JPH0814932A - Navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a navigation apparatus which can reproduce a real running operation by installing a reproduction means which reproduces, in a simulated manner, the state of the traffic of an object in the past. CONSTITUTION:A CPU, a ROM and a RAM are built in a navigation control circuit 1, and data is transmitted and received via a bus. Map information is read out from a map-information storage device 2 by the CPU, it is stored in the RAM, and it is displayed 3. Route-setting information from a starting point up to a destination point is input to the CPU by operating an operating key 4. When a route display is required, it is displayed 3 so as to be superposed on the map information. In addition, in a GPS receiver 5, radio waves from a satellite are received, and the position of an own vehicle is found so as to be input to the CPU. In the CPU, the position is displayed 3 so as to be corrected to a point on the map information. A storage device 6 which can write and read out running-track data on a vehicle and image data provided with point data is connected to the circuit 1, and the data are stored in the device 6. In addition, the running-track data and the image data provided with the point data are stored in an external storage device 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device that displays map information and object position to confirm the position.
In particular, the present invention relates to a navigation device that reads the position of an object that has passed in the past and displays it by superimposing it on a map.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Navigation devices have been known in the past that show the current position of an object, for example, the own vehicle on a map, and can guide the own vehicle to a destination. In such a navigation device, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-9093, a plurality of positions through which the vehicle has traveled (traveled) are stored, and the stored positions are read after traveling, for example. There is a function that allows you to check and manage the route you have traveled by displaying it on a map and reproducing the past travel route.

[0003]

However, with such a function alone, there are some inconveniences in remembering the driving situation later. In other words, it is difficult to understand what kind of route and how the route was taken without realistic reproduction, especially when returning to the same road, it is difficult to see in what order the route was taken in the past. It was not always in line with the user's wishes, such as it was difficult to confirm what kind of environment (landscape) was around.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient navigation device that enables realistic running reproduction and allows the user to surely remember what the past traffic was like.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a navigation device having a function of reproducing a past trajectory of an object, and simulates the past situation of the past passage of the object. It is characterized in that a reproducing means for reproducing is provided. Further, the reproduction means displays the map information, a storage means for storing a plurality of positions where an object has passed in the past, the plurality of positions is read from the storage means, and the plurality of positions are sequentially displayed by the display means. It is characterized by comprising a first display control means for displaying the map information superimposed on the map information displayed on.

Further, the reproducing means displays the map information, a storage means for storing a plurality of positions where an object has passed in the past, a plurality of positions read from the storage means, and a plurality of positions of the plurality of positions are read out. Of these, a second display control means for displaying an image of an environment corresponding to the specific position on the display means when the specific position is read out is provided.

Further, the reproducing means displays the map information, a storage means for storing a plurality of positions where an object has passed in the past, a plurality of positions read from the storage means, and the plurality of positions are stored. When the position to be displayed substantially coincides with the specific position when sequentially displaying the map information displayed on the display unit, the image of the environment corresponding to the specific position is displayed on the display unit. And a third display control means for displaying.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device, the passing situation of the past object is simulated,
In other words, because it is realistically reproduced, it is possible to see the past situation as if it was actually passing, and to remember the passing (running) situation later. There are two types of methods for simulating the past passage of an object, one is for sequentially displaying the positions where the object has passed in the past, and the other is for explaining the environment of a specific position to the user.

The second invention corresponds to the former. According to this, when reproducing, the plurality of positions are sequentially displayed from the storage means in a dotted manner, so that it is possible to follow the traffic locus over time. Therefore, it is possible to easily confirm in what kind of route order and how it was passed. The third invention corresponds to the latter, according to which, for example, when reproducing, the plurality of positions are displayed all at once, but when the second display control means reads out a specific position from the plurality of positions. , Displaying an image of the environment corresponding to the specific position. Therefore, the user can easily confirm what kind of environment (landscape) was around the position. This image may be created by the user or may be a preset image originally. Further, the specific position may be set by the user by himself or may be preset from the beginning.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the plurality of positions are sequentially displayed in dots, and when the position to be displayed almost reaches the specific position, an image of the environment corresponding to the specific position is automatically displayed. To be displayed. Therefore, it is possible to easily check what kind of route order and how it was passed, and what kind of environment (landscape) was around a specific position without bothering the user. Get better.

[0011]

2 is a block diagram of a navigation system showing an embodiment of the present invention. The GPS method is used as the position detection method in the embodiment. However, it is also applicable to a navigation device using another position detection method (for example, an independent method using a direction sensor and a distance sensor).

The navigation control circuit 1 has a C (not shown).
A PU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. are built in, and these are adapted to transmit and receive data via a bus.
The map information is read by the CPU from the map information storage device 2 (for example, a CD-ROM or the like), stored in the RAM, and displayed on the display 3 (for example, a CRT or LCD).

The route setting information from the departure point to the destination point can be set by operating the operation key 4 by the operator (user).
Input to U. The CPU extracts a route from the map information based on the route setting information and stores it in the RAM. Further, when the route display is required, it is displayed on the display device 3 by being superimposed on the map information. In addition, the GPS receiver 5 receives radio waves from the satellite to obtain the position of the own vehicle, and the CPU
Is input to The CPU corrects the point on the map information according to a predetermined position correction procedure, and displays the mark on the map information in the form of a mark indicating the position of the own vehicle on the map information.

Further, the operations of position detection and position correction and display of the position of the own vehicle are periodically repeated by the CPU, so that the map information displayed on the display 3 is displayed in correspondence with the movement of the vehicle. Is displayed as the vehicle marker moves. This allows you to know the location of your vehicle and how to proceed to your destination.

Next, the storage and reproduction of the traveling locus will be described. A storage device 6 (for example, an IC card, a hard disk, a floppy disk, or the like) capable of writing / reading the traveling locus data of the vehicle and the image data with spot data is connected to the navigation control circuit 1, and C
The travel locus data and the image data with spot data are written in the storage device 6 by the PU. Further, the CPU reads out the traveling locus data and the image data with spot data from the storage device 6 and stores them in the RAM.

Further, an interface 7 (for example, SCSI, serial, etc.) is provided so that the navigation control circuit 1 can communicate with an external storage device described later. The external storage device 8 is, for example, a hard disk,
Also here, the traveling locus data and the image data with the spot data can be stored (this is shown by a dotted line since it is not mainly connected in the vehicle).

Next, the traveling locus data will be described.
The storage of the traveling locus data is stored in one traveling unit (for example, 6
It is designed to be performed at predetermined time (or distance) intervals while the vehicle is running on the entire locus between Osaka and Kobe on March 13th. This is because the CPU uses each point where the vehicle has passed every predetermined time as coordinate data of longitude and latitude (x _n , y _n ).
Sequentially store in AM. That is, the position coordinates are stored one after another in the order of passage. At this time, the value of n will naturally increase by one.

Then, for example, when all the driving is completed, CP
U is the travel locus data (x_n, Y _n) At the beginning, mainly
Driving No. corresponding to the above driving unit Is added to the running gauge
Corresponding trace data with image data with spot data described later
I am trying to let you. This data format is shown in Table 1.
Shown in.

[0019]

[Table 1]

Here, "running No." is a serial number assigned to each running unit, and if the running unit is different, another number (for example, "running No. 2") is given. The "number of points" indicates the number of stored traveling locus data. "Label" corresponds to "Running No.",
This is a part for the user to arbitrarily add a title.

These "running No.", "number of points", and "label" serve as a header portion for the running locus data.
The travel locus data described above is a value (x
_n, although a y _n), it may be a difference value from the following a previous data shown in Table 2 is not limited thereto.

[0022]

[Table 2]

According to this, since the value of the data such as Δx ₁ becomes small, the data size can be made small,
The capacity of the storage device 6 or the like can be effectively used. Next, the image data with spot data will be described in detail. The image data is image data that the user arbitrarily creates or selects.
When the locus mark displayed in (1) reaches a specific position selected by the user (hereinafter referred to as spot data), this is mainly image data for displaying the scenery around this position. Since this image data and point data correspond to each other, point data is added to this image data.

Table 3 shows the format of the image data with the spot data.

[0025]

[Table 3]

Here, the "size" is the capacity of the image data and is expressed in bytes. Further, "x" indicates point data, which corresponds to the longitude. Further, "y" corresponds to latitude. The unique image data corresponding to the predetermined spot data is added at the end.
When there are a plurality of (k) pieces of this image data, a number (k) is given to each data string as shown in Table 3.

Next, a method of creating and recording this image data with spot data will be described. The point data is the point (vehicle position) that the user wants to represent on the map displayed on the display 3 when actually driving.
Mark. Or scroll to mark. At this time, the CPU determines the longitude and latitude (x _k , y) of this point.
_The point data indicating _k ) is sent to the storage device 6 and stored in the RAM.

Further, the locus that is moving during traveling reproduction is temporarily stopped and the stopped point is designated and stored as point data, or the user selects an arbitrary map (for example, by scrolling the screen). However, the map may be displayed on the display device 3, and the cursor may be moved to a predetermined point to perform marking to specify and store the point data. In any case, the driving No. specified by the user. The spot data is stored based on the traveling locus data (for example, "traveling No. 1").

The image data is created by inputting a photograph or picture desired by the user with an image scanner. Also, a video image is created by converting it with software on a personal computer having a video IF. Then, in order to add the image data to the spot data, the stored spot (spot data) is displayed on the screen of the display 3 by the operation of the operation key 4 by the user (for example, blinking of the cursor). If this point is what the user desires, for example, the CPU displays an image "Please input an image" on the screen to prompt the user to input data. At this time, the user inputs the image data into the navigation control circuit 1 through the interface 7. The CPU adds the image data to the spot data to create the image data with spot data shown in Table 3.

However, the traveling NO.
Since it cannot be associated with the traveling locus data in (for example, “traveling No. 1”), the CPU adds the same header portion as the above-described traveling locus data to the head of the image data with spot data. Table 4 shows this header part.

[0031]

[Table 4]

Here, "running No." in Table 4 is the same as that of running locus data. Therefore, in the data of Table 4, the point at which the image data is input this time is the driving number. Within the traveling unit (for example, the entire locus between Osaka and Kobe on June 13). The “number of spots” indicates the number of image data with spot data.

The "total number of data" indicates the total size of the data string of the image data with spot data. The "label" is the same as that of the traveling locus data. As described above, by adding a substantially common header to the image data with spot data and the traveling locus data, a certain traveling N
O. It is possible to read out the image data with the spot data and the traveling locus data corresponding to.

When the CPU finishes creating a series of data, it writes the image data with spot data and the traveling locus data in the storage device 6. When the data capacity is large, the data may be written in the external storage device 8. In this example, the CPU creates the image data with the spot data having the header portion, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the user may previously create and edit the image data in the external storage device 8, for example, a personal computer. Good.

FIG. 2 shows the CPU when reproducing the traveling history.
3 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. Further, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the state of the display device 3 when reproducing the traveling history. This will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The flow of this example describes the example corresponding to the third display control means.

For example, a few days after the user finishes one running unit (assuming that the image data has already been input at this time), what route this has taken and the surroundings When it is desired to confirm what kind of scenery it is, the reproduction switch 31 shown in FIG. 3 is operated. At this time, the process shown in FIG. 2 is started (step S1). And the driving NO. Desired by the user. If you enter (may be label), step S2, step S
Running No. specified in No. 3 It is searched from the storage device 6 (or the external storage device 8) whether or not there is the traveling locus data and the image data with the spot data.

Therefore, the traveling locus data and the point data are
When image data with data is found, step S3
To step S4. In step S4, these
Initialize data variables (set n = 0, k = 0)
). Then, the process proceeds to the next step S5, and the traveling locus data
(X₀, Y₀) Is read. And displayed on the display 3
This travel locus data (x ₀, Y₀) To
The corresponding position is marked (step S6). Figure 3
As shown in, this marking (travel locus mark) is a dot.
It is represented by A and, for example, a red dot is superimposed on the map.
At this time, (x₀, Y₀), That is, n = 0
Then, the above running NO. Marking from the starting point in
Will start. The marking position is always on the screen.
If you move the map so that it is in the center of
Easy to see.

Next, in step S7, the spot data (x ₀ , y ₀ ) in the image data with spot data is read out. Then, in step S8, an interval between the position (x ₀ , y ₀ ) of this point data and the position (x ₀ , y ₀ ) of the currently traced traveling locus data is obtained. Incidentally, FIG.
“Δx” indicated by is “(x _n −x _k )”, and
“Y” is “(y _n −y _k )”. Therefore, when the distance is “L”, that is, when the distance is larger than a predetermined distance determination coefficient, the position of the traveling locus data currently marked reaches the position (k = 0) of the point data initially registered as an image. If not, the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, it is determined whether or not there is next registered spot data by comparing the value of k at this time with the total number (K) of spot data (image data with spot data). At this time, if there is the next registered point data, k is smaller than K, so the procedure proceeds to step S13, 1 is added to k (that is, k = 1), and the procedure returns to step S7 and the next registered point. The data is read, and the position (x ₀ , y ₀ ) of the traveling locus data currently marked in step S8 is the point data (x 0
₁ , y ₁ ) is reached, and if not, 1 is added to k in step S13 so that the position of the traveling locus data reaches the position of the point data, or the point data finally reaches the position. The above process is repeated until the registered point data is reached.

That is, in the processing up to this point, the position of the registered point data is searched one by one with respect to the traveling locus data currently marked, and it is searched whether or not there is appropriate point data. I am doing it. On the other hand, if there is no appropriate spot data for the position of the traveling locus data that is currently marked, k becomes equal to K in step S12, so the process proceeds to the next step S14. In step S14, it is determined whether or not there is a position of the traveling locus data to be marked next. This judgment is made by comparing the value of n at this time with the total number (N) of the point data (travel locus data). If the value of n is smaller than the total number (N), it is determined that the next traveling locus data is still present, the process proceeds to step S15, and the display speed adjustment counter "t" is set to 0. Then, in step S16, 1 is added to the counter "t" to determine whether or not the counter "t" has reached the display speed coefficient "s" preset by the user. That is, the process of step S16 is performed until the next position is marked.
The display of the position of the traveling locus data currently marked is held only for the period of time "s".

When this counter "t" reaches the display speed coefficient "s", the process proceeds to step S17, in which 1 is added to the current n to mark the position of the next running locus data, and k
Is initialized, and the process returns to step S5. In this case, the traveling locus data read out in step S5 is (x ₁ ,
y ₁ ), the position (point B) corresponding to this travel locus data (x ₁ , y ₁ ) is next marked on the map in FIG. 3 (step S 6). The previous position (point A) remains marked as it is.

Then, the following processing (steps S7, S8,
(S12 and S13 are repeated), 1 is added to n, and if there is no appropriate spot data, the processes from step S14 to step S17 to step S7 are performed, and the positions passed in the past are sequentially marked. Processing up to this point (mainly steps S5, S6, S15, S16, S
17) basically corresponds to an example of the first display control means. In this way, instead of marking all the positions that have passed in the past all at once, instead of marking all the positions that have passed in the past at a time, one by one, one by one, one by one, the positions of the actual vehicles on the map The shape is similar to the way you drive. Therefore, realistic driving can be reproduced, and it becomes very easy for the user to remember which route the vehicle has traveled. This is especially useful when traveling back and forth on the same road, and you can easily confirm this by looking at this reproduction.

Next, in step S8, when the distance is "L", that is, when it is smaller than a predetermined distance determination coefficient, the position of the traveling locus data currently marked reaches the position of the point data registered as an image. If so, the process proceeds to step S9. That is, in the case of FIG. 3, the position of the traveling locus data currently marked is the position of the point C, and the position of the spot data is the registered spot P1.

In step S9, the image data is read from the image data with spot data having this spot data, and based on this image data, the registered image corresponding to this spot data is displayed in place of the map that has been displayed so far. The waiting time counter “W” is reset to 0 at the same time (as shown in FIG. 3- (b)). Then, in the next step S10, 1 is added to this counter "W", and this counter "W" is compared with the waiting time "T" preset by the user. Counter "W" is still time "T"
If not reached, the process proceeds to the next step S11, and the "continue" key 32 on the display device 3 (corresponding to one of the operation keys 4 in FIG. 1, forcibly changing to the original map display)
It is determined whether or not is operated. If it has not been operated, the process returns to step S10, 1 is added to the current counter "W", and this counter "W" is compared with the time "T".

That is, as long as there is no continuous input, this process
Means to hold the display of the image for a time "T". When the counter "W" reaches the time "T" or the "continue" key 32 is operated, the image display is stopped and the original display shown in FIG. The process proceeds from step S12 to S14, and the same processing as described above is performed to mark the position of the next traveling locus data. In addition, one traveling NO. Therefore, when the display of all the traveling locus data is completed, since n becomes equal to N, the process moves from step S14 to "END", and this traveling unit, that is, the traveling NO. The reproduction in will be completed (note that unless the "interrupt" key 33 is operated,
The display showing all trajectories is retained).

The above processing (mainly the processing from step S7 to step S13) corresponds to an example of the second display control means. Here, the specific position is described as a position preset / registered by the user, but the position is not limited to this and may be a position originally written in the ROM. In this way, when the marked position reaches the specific position registered in advance, the image (landscape) corresponding to this position is displayed, so it is possible to easily confirm what kind of landscape this position was. it can.

As described above, in this example, a realistic image can be reproduced,
It is possible to easily check the route order in which the vehicle has traveled, and it is possible to easily check what kind of landscape a particular position is. It can also give the user visual entertainment and can be left as a sort of album. Note that the flow of this example is an example corresponding to the third display control means (in other words, a combination of an example of the first display control means and an example of the second display control means).
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even if the processing showing an example of the first display control means or the processing showing an example of the second display control means described in the above flow is mainly adopted, The effect that it is easy to remember the situation later does not change.

Further, since the above data is stored in the storage device 6, for example, an IC card or the like, if the capacity is large, another IC card or the external storage device 8 may be used, and there is concern about the limit of storage capacity. You don't have to. In addition, the display interval (time) of the marking and the display time of the image can be arbitrarily set by the user, so that the display can be performed according to the user's intention. At this time, press the VTR
"Pause", "FF", "REW", similar to the function
If a "Stop" switch is provided and these functions are added to the reproduction control, it becomes more convenient for the user.

If the navigation device 1 of this example is taken out of the vehicle and a home TV monitor is connected to the interface 7 instead of the display device 3, it is possible to reproduce the running on the home TV at home, which is very useful. It will be convenient. Further, although the above-described image image is described as being created by the user, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be selected from some image data preset in the ROM in the navigation device 1 and registered. The spot data may also be preset in the ROM.

Further, in the present example, the invention is applied as the traveling locus of the vehicle, but the invention is not limited to this, and may be adopted as the traveling locus of a person such as hiking. Further, instead of this image display, the environment at a specific position may be explained by voice and reproduced.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reproduce realistic traffic, and it becomes easier for the user to remember the past traffic situation. In particular, it is possible to easily confirm the route order and the like. In addition, it is possible to easily confirm what kind of landscape a particular position was like.

Further, it is possible to easily confirm in what order the route has been taken, and what kind of landscape a certain position is, so that the convenience is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a navigation device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of a CPU in a navigation control circuit showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a state explanatory view of the display device 3 when reproducing a traveling locus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Navigation control circuit 2 ... Map information storage device 3 ... Display device 4 ... Operation key 5 ... GPS receiver 6 ... Storage device 7 ... Interface 8 ... External Storage device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A navigation device having a function of reproducing a past trajectory of an object, wherein the navigation device is provided with reproducing means for simulating a past situation of the passage of the object. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction unit displays map information.
A storage unit that stores a plurality of positions where an object has passed in the past, the plurality of positions are read from the storage unit, and the plurality of positions are sequentially displayed by being superimposed on the map information displayed on the display unit. A navigation device comprising: a first display control means. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction means includes display means for displaying map information,
Storage means for storing a plurality of positions where an object has passed in the past, and a plurality of positions read from the storage means, and when a specific position among the plurality of positions is read, an environment corresponding to the specific position And a second display control means for displaying the image of 1. on the display means. 4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction means includes display means for displaying map information,
A storage unit that stores a plurality of positions where an object has passed in the past, the plurality of positions are read from the storage unit, and the plurality of positions are sequentially displayed by being superimposed on the map information displayed on the display unit. At this time, when the position to be displayed substantially coincides with the specific position, a third display control means for displaying an image of the environment corresponding to the specific position on the display means is provided. Navigation device.