JPH08123320A - Portable information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To display information relating to a map in real time in information display in an electronic map device or the like capable of storing map information in a memory card or an optical disk and displaying the map information on a display. CONSTITUTION: A map area in which the map information is accumulated and an information area in which the information relating to the map information is accumulated are provided in external memory 23. The map information from the map area is displayed and also, the information in real time relating to a displayed area is accumulated in the information area. Such real time information can be displayed by clicking a part in which the information is accumulated. In this way, the information in real time relating to the map can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information display device suitable for use in an electronic map device for recording map information on a recording medium and displaying a map of a required area on a display, and more particularly to a portable information display device. , A portable information display device capable of displaying information about a map in real time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The inventor of the present application has proposed an electronic map device capable of storing map information in a recording medium such as a memory card or an optical disk and displaying the map information on a portable display. Such an electronic map device is small and lightweight, can store a very large amount of information as compared with a conventional map, and can easily select and display necessary information. Therefore, it is very convenient to carry it for a walk or shopping.

That is, there are various kinds of information such as a map for shopping, a map for theater, and the like, in addition to a map that simply informs the topography and directions, among the currently sold maps. Conventionally, when purchasing a map, a map suitable for one's destination and purpose is selected from these various maps. However, in most cases, the purchased map does not meet all requirements. If a large amount of information is spread over a wide area on one map, the map becomes thicker, which is inconvenient to carry, and too much information makes it difficult to find the desired information. On the other hand, if the area on one map is narrow and only specific information is posted, the place you want to go to may not be posted, or necessary information may not be available. On the other hand, the electronic map device can store a large amount of information and can easily select and display necessary information.

Further, the electronic map device is expected to be used in various forms and purposes. That is, the electronic map device is easy to input and rewrite information,
Since it is easy to select information, it can be used in forms and applications that were not possible with conventional maps.
For example, the latest event information, time service shopping information, and the like can be handled in real time by taking advantage of the ease of inputting and rewriting information. Also, because the information is easily selectable, for example, the place where the event is currently being held is displayed on the map, and more detailed information about this event is displayed. It will be possible to deal with detailed information of.

As a means for displaying a map on a display, there is known a navigation system in which the present position is measured by using an artificial satellite and the present position is indicated on the map of the display. Such a navigation system is very useful when the destination to be visited is clear and the route to the destination is to be guided. However, the conventional car navigation system simply has a function of displaying the current location on a map, and cannot display real-time information.

[0006]

As described above, in the electronic map device in which the map information is stored in the memory card or the optical disk and the map information can be displayed on the display, the information related to the map is displayed in real time. It would be very useful if possible.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable information display device capable of handling real-time information.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable information display device capable of easily obtaining necessary information from whole information to detailed information.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a first storage unit in which map information is stored, a second storage unit in which real-time information related to the input map information is stored, and a first storage unit. It is portable information information including a display unit for displaying the map information stored in the storage unit and the real-time information stored in the second storage unit in association with each other.

[0010]

The external memory 23 is provided with a map area 23A for storing map information and an information area 23B for storing information related to the map information. Map area 23A
Information from the information area 23B
In, the real-time information related to the displayed area is accumulated. This real-time information is displayed when you click the place where the information is stored. This makes it possible to obtain real-time information related to the map.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of an electronic map device to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 generally indicates an electronic map device. The electronic map device 1 includes a display unit 2, a pointing device 3, input keys 4 and 4,
4, ... Are provided. The display unit 2 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. A map is displayed on the display unit 2 and
Information that is relevant to the map is displayed. Further, a television receiving screen can be displayed on the display unit 2. Pointing device 3, input keys 4, 4, 4,
Are used for command input, information selection, mode switching, etc. In one embodiment of the present invention, a map mode for displaying a map, a television mode for receiving a television broadcast, an FM mode for receiving an FM broadcast, etc. can be set.

A memory card insertion slot 5 is provided on the side surface 1A of the electronic map device 1. This memory card slot 5
The memory card 6 is inserted in the. Map information is stored in the memory card 6. Further, the memory card 6 stores real-time information relating to the map. The memory card 6 can be configured using, for example, a RAM having a backup power supply or an EEPROM. Further, instead of the memory card 6, a magnetic disk or a magneto-optical disk can be used.

An antenna 7 is attached to the side surface 1B of the electronic map device 1. The antenna 7 is for receiving information wirelessly transmitted from a network station, which will be described later, and for receiving radio waves of television broadcasting and FM broadcasting. In addition, on the side surface 1B of the electronic map device 1,
A speaker 8 is provided to listen to the sound of television broadcasting and FM broadcasting.

In the electronic map device to which the present invention is applied,
First, the pointing device 3, the input keys 4, 4, 4
... is used to select the map of the required area. When the area is selected, the map information of the desired area is read from the map information stored in the memory card 6, and this map is displayed on the display unit 2 as shown in FIG. Then, the selected area becomes an information collecting area, and information about the area from, for example, a net station (described in detail later) is received and this information is stored in the memory card 6. Information about the area, for example, bargain information and event information of department stores and supermarkets in the display area, gourmet information of restaurants, ticket reservation information,
This is job posting information for the company. Furthermore, weather information, traffic information, vacant information on parking, etc. in the area can also be included. As shown in FIG. 3, a point having information can be identified by an information point mark P (a mark having a specific form or a mark of a specific color) on the map. When the point on the map where the information is present is clicked by pointing with the pointing device 3, the input keys 4, 4, ..., The information D is displayed on the display unit 2 as shown in FIG.

The displayed area can be scrolled vertically and horizontally by using the pointing device 3. When the display area is changed, the information collection area is changed accordingly. Further, the display area can be enlarged or reduced, and the information collection area is also enlarged or reduced as the display area is enlarged or reduced.

It is also possible to specify the information to be collected by the user and collect only the specified information. Also,
The information point mark P may be displayed as an icon so that the type of information can be seen at a glance, or the color and shape may be changed according to the type of information so that the type of information can be seen at a glance.

As the map information, in addition to the map having accurate position and direction, it is possible to use a map which is easily drawn according to the purpose such as gourmet food, shopping, leisure, etc.

The information about the area is information closely related to the area, and the information changes from time to time. Therefore, in order to handle such community-based real-time information, it is desired to build a network system as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, 11A to 11C are net stations. The net stations 11A to 11C are small areas AR,
AR is provided for each. Each net station 11A-11
C receives the road information from the traffic information center 12, the weather information from the weather information center 13, the ticket reservation information from the ticket information center 14, the multiplex information of the FM radio station 15, and the like. In addition, each net station 11A-11
C receives local real-time town information, such as bargain information on department stores and supermarkets in each region, event information, restaurant gourmet information, and company recruitment information. The respective net stations 11A to 11C can exchange information with each other. Each of the net stations 11A to 11C sorts out necessary information from the collected information, adds position information, genre ID, etc. to these information, and transmits by radio waves to the electronic map device 1 in each area. .

Note that each of the net stations 11A to 11C may be connectable to a line so that paging information and the like can be sent. When the paging information can be sent, this electronic map device can be used as a pager.

The information is transmitted in a format conforming to the information sent by FM multiplex broadcasting. That is, in the FM multiplex broadcasting, as shown in FIG. 6, data is transmitted after being frequency-multiplexed with the FM broadcasting. In FIG. 6, F1 is (L +
R) signal, F2 is an (LR) signal, P is a pilot signal, and F3 is a multiplexed signal.

A data packet is constructed as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7A, the prefix identifies the information content. As shown in FIG. 7B, this prefix includes position information such as latitude and longitude, IDs indicating types of information such as characters and video data, time data, traffic, weather, gourmet, events, discounts, and other genres and information. Update numbers are included.

In addition to wirelessly transmitting information in this manner, a ticket center, kiosk or the like may be used as an information stand, and information may be obtained from this information stand. Information is provided by selling memory cards,
It can be considered as a loan or provision of data via a wired network.

The one embodiment described above displays real-time information on a map, and its purpose is mainly to carry around for shopping or playing. However, a positioning device using GPS is added. The current location may be displayed on the display. If the current location can be displayed, not only can it be carried and carried around, but it can also be used as car navigation.

Next, the electronic map device 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic map device 1. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 21 is a controller for performing overall control. A bus 22 is derived from the controller 21. This bus 22 has an external memory 2
3, RAM 24, ROM 25 are connected. An input is given to the controller 21 from the input key 20. The input key 20 is the pointing device 3 in FIG.
Corresponds to the input key 4.

The external memory 23 corresponds to the memory card 6 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the external memory 23 has a map area 23A in which map information for a plurality of areas is stored and an information area 23B for storing real-time information related to the map information. The information area 23B is a recordable / reproducible area. RAM24
Is used as the main memory when running the application. The ROM 25 stores Kanji fonts and control software.

26 is a liquid crystal panel, 27 is a liquid crystal driver,
28 is a backlight. The liquid crystal panel 26, the liquid crystal driver 27, and the backlight 28 constitute the display unit 2 in FIG. A display signal is supplied from the display processing circuit 29 to the liquid crystal driver 27. Display processing circuit 29
Forms display signals for map information, information point marks, cursors, menus, etc., based on signals from the controller 21. This display signal is supplied to the liquid crystal panel 26 via the liquid crystal driver 27. Backlight 28
Illuminates the liquid crystal panel 26 from the back surface of the liquid crystal panel 26. Power is supplied to the backlight 28 from a power supply control circuit 30 via a dimming control circuit 31. In addition,
The power supply control circuit 30 performs power on / off control, remaining amount detection of the battery 32, and charging control. An interface 33 is provided to charge the battery 32.

When displaying the map information, the map information is read from the map area 23A of the external memory 23. This map information is sent to the display processing circuit 29. The display processing circuit 29 forms a display signal based on this map information. This display signal is supplied to the liquid crystal panel 26 via the liquid crystal driver 27. As a result, the liquid crystal panel 26
Map information is displayed on the top.

Reference numeral 35 is a tuner circuit. A received signal is supplied to the tuner circuit 35 from an antenna 36. The tuner circuit 35 selects a signal having a desired frequency. The tuner circuit 35 can receive, for example, a radio wave of an information signal, a television broadcast radio wave, and an FM broadcast radio wave from a net station. The reception frequency of the tuner circuit 35 is
It is set by the PLL circuit 37 based on a command from the controller 21.

When the radio wave of the information about the map is received, the received information is taken out by the data extracting circuit 45. The extracted data is supplied to the data demodulation circuit 46.
The data demodulation circuit 46 demodulates the received data. This demodulated data is stored in the map area 23A of the external memory 23 via the bus 22.

When receiving the television signal, the antenna 36 receives the television broadcast signal. The tuner circuit 35 selects a desired reception channel.
The output of the tuner circuit 35 is supplied to the IF circuit 38.
The output of the IF circuit 38 is supplied to the video signal processing circuit 39 via the input selector 40. The input selector 40
Is supplied with an external video signal from the external input terminal 47. The input selector 4 selects an external input and a received signal. Further, an audio signal is taken out by the IF circuit 38, and this audio signal is supplied to the audio signal processing circuit 41 via the external input selector 40. Audio signal processing 41
Then, the audio signal is demodulated.

The video signal processing circuit 39 separates the luminance signal and the chroma signal and demodulates the color signal. The output of the video signal processing circuit 39 is supplied to the liquid crystal panel 26 via the liquid crystal driver 27. The received television broadcast screen is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 26.

The output of the audio signal processing circuit 41 is also supplied to the amplifier 24. The audio signal is amplified by the amplifier 42. The output of the amplifier 42 is supplied to the speaker 43. The speaker 43 corresponds to the speaker 8 in FIG. From the speaker 43, the sound of the received television broadcast is output.

When listening to the FM broadcast, the antenna 36 receives the FM broadcast signal. The tuner circuit 35 selects broadcasting of a desired frequency. The output of the tuner circuit 35 is supplied to the IF circuit 38. The output of the IF circuit 38 is supplied to the audio signal processing circuit 41. The audio signal processing circuit 41 demodulates the audio signal. The output of the audio signal processing circuit 41 is supplied to the amplifier 42, and the output of the amplifier 42 is supplied to the speaker 43. From the speaker 43, the received FM broadcast sound is output.

In the FM multiplex broadcasting, information is frequency-multiplexed and transmitted. As described above, the FM multiplex broadcast data is extracted by the data extracting circuit 45 and demodulated by the data demodulating circuit 46.

10 and 11 are flowcharts showing the operation when displaying a map. As shown in FIG. 10, it is determined whether an area selection command has been input (step ST1). When the area selection command is input, the input selected area is fetched (step ST2), and the map information of the selected area is stored in the external memory 2
3 is read out from the map area 23A and displayed (step ST3).

While the map information is being displayed, as shown in FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not the information is received (step ST21). When the information is received, it is determined whether this information is related to the area currently being displayed (step 22). In the case of information related to the area currently displayed, this information is stored in the information area 23B of the external memory 23 as necessary information (step ST23). Information other than this is ignored as unnecessary information (step ST24). Then, when information is stored in the information area 23B of the external memory 23, a position on the map corresponding to this information is obtained, and an information point mark is shown at this position (step ST2).
5). If the received information is updated, the information stored in the information area 23B is also updated.

In this way, while the map information is being displayed, the real-time information related to the displayed area is accumulated in the information recording area 23B of the external memory 23. Point marks are shown.

In FIG. 10, while the map information is being displayed (step ST3), it is judged whether or not an area change command is input (step ST4). When the area change command is input, the process returns to step ST2, a new selection area is input, and the map information of the new selection area is called. The area can be changed in a scrolling manner using a pointing device. With the change of area, step ST22,
The information fetched in ST23 (FIG. 11) is also changed.

It is judged whether or not the position of the information point mark is clicked while the map information is displayed (step ST5). When the information point mark is clicked, the information corresponding to the clicked point is read from the information area 23B (step ST6). Then, the read information is displayed (step ST7),
The process returns to step ST4. If the area is not changed in step ST4, it is determined whether or not the position of the next information point mark is clicked (step ST5),
The information corresponding to the clicked location is read (step ST6), and the next information is displayed (step ST).
7).

In the above-described embodiment, the memory card 6 stores the map information and the information related to the map. However, in addition to the memory card, for example, a recording medium called MD data can be used. is there. This MD data is for recording data on an optical disc with a diameter of 64 mm.
It can record 0 megabytes of data. MD data includes
There are three types of MD data for recording, MD data for reproduction, and hybrid MD data. The MD data for recording can be recorded / reproduced. The reproduction-only MD data is reproduction-only. The hybrid MD data has a recordable / reproducible portion and a reproduction-only portion. As described above, the hybrid MD data can be used, and the reproduction-only portion can be a map area for recording map information, and the recordable / reproducible portion can be an information area for storing real-time information. Further, the map area and the information area may be placed on the magnetic disk. Furthermore, the map area and the information area may be placed on different storages. For example, the map area may be placed on the CD-ROM and the information area may be placed on the RAM.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the external memory 23 is provided with a map area 23A for storing map information and an information area 23B for storing information related to the map information. While the map information is displayed, real-time information related to the displayed area is accumulated in the information area 23B. Then, when you click the place where the information is stored, this real-time information is displayed. This makes it possible to obtain real-time information related to the map.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire electronic map device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view used for explaining an electronic map device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a plan view used for explaining an electronic map device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a plan view used for explaining an electronic map device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a network system.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram used to explain information data.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram used to explain information data.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic map device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram used for explaining an external memory of an electronic map device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart used to explain an electronic map device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart used to explain an electronic map device to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 electronic map device 2 display section 6 memory card 21 controller 23 external memory 23A map area 23B information area 29 display processing circuit 46 data demodulation circuit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G06T 1/00

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A first storage unit in which map information is stored, a second storage unit in which input real-time information is stored, map information stored in the first storage unit and the first storage unit. Portable information display information including a display unit that displays the real-time information stored in the second storage unit in association with each other. 2. A positioning means for positioning the present location is further provided, and the display section displays the map information stored in the first storage section, the real-time information stored in the second storage section, and the map information stored in the second storage section. The portable information display device according to claim 1, wherein the current position measured by the positioning means is displayed in association with each other. 3. The portable information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the map information is transmitted wirelessly. 4. A range corresponding to the displayed map is set as an information collecting area, and real-time information of the information collecting area is stored in the second storage unit, and when the map to be displayed is changed, the information is collected. The portable information display device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the information collection area is changed. 5. The portable information display device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the second storage section is recordable and reproducible. 6. The portable information display device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second storage units are memory cards. 7. The portable information display device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the first and second storage units are magnetic disks. 8. The portable information display device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second storage units are hybrid optical discs including a read-only portion and a recordable / reproducible portion. . 9. The portable information display device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the first storage unit is a read-only optical disc, and the second storage unit is a recordable / reproducible recording medium. .