit of the plaza in this way. On the navigation screen D121 in FIG. 7, a square advancing direction guidance sentence S171 is displayed. This square progress direction guidance sentence S171, please proceed in the direction of the arrow of the message "East ▽ ▽ Station of the ceiling signage guide" using the display of the information board. Is included. As a result, the user can confirm which direction the exit of the target square is in, by confirming the display of the guide board provided in the square.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mobile terminal 300 is provided with the positioning unit 303, the position of the mobile terminal is measured by the positioning unit 303, and when the user goes off the route or approaches the landmark, Although the configuration is such that the user is notified of the departure from the route and the approach to the landmark, the present invention is not limited to this. The portable terminal 300 may not be provided with the positioning unit 303, and the above notification may not be performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the positioning unit 303 detects the user's walking motion by the acceleration sensor and estimates the traveling distance is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver may be configured to measure the position of the user (portable terminal 300), or a radio wave transmitter may be attached to various locations in the service area, and the portable terminal 300 may be provided with a radio wave receiver. A configuration in which the position of the user (portable terminal 300) is measured from the position of the radio wave transmitter having the strongest radio wave reception intensity of the portable terminal 300 may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the portable navigation system 100 is configured by the server device 200 and the portable terminal 300 as a client device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the function of the server device 200 is mounted on a portable terminal, and a route search, a landmark search, a guidance sentence generation, a route and a guidance sentence display are independently performed by one portable terminal. You can also.

In the embodiment described above, the server device 200 has been described as performing a route search, a landmark search, and a guide sentence generation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, some of the functions of the server device may be executed by the portable terminal, such as performing route search and landmark search in the server device and generating a guidance sentence on the portable terminal. Is possible. The server apparatus 200 may not be configured by a single computer, but may be a distributed system including a plurality of computers by causing the plurality of computers to execute the processing of the server apparatus as a distributed process. In particular, the road network database 205 and the facility information database 206 may be configured by a database server different from the server device 200.
In addition, the lost button does not need to be displayed all the time during the execution of the client program in the portable terminal 300, and at least a plurality of guidance sentences from the start of the guidance sentence to the destination are displayed. It only needs to be displayed until the display is completed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Portable navigation system 200 Server apparatus 201 Route search part 202 Landmark search part 203 Guide sentence generation part 204 Communication part 205 Road network database 206 Facility information database 300 Portable terminal 301 Input part 302 Display part 303 Positioning part 304 Communication part

Claims (14)

A portable navigation system comprising a portable terminal,
A route search means for searching a route from the departure point to the destination,
Landmark search means for searching for landmarks as landmarks of the route searched by the route search means;
Guidance information generating means for generating guidance information related to the route searched by the route searching means and indicating the landmark searched by the landmark searching means ;
Display means for displaying the guide information generated by the guide information generating means on the portable terminal;
A positioning unit for detecting the current position of the user;
With
The display means includes a plurality of first operation units for receiving a first operation indicating that the user has not taken an action in accordance with the guidance information, from at least the display of the guidance information to the destination. Until the display of the guide information is completed, when the guide information indicating the landmark is generated by the guide information generating means while being always displayed on the portable terminal, the guide information indicating the landmark and A second operation unit for accepting a second operation indicating that the user has reached the landmark indicated in the guidance information is displayed on the portable terminal ,
When the second operation unit is displayed, if it is determined that the user has passed the landmark based on the current position of the user detected by the positioning unit, the landmark passes along with the second operation unit. portable navigation system configured so that display the guidance statement to the portable terminal. Means for accepting an input as a departure place landmark that is visible to the user as the departure place;
The guidance information generating means can generate initial guidance information, and the initial guidance information includes initial direction information indicating an initial direction that the user should face with respect to the departure place landmark, and a user proceeds from the departure place. The travel direction information is information including travel direction information indicating a power travel direction, and the travel direction information is information indicating the travel direction by a relative direction viewed from a user facing the initial direction. Portable navigation system. Before Symbol display means,
If the previous SL first operation is received, to display the recovery guiding information for guiding the user from the current position to the destination on the mobile terminal,
Before SL when the second operation is received, the portable navigation system of claim 1 or 2 to display the guidance information following the guidance information displayed on the portable terminal to the portable terminal. If the previous SL first operation is accepted the said route search means searches for a new route from the current position to a destination, it said display means, as the return guide information, searched by the route search means The portable navigation system according to claim 3, wherein new guidance information relating to a new route is configured to be displayed on the portable terminal. Before Symbol first operation, the portable navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 to indicate that the user has lost. The landmark search means searches for a landmark that is a mark of a turn included in the route searched by the route search means and a landmark that is a mark that is turned around the turn,
The guide information generating means generates a plurality of guide information indicating each landmark in the order from the departure place to the destination,
The display means, one of the guidance information and the second operation portion showing one of the landmarks to be displayed on the portable terminal, if the previous SL second operation is received, the next of the one landmark The portable navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the next guidance information indicating a landmark is displayed on the portable terminal. When the distance from one turn to the next turn is less than a predetermined value, the landmark search means uses the next turn as a landmark next to the landmark that has turned the first turn. A landmark that becomes a landmark of a corner is searched, and when a distance from the first corner to the next corner is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, a landmark next to the landmark that has been bent around the first corner The portable navigation system according to claim 6, configured to search for a landmark that serves as a landmark of a point between the one turn and the next turn as a landmark. The landmark retrieval means, if the previous Kikei path search unit route searched by goes through the square, the inlet landmarks serves as a mark of the entrance of the square, outlet landmarks serves as a mark of the square of the exit The portable navigation system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the portable navigation system is configured to search. The guide information generating means, when the entrance landmark and the exit landmark are searched by the landmark search means, as guide information indicating the exit landmark, from the entrance landmark to the exit landmark. The portable navigation system according to claim 8, wherein the portable navigation system is configured to generate guidance information indicating a traveling direction. A storage unit that stores facility location information regarding the location of the facility to be a landmark and type information indicating the type of the landmark;
The landmark search means searches for a landmark candidate facility based on the facility location information stored in the storage unit, and based on the searched landmark candidate facility type information, the landmark candidate The portable navigation system according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the landmark is determined from the information. The portable terminal is configured to sequentially display a plurality of the guidance information on a timeline,
The second operation unit is displayed in the timeline display,
The portable navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the second operation unit is displayed in a fixed position outside the timeline display. A navigation method for guiding a route to a user by a portable terminal,
A route search step for searching for a route from the starting point to the destination,
Guidance information generation step for generating guidance information on the searched route, the guide information indicating the landmark searched by the landmark search means ;
Display of a plurality of guidance information from the start of displaying at least the guidance information to the destination after a first operation unit for accepting a first operation indicating that the user has not acted according to the guidance information the land but until completed, while always displayed by the portable terminal, when the guidance information indicating landmarks is generated, and the guide information indicating the landmark, a user is shown in the guidance information a second operation unit for accepting a second operation indicated that it has reached the mark have a display step of displaying by said portable terminal,
When it is determined that the user has passed the landmark while the second operation unit is displayed, a landmark passage guidance sentence is displayed together with the second operation unit by the portable terminal. Navigation method. A portable terminal used in a portable navigation system,
Receiving means for receiving guidance information about a route from a departure place to a destination, the guidance information indicating a landmark serving as a landmark of the route ;
A positioning unit for detecting the current position of the user;
Display of a plurality of guidance information from the start of displaying at least the guidance information to the destination after a first operation unit for accepting a first operation indicating that the user has not taken an action according to the guidance information There until the completion while always displayed, if the guidance information indicating landmark is received by the receiving means, the guide information indicating the landmark, the landmark users indicated in the guide information and display means for displaying a second operation unit for accepting a second operation indicated that it has reached the,
If the display means determines that the user has passed the landmark based on the current position of the user detected by the positioning unit when the second operation unit is displayed , the display means A portable terminal characterized by displaying a landmark passage guidance text together with a section . A computer program for causing a portable terminal including a display unit to function as a portable navigation device,
Obtaining guidance information on a route from a departure place to a destination, the guidance information indicating a landmark serving as a landmark of the route ;
Display of a plurality of guidance information from the start of displaying at least the guidance information to the destination after a first operation unit for accepting a first operation indicating that the user has not acted according to the guidance information There until completed, while always displayed by the display unit, the landmark when the guidance information indicating landmarks is acquired, and the guide information indicating the landmark, a user is shown in the guidance information And a second operation unit for receiving a second operation indicating that the current position of the user has been reached is displayed on the display unit, and the current position of the user detected by the positioning unit when the second operation unit is displayed based on the user it is judged to have passed the landmark real and displaying the landmark passage guide statement with the second operating portion on the portable terminal Computer programs to be.

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