JPH0737067A - Map information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display a map at a high speed at all times by providing a data conversion means for thinning vector map data and extracting only the required information. CONSTITUTION:The data conversion, means 20 for performing the thinning of the data kind unit or the point unit of map vectors from the vector map data corresponding to a fixed rule specified by a thinning rule specifying means, reducing the data amount itself of the vector map data to an appropriate amount, further performing conversion to an appropriate format and performing output is provided. Further, a picture processing means 4 for storing the vector map data which are the output of the means 20 in a second storage means 8 capable of a high speed access and letting an optional part in the map displayed at a display means 6 in an optional scale is provided. Thus, the appropriate information amount of the vector map data can be reduced within a range allowable in the accuracy of the map corresponding to the memory capacity or processing speed of a map information display device, access to a low-speed storage device while displaying the map is reduced and the map can be displayed at a high speed at all times.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map information display device for displaying map information using vector map data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 19 shows, for example, JP-A-3-168686.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional map information display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1, 1 is vector map data stored in various formats, 2 is format conversion means for converting the vector map data 1 into a common format, Reference numeral 3 is a large-capacity storage means such as a hard disk or an optical disk, which constitutes a first storage means for storing vector map data in a common format. Reference numeral 4 denotes various image processings, reads data from the first storage means 3, stores a part of the vector map data in the second storage means 8 composed of a memory device and which can be accessed at high speed, and stores the vector map data in bits. Image processing means for converting into map data and storing it in the frame memory 5, 6 is a display means such as a CRT for displaying the contents of the frame memory, and 7 is a position input means such as a transparent touch screen, a tablet, a mouse, etc., which the user desires. The portion can be displayed on the display means 6.

Next, the operation will be described. The large-capacity vector map data stored in the first storage means 3 is converted into bit map data in the frame memory 5 by the image processing means 4 and stored in the frame memory 5, and the corresponding vector map data is stored in the second storage. It is stored in the means 8. When the display portion is changed by the position input means 7, the corresponding vector map data is read from the second storage means 8 and displayed. To change the information stored in the frame memory 5, new map information is read from the first storage means 3 and the above operation is repeated.

[0004]

Since the conventional map information display device is constructed as described above, the second storage means 8 is provided.
If the memory capacity of the vector map is small or the vector map data itself is very large, it often happens that the vector map data has to be directly read from the first storage means 3, and extremely during the displaying of the map. There is a problem that the processing speed becomes slow.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the vector map data is adapted to the memory amount or processing speed of the map information display device within a range where the accuracy of the map is acceptable. An object of the present invention is to obtain a map information display device that can reduce the amount of information, reduce access to a low speed storage device during map display, and can always perform high speed map display.

[0006]

The map information display device according to the invention of claim 1 of the present invention comprises thinning rule specifying means 2
In accordance with a certain rule specified by f, the point unit or the data type unit of the map vector is thinned from the vector map data to reduce the data amount itself of the vector map data to an appropriate amount, and further convert it to an appropriate format. The data converting means 20 to be output and the vector map data output from the data converting means 20 are stored in the second storage means 8 which can be accessed at high speed, and an arbitrary portion in the map is displayed on the display means 6 at an arbitrary scale. The image processing means 4 is provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the vector map data is provided with a coupling means for coupling other vector map data, data other than the map, and additional information.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the verification means for visually verifying the accuracy of the vector map data is provided.

[0009]

In the map information display device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the data conversion means 20 thins out the vector map data itself in units of points or data types, and the number of data is reduced to reduce the second storage means 8. The image is processed by the image processing means while being stored.

In the second aspect, the vector map data input to the data converting means is combined with other vector map data or other data other than the map data or other additional information, and is then thinned out.

In the third aspect, the data content of the vector map data and the data content of the converted vector map data are simultaneously displayed on the display means.

[0012]

【Example】

Example 1. Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in FIG. 19 are designated by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 1, 61 is vector map data, 20
2 is a data conversion means realized by software, and is constituted by adding a thinning-out means 2e after the conventional format conversion means 2 as shown in FIG. 2, and after the format conversion (data conversion), a thinning-out rule designating means 2f is provided. Thinning is performed based on the designation. Reference numeral 3 denotes a first storage means for storing the vector map data after data conversion, which is composed of, for example, a hard disk. The second storage means 4 reads the vector map data D in the first storage means 3 after conversion and stores it in the second storage means 8 while storing the map on the display means 6. The image processing means 7 to be displayed is a position input means which allows the user to input a map range or map position to be displayed. The second storage means 8 is composed of a RAM or the like, and stores the data of the first storage means 3 in a shared manner to enable high-speed access. That is, the first storage means 3 has a large storage capacity but cannot be accessed at high speed. Therefore, the data of the first storage means 3 is stored in the second storage means 8 for high speed access. A storage unit 2j stores the thinning rule. A specific example of the thinning means 2e is as follows.

For example, when there is vector map data in which there are three or more points on a straight line, only the start point and the end point are left and other points are thinned out. Even if the vector is slightly curved as shown in FIG. 4, intermediate points are thinned out if they are within the allowable error range specified in the thinning rule. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, if a thinning rule is set for thinning roads of 5.5 m or less, all vectors representing roads of 5.5 m or less are thinned in the map data as shown in FIG. By doing so, the map data of FIG. 7 is obtained. The operation is the same as the format conversion, the thinning rule is read from the vector map data 61 and the storage means 2j, the coordinates of the vector are checked point by point, and the data not thinned out is recorded in the new format on the hard disk (after conversion). (As vector map data D).

A concrete example of the thinning rule designating means 2f is as follows. The thinning rule is created in advance in a text file format (a file that can be read by humans) using an editor and stored in the storage means 2j. When the format conversion means 2 is activated, if a thinning rule file is designated together, thinning is performed according to the file. In the thinning rule, as shown in FIG. 5, the allowable error range (distance (m) on the map, etc.) and the vector attribute (highway, national road, road of 5.5 m or less) are thinned or not thinned. Can be defined.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the vector map data 61 is converted into the vector map data D while formatting the vector map data 61 in the predetermined format of the data conversion means 20. When converting this data,
Decimate the amount of data. When thinning out, the thinning rule is designated in advance in the data converting means 20.
Specify with f.

An allowable error range of vector map data is set as a thinning rule in the storage means 2j. For example, in the case of vector map data of three roads represented by points 81 to 83 as shown in FIG. 4, when the point 82 is thinned out to make a total of two vector map data, the point 82 and the point 81 8
If the distance from the straight line connecting 3 is smaller than the error range and it is inside the circle having the diameter of the straight line connecting the points 81 and 83, this is thinned out. In addition, if it is a node that represents a road branch or intersection, you can choose whether to thin out by the value of the error range, or you can limit the length of the straight line after thinning and do not thin it further Or the thinning rule is set so that the vector map data D after the thinning operation is not separated from the original vector map data 61.

By this data conversion, the vector map data D whose data amount has been adjusted to an appropriate size can be produced, and this is stored in the second storage means 8 by the image processing means 4. At the same time, the map is displayed on the display means 6. The user inputs an arbitrary position or range using the position input means 7 while looking at the display means 6. The information input from the position input means 7 is searched for a predetermined map range analyzed by the image processing means 4 from the second storage means 8 and displayed at an arbitrary scale. At this time, since the vector map data D of the map is a data amount suitable for the storage capacity of the second storage means 8, all the map search display after the position is input can be performed only by interaction with the second storage means 8, and image processing is performed. The processing speed of the means 4 can always be kept high. Further, the map thinned out within the allowable error range can be displayed as a map that is comparable in accuracy to the original vector map data.

Example 2. In the first embodiment described above, the case where the data amount is reduced by the data conversion means 20 has been described, but as shown in FIG.
2, data 63 other than maps, and other additional information 6
4 is provided, and if the data amount is further reduced so that the vector map data D can be converted, a wide range map can be displayed by combining the vector map data, or a detailed hierarchical map can be displayed. It is also possible to display or display character information or the like corresponding to the position designated by the position input means. It is also possible to specify the line type, thickness, color, etc. of a line segment on a map represented by a simple vector.

Here, the data 63 other than the map is, for example,
Character data such as place name data (prefectures, cities, towns and villages) corresponding to each area within a certain area on the map, which is not normally displayed on the screen, but specified by the position input means 7 (mouse, tablet, touch pen, etc.) Only appears on the screen (also used as a heading on the screen when enlarged). Also, the area's population, number of units, and more detailed telephone numbers. In addition, it also contains the location data of the emergency deployment points of the police and the fire hydrants of the fire department, which are not usually on the map.
The color, thickness, line type (solid line, broken line), etc. of the vector (line segment) are used as the additional information.

The combining means 20a may be, for example, one of the three vector maps of Saitama prefecture, Tokyo metropolitan area, and Gunma prefecture.
The maps are combined into one map, or colors are added to the maps to create the converted vector map data 7. Also,
The location data that can be incorporated into the map among the data other than the map is combined into one map. The amount of data reduction depends on the system, but it was confirmed that it can be reduced up to about 50% in the order that is actually applied (there is little discomfort.) And there are five vector maps as shown in Fig. 8. So far, I needed to read the map of Okayama from the hard disk at the break point while scrolling from Hyogo to Okayama. Therefore, the screen stopped for a moment. Although the conventional method describes how to load five maps on the memory and scroll them. In the case of a map with a large amount of data, such as the northern part of Kinki, the only option is to increase the memory. When the thinning method is used, the data of each map is reduced, so even if five maps are combined, the memory usage can be suppressed.
(It is not necessary to increase the memory.) The layering is as follows. That is, the map has a hierarchy generally called "layer" as shown in FIG.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of map data can be combined, so that two to three maps in the same range are combined to combine more detailed maps in addition to the normally displayed maps. . During operation, you can switch to a detailed map if necessary, or you can view it as needed by combining maps of completely different types in different layers.
In the display of the above-mentioned character information, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the names of cities, towns and villages correspond to this, and the combining means 20a is used to display "data other than map" in which the names of cities, towns and villages are associated with a certain range of coordinates. Combine it. Normally, the screen is not displayed as shown in FIG. It is displayed when it is specified with a mouse or the like. In FIG. 11, "data other than map" in which the coordinates of four points are assigned to the character string at coordinate position F
Then, if you specify the area of this coordinate, you can display the character string on the screen and teach the place name.

The line type, thickness, and color of the line segment are as follows. In most cases, a normal vector map is composed only of coordinate data and its type (national road, general road etc). Also,
Even map data whose line type or color is originally determined may have to be changed depending on the performance of the CRT. Here, for example, in terms of roads, as shown in FIG. 13, a highway is a yellow solid line, a thickness is 3 dots, a national road is a green solid line, a thickness is 2 dots, a general road is a blue solid line, and a thickness is If the data having the content of 1 dot is set in the text file as in the thinning rule designation, the line segment attribute is set as set when the format conversion unit (combining unit 20a) is activated.

Example 3. Data conversion means 20 in the first embodiment
In the above, the case where vectors are thinned out within the allowable error range has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 14, the image processing means 4 converts the vector map data 61 without thinning it out, and does not thin out the vector map data Da. By simultaneously displaying the converted vector map data D on the display means 6 and incorporating a verification means 4a capable of visually comparing the accuracy of the map data, the accuracy of the map can be easily verified. Also,
It is also easy to adjust the vector map data amount to an optimum amount without changing the reference of thinning and degrading the accuracy while considering the storage capacity of the storage means 8 and the vector map data amount of the map. A specific example of the verification means 4a is as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 15, vector map data D when thinning out and vector map data Da when not thinning out are created, and this is verified by the verification means 4a.
Use to display two at the same time. In this case, since it is difficult to understand on the screen obtained in FIG. 15, if the mark “x” marked lines are broken lines at the thinned points in the vector map data Da, it becomes like FIG. If the standard of thinning is, for example, as shown in FIG. 17 as a result of data conversion once, the curve that draws a semicircle becomes a triangle. Therefore, if the thinning standard (permissible error range) is made severe, it becomes as shown in FIG. Therefore, it becomes easy to visually verify the accuracy. In the present invention, if the amount of data is extremely small due to thinning, the first storage means 3 can be omitted.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the data conversion means for thinning out vector map data and extracting only necessary information is provided, a large amount of vector map data can be accessed at high speed. It is possible to reduce the amount of data to an optimum amount according to the restriction of the storage capacity of the storage unit that enables the above or the processing capacity of the image processing unit, and to always display the map at high speed. In addition, by combining other vector map data, data other than maps, and other additional information and applying the above data conversion means to this, it is possible to always display a wide range of maps and detailed information at high speed according to the purpose. it can. Further, by incorporating the vector map data verification means into the image processing means, it becomes easy to visually verify the accuracy of the map after data conversion, which is facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a map information display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of data conversion means.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a data conversion unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of thinning.

FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of thinning rules.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing map data before thinning.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing map data after thinning.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display after thinning.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a map information display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing details of the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing details of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing details of the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing details of the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a map information display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing details of the third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing details of the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing details of the third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing details of the third embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional map information display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 61, D vector map data 2 format conversion means 3 large capacity storage means (first storage means) 4 image processing means 5 frame memory 6 display means 7 position input means 8 second storage means 20 data conversion means 2e thinning means 2f Thinning rule designating means 2j Storage means 20a Combining means 64 Additional information 4a Verification means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] November 19, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0020] In addition, the coupling means 20a is, if For example example, Saitama Prefecture and Tokyo, or combined into a single map the three vectors map of Gunma Prefecture, settings such as color in the additional information to this, vector after conversion Create map data 7. In addition, position data that can be incorporated into the map among the data other than the map is combined into one map. The amount of data reduction is due to the system, it feels different sum up to about a maximum of 50%
Ru can Ku reduction. Its to, and there are five of the vector map as shown in FIG. 8, until now, in the midst of scroll toward the Okayama from Hyogo, there was a need to read the Okayama map from the hard disk of the separated place . Therefore, the screen stopped for a moment. Although the conventional method describes how to load five maps on the memory and scroll them. In the case of a map with a large amount of data, such as the northern part of Kinki, the only option is to increase the memory. When the thinning method is used, the data of each map is reduced, so even if five maps are combined, the memory usage can be suppressed. (No need to increase memory.)

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0021

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
Since a plurality of map data can be combined with each other, two to three maps in the same range are combined to combine more detailed maps in addition to the maps normally displayed. During operation, you can switch to a detailed map if necessary, or you can view it as needed by combining maps of completely different types in different layers. The display of the character information is, for example,
As shown in FIG. 11, the names of cities, towns and villages correspond to these, and the combining means 20a is used to combine "data other than maps" in which the names of cities, towns and villages are associated with a certain range of coordinates. Normally, the screen is not displayed as shown in FIG. It is displayed when it is specified with a mouse or the like. In FIG. 11, the character string at the coordinate position F is defined as "data other than map" in which four coordinates are assigned, and when the area of this coordinate is designated, the character string is displayed on the screen and the place name can be taught. it can.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0023

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Example 3. Data conversion means 20 in the first embodiment
In the above, the case where vectors are thinned out within the allowable error range has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 14, the image processing means 4 converts the vector map data 61 without thinning it out, and does not thin out the vector map data Da. By simultaneously displaying the converted vector map data D on the display means 6 and incorporating a verification means 4a capable of visually comparing the accuracy of the map data, the accuracy of the map can be easily verified. Also,
It is also easy to adjust the vector map data amount to an optimum amount without changing the reference of thinning and degrading the accuracy while considering the storage capacity of the storage means 8 and the vector map data amount of the map. A specific example of the verification means 4a is as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 15, vector map data D when thinning out and vector map data Da when not thinning out are created, and this is verified by the verification means 4a.
Use to display two at the same time. In this case, since it is difficult to understand on the screen obtained in FIG. 15, if the mark “x” mark line type is made into a broken line at the thinned points in the vector map data Da, it becomes like FIG. If the standard of thinning is, for example, as shown in FIG. 17 as a result of data conversion once, the curve that draws a semicircle becomes a triangle. Therefore, if the thinning standard (permissible error range) is made severe, it becomes as shown in FIG. Therefore, it becomes easy to visually verify the accuracy. In the present invention, if the amount of data is extremely small due to thinning, the first storage means 3 can be omitted.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 5

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 5]

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 7

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 7]

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G09B 29/10 A G09G 5/00 9471-5G 5/36 510 B 9471-5G

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A thinning rule designating unit, a data converting unit for thinning out vector map data or vector type units from vector map data in accordance with the thinning rule by the thinning rule designating unit, and a capacity after thinning out of the data converting unit. It is characterized by comprising a storage means capable of high-speed access for storing the reduced vector map data, and an image processing means for displaying an arbitrary portion of the map in the vector map data on the display means at an arbitrary scale. Map information display device. 2. A combination means for combining and inputting other vector map data, data other than map data, or other additional information to the vector map data input to the data converting means is provided. The map information display device according to claim 1, wherein the map information display device is a map information display device. 3. The image processing means is provided with a verification means capable of simultaneously displaying the data content of the vector map data and the data content of the converted vector map data by the display means and visually comparing the accuracy of the vector map data. The map information display device according to claim 1, wherein the map information display device is provided.