JPH08271273A - Navigation processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a navigation processing method in which information on an object (a point mark, an own-home mark, an own-vehicle mark or the like) is obtained immediately and in which the operating performance of a menu selection is enhanced. CONSTITUTION: An object is displayed on a map, and an object processing part 26 identifies whether the object exists inside the indication region of a focus FC or not. When the object exists, the focus is blinked, and an object menu OBM2 which has been set in advance so as to correspond to the object is displayed on a display screen by a key operation. In addition, when a point search is instructed in a menu item, a point menu PMN is displayed. When a prescribed object point is instructed by the point menu, the instructed object point which is closest from the position of a cursor is searched, and a map is displayed on the display screen on a scale on which the cursor and the searched point can be displayed in on screen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation processing method, and more particularly to displaying a menu on a display screen,
The present invention relates to a navigation processing method in a navigation device that instructs a predetermined menu item and executes a process according to the instructed menu item.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a navigation device which guides a vehicle so that a driver can easily reach a desired destination, a vehicle position is detected and map data around the vehicle position is read from a CD-ROM. The map image is read out, a map image is drawn on the display screen, and a vehicle position mark (own vehicle mark) is drawn on a predetermined position on the map image.
Then, as the current position changes as the vehicle moves,
Move the vehicle mark on the screen, or fix the vehicle mark at a predetermined position such as the center of the screen and scroll the map,
The map information around the vehicle position is always visible at a glance.

Such a navigation device has various functions, and the driver can benefit from the navigation device by appropriately using these functions.
You can drive smoothly to your destination, or bypass an accident point or a crowded point to reach your destination. As a function of the navigation device, in addition to the function of drawing a map around the position of the own vehicle and moving the own vehicle mark along the travel route, and enlarging / reducing the map,
Guidance route setting and route guidance function, map display method switching function, travel locus display function, map matching function,
Registration of points, map reading / drawing function by point list,
Home registration function, various mark (vehicle mark, home mark, point mark) editing function, point list, trajectory list, route list editing function, IIS (Integrated Info)
rmation Service) Has information display function.

The route guidance function sets a guidance route from a starting point to a destination, displays the guidance route on a map, and guides an intersection (enlarged intersection, traveling direction, destination)
It is a function to guide the driver to the destination by performing. To set the guide route, the navigation device automatically determines the optimum route from the input departure point and destination, and the user (driver) marks the vehicle along the route from the departure point to the destination. There is a method of setting by running a simulation. The guide route set by these methods is held in the navigation device by continuously storing the nodes (longitude, latitude) constituting the route in the guide route memory. Then, at the time of actual traveling, a guide route included in the map display area of the screen is searched from the node sequence stored in the guide route memory, and the guide route is displayed so as to be distinguishable from other roads. I try to know if I should drive on the road or in which direction at an intersection.

There are two types of guide routes, for example, a simple route (simple guide route) and a detailed route (detailed guide route). Up to eight simple routes and one detailed route are registered in the guide route memory. can do. The simple route is composed of a passing point and a destination (the last passing point is the destination) and is stored in association with the course number. The detailed route is set by simulation by selecting from one of the simple routes. The detailed route is a detailed route of all routes from the vehicle position to the destination, or a route in which detailed routes of some areas are omitted (jumped), and the position data of all nodes on the route and the intersection identification flag are set. It is sequentially stored in the guide route memory. By selecting and instructing a predetermined route from the route list, the route can be drawn on the map.

The map display method switching function is a function for switching the map display method and displaying the map so that the driver can easily refer to it. Display methods include heading-up display method, north-up display method, front-wide display method, and scalable display method. The heading-up display method is a method for displaying the map so that the traveling direction is directly above, and the north-up display method is a method for displaying so that the north on the map is directly above, and the front wide display method. Is
The map is displayed so that the direction of travel is directly above, and the position of the vehicle is displayed in the lower center of the screen to display a wider map of the direction of travel.The scalable display method is the position of the vehicle and the next passing point. Alternatively, it is a method of displaying the map at the scale level where the own vehicle position and the destination can be drawn on one screen, and automatically changing the scale level according to the movement of the own vehicle position to draw the map.

The traveling locus display function is a function of displaying a route on which a vehicle has traveled in the past in an overlapping manner on a map image on the screen.
In the traveling locus display function, every time the vehicle position (vehicle position) detected by the vehicle position detection unit changes by a certain distance,
The vehicle position (latitude and longitude) at that time is discretely stored in the traveling locus memory as traveling locus data, and when the map image is drawn on the screen, of the traveling locus data stored in the traveling locus memory, the map image The ones that fit into the area are selected and drawn in a corresponding manner on the map image such that they can be identified by a white dot sequence.
With this travel locus display function, the route that the vehicle has traveled in the past can be displayed on the road on the screen in a sequence of dots. By following the opposite direction, you can easily return to the starting point. Further, after that, when traveling to the same area again, the traveling route can be easily reached by following the traveling locus. The traveling locus memory can store a maximum of 7 units of traveling locus (not including the currently traveling locus), with the traveling locus from home departure to returning home as one unit. By selecting and instructing the traveling locus, the traveling locus is displayed on the map in a distinguishable manner by a white dotted line or the like.

The map matching function is a function for performing map matching processing appropriately using map information and traveling locus data to correct the position of the vehicle. In the self-contained navigation in which the self-contained navigation sensor is used to calculate the self-vehicle position, errors accumulate and the vehicle position deviates from the road on the map as the vehicle travels.
Therefore, by the map matching process, the traveling locus is collated with the road data of the map to correct the vehicle position on the road.
Further, if the vehicle position deviates greatly from the road due to the large error in the self-contained navigation and the vehicle position cannot be map-matched with the current position on the actual road, the position data (GPS position) and the direction data (GPS) obtained from GPS Azimuth)
Is used to correct the vehicle position and traveling direction by self-contained navigation. That is, the distance D between the GPS position and the self-contained navigation position is calculated, and the distance D and the preset distance threshold D
The size of th (for example, 150 m) is compared, and if D> Dth, the own vehicle position is corrected by GPS data, and the vehicle position mark is put on the road by the map matching process performed thereafter.

Registration of points, map reading by point list /
The drawing function registers the latitude and longitude of the point in the point memory (point list) by moving the cursor to the position on the map to be registered, and indicates the map around the point by designating the desired point from the point list. It is a function to draw in one shot. Note that, for example, a maximum of 100 points can be stored in the point list, and a point mark indicating the registered point is displayed on the map. If you register a point in this way, you can draw a map around the point just by selecting and instructing the desired point from the point list without moving the map, and you can easily specify the destination and display the map. be able to. The home registration function is a function of registering the home position in the home memory by moving the cursor to the home position and displaying the home mark on the map. The mark editing function is a function of changing various marks (own vehicle mark, home mark, spot mark) to desired marks. Several marks are prepared as the own vehicle mark, the home mark, and the point mark. The marks can be changed to desired marks by this mark editing function, and the marks are displayed on the map.

The edit function of the point list, the locus list, and the route list deletes the point, the traveling locus, and the route from each list, locks the predetermined traveling locus irremovably, or unlocks the route. Functions such as changing. The IIS (Integrated Information Service) information display function includes, for example, "sightseeing information", "highway guide", "hotel", "golf course", as an IIS main menu.
"Ski area", "Airport", "Shinkansen", "Ferry", etc. are displayed, and when a desired menu item is selected, a submenu corresponding to the menu item is displayed, and the desired submenu item is selected from the submenu. In the same manner, the function of finally displaying the information the driver wants on the display screen. For example, in the IIS main menu, select "Golf course", then "Region (prefecture)", and then select the desired golf course name of that prefecture (for example, Hakone Golf Country). Display the map around the place.

Each of the above functions can be executed by displaying a menu on the display screen and selecting a menu item corresponding to the desired function. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen. Normally, the map is displayed on the display screen, but by operating the menu key of the operation unit, the main menu M1, the sub menu M2, and the guide information M3 are displayed on the map. In this state, when the joystick key is operated to position the menu selection bar at the position of the desired main menu item ("Information" item M12 in the figure), the submenu M2 belonging to the main menu item
Is displayed above it. Then, operate the joystick key to position the submenu selection bar at the desired submenu item (IIS is selected in the figure) and press the ENTER key to open the submenu and open the submenu. It is possible to execute the function according to.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of the menu, and six types of main menus are provided. The main menu M11 is a map display switching menu, and the display methods are heading up, north up,
There are front wide and scalable displays. The main menu "information" M12 is a menu for instructing selection display of predetermined IIS information, reception status display of satellite, selection of information symbol (INF) displayed on map, and start of demonstration of navigation device. The main menu "Directions" M13 is for setting destinations and passing points (setting of simple guide route), turning on / off whether to guide the guide route, turning on / off voice guidance at intersections,
Setting of enlarged map display on / off at intersections, setting of detailed directions (detailed guide route) by simulation,
This is a menu for selecting the remaining distance display and the like.

The main menu "Settings" M14 is GP
Selection of S error correction method (MM setting), change of own vehicle mark, CD-ROM disk drive switching instruction,
This is a menu for performing environment settings such as time signal on / off, initial screen on / off, guide information on / off, home position setting, home mark change, and traveling locus display on / off setting. The main menu "List" M15 is for turning on / off the travel locus, instructing to save / unlock the travel locus (lock / unlock), delete (trajectory list), draw a peripheral map of the registered location, and place Edit list (point list), select and display registered directions (simple, detailed guide route), edit route list (direction list),
Function settings for function keys (key macro)
It is a menu to do. The main menu M16 is a menu for adjusting the display color and brightness of the map.

[0014]

When the IIS information registration point is displayed on the map and the IIS registration point mark is indicated by the cursor (focus), the cursor changes to an arrow or another mark, and when the key is pressed, the There is one that displays IIS information at the IIS registration point. According to this method, I
The information of the IS registration point can be grasped, and if it is a tourist attraction, it can be detoured or the degree of understanding of the map can be deepened. By the way, the map also displays the point mark of the point registered by the driver, the home mark, and the own vehicle mark. However, conventionally, the focus responds only to the IIS mark, and therefore, there is a problem that it does not respond to the point mark, the home mark, and the own vehicle mark, and information about these marks cannot be immediately obtained. . Also, in the past, II
The focus reacts only to the S mark, does not react to the intersection, and there is a problem that the intersection information (for example, an enlarged view of the intersection with the "destination") cannot be immediately obtained.

Furthermore, when an object (point mark, home mark, own car mark, intersection, IIS mark) is designated, it is convenient if an operable menu related to these objects can be displayed and specified. However, conventionally, such a function is not provided, and after operating the menu key to display the main menu and submenu on the display screen, a predetermined menu item is selected and instructed. there were. Further, it is convenient if an object close to the own vehicle can be searched and a positional relationship between the own vehicle position and the object and a map around the object can be drawn. For example, when a user approaches a destination (object), he / she may wonder where the destination is. In such a case, it is convenient if the positional relationship between the vehicle position and the destination can be grasped by a simple operation. However, the conventional navigation device does not have such a function.

From the above, a first object of the present invention is to provide a navigation processing method capable of obtaining information about a point mark, a home mark, and a vehicle mark. A second object of the present invention is to provide a navigation processing method that can immediately obtain desired intersection information (for example, an enlarged view of an intersection with a "destination"). A third object of the present invention is to designate a designated object (point mark, home mark, own vehicle mark, intersection, IIS mark).
It is to provide a navigation processing method capable of displaying an operable menu related to, and improving the operation performance of menu selection. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a navigation processing method capable of quickly calling each object near the position of the own vehicle and displaying a map or a map around the object in which the relationship with the position of the own vehicle can be understood.

[0017]

According to the present invention, one or more points are registered in advance, and a point mark indicating the registered point is displayed as an object on a map.
A means for determining whether or not an object exists in the area indicated by the focus (cursor), a means for displaying the focus in a distinguishable manner when the object exists as compared with the case where the object does not exist, and a means for existing in the focus instruction area by key operation Means for displaying a menu item preset on the display screen in association with the object. ... Claim 1

Further, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is that when a predetermined object exists in the area designated by the focus, the means for displaying the intersection, the vehicle mark, and the IIS mark included in the map information as the object, This is achieved by means for displaying the focus in a distinguishable manner and means for displaying on the display screen a menu item preset corresponding to the object existing in the focus instruction area. According to the present invention, further, according to the present invention, a means for displaying a point search menu when point search in the menu item is instructed, and a predetermined object (point mark) from the point search menu. , A vehicle mark, an intersection, an IIS mark), means for searching the point of the designated object closest to the focus position, a map display screen at a scale capable of displaying the focus and the searched point on one screen And means for displaying a map at a detailed scale with the searched point as the center of the screen when a predetermined key is operated. ... Claims 3 and 4

[0019]

Operation: One or more points are registered in advance, a point mark indicating the registered point is displayed as an object on the map, it is determined whether the object exists in the area designated by the focus, and when the object exists, the object is The focus is displayed in a distinguishable manner as compared with the case where it does not exist, and a menu item preset in association with an object existing in the focus instruction area is displayed on the display screen by a key operation. In addition, intersection, IIS mark,
You can include your own vehicle mark, home mark, and point mark in the object. By doing so, it is possible to immediately obtain information about the point mark, the home mark, and the own vehicle mark by instructing the displayed predetermined menu item, and furthermore, obtain desired intersection information (enlarged intersection). You can get it instantly. Further, since the operable menu items related to each object are displayed, the operation performance of menu selection can be improved. ... and above, claims 1 and 2

When point search in the menu items is instructed, the point search menu is displayed, and then a predetermined object (point mark, vehicle mark, intersection, IIS mark) is instructed from the point search menu. Then, the point of the designated object closest to the focus position is searched, and the map is displayed on the display screen at a scale that allows the focus and the searched point to be displayed on one screen. Then, when a predetermined key is operated, the map is displayed at a detailed scale with the searched point as the center of the screen. By doing this, you can easily recognize the relationship between the vehicle position and various points near the vehicle position,
Moreover, the detailed map around the desired point can be easily displayed.

[0021]

【Example】

(A) Principle explanatory diagram of the present invention FIG. 1 is a principle explanatory diagram of the present invention, in which 1 is a navigation control device, 2 is an operation unit for inputting various commands to the navigation control device, setting operation of various data, etc. A remote controller 3 is a display device for displaying a map, a guide route, various marks, various menus, and the like. In the navigation control device 1, 26 is an object processing unit, 26 ₁ is an object display unit, 26 ₂ is an object presence determination unit, 26 ₃ is a focus blink unit,
26 ₄ is a menu display means, 26 ₅ is a point search means, and 26 ₆ is a scalable display means. In the display device 3, MP is a map, FC is a focus (showing a blinking state), RMK is a point mark drawn at a point registered by the driver, and OBM.
2 is an object menu and an OMN wave point search menu. The objects are, for example, a point mark, a home mark, a vehicle mark, an intersection, and an IIS mark.

One or more points are registered in advance, and the object display means 26 ₁ displays the point mark RMK indicating the registered point as an object on the map MP. The focus FC is moved on the map by a joystick key (not shown) on the remote controller 1 to position it at a predetermined point (see image IMG1). Actually, the focus is displayed at the center position of the screen and the map is scrolled. Object presence determination unit 26 ₂ determines whether the object in a region where the focus FC instructs exists. When the object exists, the focus blinking means 26 ₃ blinks the focus. By this blinking, the driver can recognize that the object menu can be used, and if he / she wants to use it, he / she operates a predetermined key on the remote controller 2. By a key operation, the menu display means 26 _4, the object menu are preset in correspondence with the object RMK present in focus instruction region OBM2
Is superimposed on the map and displayed on the display screen (Image IM
See G2).

Thereafter, predetermined menu items (mark editing,
It is possible to execute a function according to these menu items by selecting a name input, a point list, ... Point search). That is, the point mark can be changed by instructing the menu item “mark edit”, the name can be input to the point mark by selecting “input name”, and the “point list” can be selected. You can check the registered points by displaying the point list. The above is the case where the object existing in the focus instruction area is the point mark, but the same is true when there are other objects (intersection, home mark, own car mark, IIS mark), and the displayed menu item is Only different.

[0024] If the "point search" in the menu item has been instructed, the menu display means 26 ₄ for displaying the point search menu PMN (see image IMG3). Then, when a predetermined object (point mark, vehicle mark, intersection, IIS mark) is designated from the point search menu PMN by key operation, the point search means 26 ₅ causes the point search means 26 ₅ to be the closest designated object (point mark) from the focus position. ) searches for the point PS of RMK ', scalable display means 26 ₆ focus FC and the searched points on a map to scale that can be displayed in one screen on the display screen (see image IMG4).
When a predetermined key is operated during the scalable display, the map is displayed at the detailed scale with the search point PS as the center of the screen (see image IMG5). According to the above, the relationship between the vehicle position and various points near the vehicle position can be easily recognized, and moreover, the detailed map around the desired point can be easily displayed.

(B) Navigation system (a) Overall configuration FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the navigation system.
Reference numeral 1 is a navigation control device, 2 is an operation unit (for example, a remote controller) for inputting various commands to the navigation control device, setting operation of various data, etc. 3 is a display device for displaying a map, a guide route, various marks, various menus, etc. 4 is a CD-ROM for storing map information, 5 is C
D-ROM drive, 6 is a GPS receiver that receives radio waves from satellites to measure the current position and direction of the vehicle, 7 is a multi-beam antenna that receives radio waves from each satellite, and 8 is a self-contained navigation sensor. . The GPS receiver 7 performs three-dimensional positioning or two-dimensional positioning processing to calculate the vehicle position and azimuth (the azimuth is the direction connecting the current vehicle position and the vehicle position one sampling time ΔT before), and positions these. Output with time. Although not shown, the self-contained navigation sensor 8 includes a relative azimuth sensor (angle sensor) that detects a vehicle rotation angle such as a vibration gyro, and a distance sensor that generates one pulse for each predetermined traveling distance.

As shown in FIG. 3, the map information includes (1) a background layer LB for displaying objects on the map,
(2) Character layer LC for displaying characters such as city name, facility name, (3) road layer LR, (4) IIS (Inte
grated Information Service) It is composed of an IIS layer LS that stores information. The character layer is a part related to characters in the map, and one character string has a display position (longitude and latitude), a character direction, a character color, a character string code, and the like. The IIS layer has IIS information and
It has IIS mark position information indicating the position (longitude) of the mark point.

The road layer is an information section used for guide route creation / drawing processing, map matching processing, and other processing, and includes road link data RLDT and node data ND.
It has DT and intersection data CRDT. As shown in FIG. 4, the road link data RLDT gives the attribute information of the corresponding road. The number of all nodes on the road link, the number of each node forming the road, and the road number (road name). , Road types (national roads, expressways, prefectural roads, etc.) and other data. Further, the intersection data CRDT is a set of nodes (referred to as an intersection configuration node) closest to the intersection among nodes on a link connecting to the intersection for each intersection on the map. Is a list of all nodes constituting the road, position information (longitude, latitude) for each node, an intersection identification flag indicating whether or not the node is an intersection, and the node is an intersection. If it is not an intersection, it is composed of a pointer or the like that points to the road link to which the node belongs.

(B) Remote control FIG. 5 is an external view of the remote control, and 2a is a menu for moving the focus, the vehicle mark, etc. in eight directions relative to the map and selecting a desired menu item. It is a joystick key that is pressed when moving the selection bar up and down, left and right, setting and inputting the focus position, or selecting a menu. In addition, hereinafter, when inputting a direction, it is called a joystick key, and when inputting a focus position or a menu item by pushing it down, it is called an ENTER key. Reference numeral 2b is an enlargement key operated when displaying a detailed map, 2c is a reduction key operated when displaying a wide area map, and 2d is a menu key operated when displaying a menu. 2e is a navigation key (NV key) for displaying a map where the own vehicle position is present together with the own vehicle mark, 2f is a memory key (MEMO key) operated when storing a desired point, 2g
Is a function key, which can be selected by setting a frequently used function, and 2h is a power key.

(C) Navigation Control Device FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the navigation control device. 1 is a navigation control device, 2 is a remote control device, 3 is a display device, 4 is a CD-ROM for storing map information, and 6 is a G.
PS receiver, 7 is a multi-beam antenna, 8 is a self-contained navigation sensor, a relative direction sensor (angle sensor) 8a for detecting a vehicle rotation angle of a vibration gyro, and one pulse is generated for each predetermined traveling distance. The distance sensor 8b is provided. In the navigation control device 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a map reading control unit which calculates a focus position (screen center position) PC when a map movement operation or a map selection operation is performed with a joystick key or a map reduction / enlargement key. The predetermined map information is read from the CD-ROM 4 based on the position of the vehicle, the focus position, or the like. A map buffer 12 stores map information read from the CD-ROM. In the map buffer, multiple pieces (plural units) of map information around the vehicle position or the focus position so that the map can be scrolled, which will be described later,
For example, the map information of 3 × 3 units is read. Thirteen
Is a map drawing unit for generating a map image using the map information stored in the map buffer, 14 is a VRAM for storing the map image, and 15 is a screen for cutting out from the VRAM 14 based on the screen center position PC. An image reading control unit that changes the position and scrolls and displays the map according to the movement of the vehicle position or the focus movement.

An intersection enlargement drawing unit 16 draws an enlarged view of the target intersection when "intersection" is designated by the object menu and "simple map" drawing of the intersection is instructed. The intersection enlarging / drawing unit 16 is also provided with a detailed route (detailed guide route).
When setting a by simulation, when the own vehicle mark reaches the intersection, an enlarged view of the intersection is displayed on the upper right of the display screen, and when the own vehicle approaches within a predetermined distance from the intersection at the time of actual route guidance, The enlarged view of the intersection and the traveling direction are similarly displayed on the display screen. 1
Reference numeral 7 is a remote controller control section for receiving signals according to the operation of the remote controller and instructing each section, and 18 is a GP from the GPS receiver.
A GPS data storage unit that stores S data, 19 is a vehicle position / direction calculation unit that calculates the own vehicle position and traveling direction based on the self-contained navigation sensor output, and 20 is a map matching control unit that reads out to the map buffer 12. The vehicle position is corrected by appropriately performing map matching processing using the displayed map information and traveling locus data.

In self-contained navigation, errors accumulate and the vehicle position deviates from the road as the vehicle travels. Therefore, the map matching control unit 20 corrects the vehicle position on the road by comparing the traveling locus with the road data of the map. If the vehicle position deviates significantly from the road due to a large error in the self-contained navigation and the vehicle position cannot be map-matched with the actual position on the road, the map matching control unit 20 causes the GPS
Position data (GPS position), direction data (G
Correct the vehicle position and running direction by self-contained navigation using PS direction). That is, the map matching control unit 20 calculates the distance D between the GPS position and the self-contained navigation position, and the distance D and a preset distance threshold Dth (for example, 15
0 m) is compared, and if D> Dth, the vehicle position is corrected by GPS data, and the vehicle position mark is placed on the road by map matching performed thereafter.

Reference numeral 21 is a spot memory for registering a spot designated by focus, and 22 is a home memory for storing a home position designated by focus. The registration of the point is performed by positioning the focus on the map on the map with the joystick key 2a and then pressing down the memory key 2f. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the point memory 21 has a total of 100 points (longitude and latitude, point mark).
Can be registered, and the registered point is displayed as a point mark on the map. There are 10 types of point marks, one type of mark can be used at 10 points, and when the point registration is performed, the point marks are automatically assigned in a predetermined order. The mark will be assigned. The point mark can be changed. That is, select the menu item "Point list" (Fig. 15) to display the point list,
Then, after inputting the number of the spot whose mark is to be changed, the spot edit menu is displayed, and then the spot mark can be changed by instructing the new spot mark.
Further, the registered spot can be deleted from the spot list by instructing "delete" while the spot edit menu is displayed.

For home registration, the focus is adjusted to the home position on the map by the joystick key 2a, and then the menu item "home setting" (FIG. 15) is selected to EN.
This is done by pressing down the TER key 2a. In the home memory 22, as shown in FIG. 7B, the position of the home (latitude and longitude)
And the home mark is registered, and the registered home is displayed on the map by the home mark. As the home mark, a predetermined home mark is set at the time of home registration, but it can be changed. That is, six types of marks are prepared as home marks, and the menu item "edit home mark" (see FIG.
When 5) is selected, a home mark edit submenu having 6 types of home marks is displayed. Therefore, when the desired home mark is selected and the ENTER key is pressed, a new home mark is registered in the home memory 22.

Reference numeral 23 is an operation screen generating section for displaying various menu screens (operation screens), and 24 is various mark generation for displaying various marks such as own vehicle mark, home mark, spot mark, IIS mark, and focus at respective positions. Part, 2
Reference numeral 5 is an image composition unit. Figure 8 is an example of various marks,
(a) is an example of an IIS mark, (b) is an example of a point mark, (c) is an example of a vehicle mark, and (d) is an example of a home mark. Also, (e)
Is a focus figure, and (f) is a figure showing a focus blink. (g) is an explanatory diagram of the focus instruction area, and the dotted line indicates the focus instruction area FIA. As will be described later, the focus blinks when an object exists in this area. The position on the map designated by the focus is the cross intersection position P _X.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an outside-article processing unit, which includes an outside-article control unit 26a and a point search unit 26b. The object control unit 26a determines whether or not an object (point mark, home mark, own vehicle mark, IIS mark, intersection) exists in the focus instruction area, blinks the focus when the object exists, and presses the ENTER key when the focus blinks. When 2a is pushed down, a preset object menu corresponding to the object existing in the focus instruction area is displayed on the display screen. By instructing a predetermined menu item in the object menu, the function according to the menu item can be executed. The point search unit 26b displays a point search menu when "point search" in the menu item is instructed, and a predetermined object (point mark, vehicle mark, intersection, II
When the S mark) is specified, the point of the specified object closest to the focus position is searched, the map is displayed on the display screen at a scale that allows the focus and search points to be displayed on one screen, and the specified key is operated. When this is done, the map is displayed at a detailed scale centered on the search point.

(D) Object Menu FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an object menu when an object (intersection) exists in the focus instruction area and a function that can be executed by the object menu. The joystick key 2a is operated to position the focus FC near a predetermined intersection Q (see FIG. 9 (a)). The object control unit 26a uses the focus position, the map data (road layer LR, IIS layer LS), the point list, and the home position data to determine whether the object exists in the focus instruction area. In the case of FIG. 9A, since the intersection Q which is an object exists in the designated area of the focus FC, the object control unit 26a
Blinks the focus, that is, the focus blink graphic (see FIG. 8 (f)) is displayed, and the character string "object selection" is displayed above the display screen.

Since the focus blink graphic is displayed, the driver recognizes that the object menu can be used. Therefore, when the driver wants to see the enlarged view of the intersection, he depresses the ENTER key 2a. By pressing down the ENTER key 2a, the object control unit 26a issues an object menu display command to the operation screen generation unit 23 to display the object menu OBM4 at the intersection as shown in FIG. 9B. In this state, when the joystick key 2a is operated to instruct the menu item "simple map", the object control unit 26
In a, the node number of the intersection Q is input to the intersection expansion drawing unit 16. The intersection enlarged drawing unit 16 obtains the intersection information from the map data, generates an intersection enlarged view as shown in FIG. 9C using the intersection information, and displays it on the display device.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when the object menu of the point mark is opened when a plurality of types of objects, for example, the IIS mark, the point mark, and the own vehicle mark exist in the focus instruction area. When an object (IIS mark, point mark, own vehicle mark) exists in the focus instruction area and the focus is blinked by this, when the ENTER key 2a is pressed down, the object control unit 26a causes the operation screen generation unit 2 to operate.
3 is controlled to display the object menu OBM on the map (FIG. 10 (a)). This object menu OB
M is a menu for selecting which of the IIS mark, the point mark, and the vehicle mark object menu to open. FIG. 10A shows a state in which the point mark is designated by the menu selection bar, and only the point mark is displayed. In this state, if the ENTER key 2a is pressed and a spot mark is selected, the object control unit 26a controls the operation screen control unit 23 to display the object menu OBM2 corresponding to the spot mark (FIG. 10 (b)).
reference). From this object menu OBM2, select the desired menu items "Edit mark", "Enter name", "List of points" ...
By selecting, etc., the function corresponding to the menu item can be executed. The symbol A in FIG. 10 (b) means that there is another menu item.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the object menu and the point search menu. OBM is a menu of any object (object menu) when two or more types of objects exist in the focus instruction area.
This is an object menu that allows you to select whether to open.
OBM1 is the object menu of IIS mark,
OBM2 is the object menu of the point mark, OBM
Reference numeral 3 is an object menu of the own vehicle mark, OB4 is an intersection object menu, and PMN is a point search menu.

IIS mark object menu OB
Menu items of M1 include IIS for calling IIS information, point search for searching for and displaying a predetermined mark closest to the focus position, and drive switching for executing CD-ROM drive switching. The menu items of the point mark object menu OBM2 include mark editing for changing the point mark, inputting a name and inputting a name to display the name instead of the point mark,
A point list that displays a point list and a peripheral map of a point selected from the point list, a destination in a simple route, a route setting for instructing a passing point,
There is a point search. As the menu items of the object menu OBM3 of the own vehicle mark, the map display for selecting the map display method, the map color for changing the map display color,
There is a vehicle mark and point search to change the vehicle mark. As the menu item of the object menu OBM4 at the intersection, only one simple map described above is prepared.

(E) Point Search Menu In point search, the designated object closest to the focus is searched, the scale level at which the focus and the search object (search point) can be displayed on the same screen is obtained, and the map is displayed at the scale level. This is a function of drawing (scalable display), and if the ENTER key 2a is operated during scalable display, a detailed map is drawn with the search point at the center of the screen. Object menu OBM1-O
When the point search item is selected in BM3, the point search unit 26b controls the operation screen generation unit 23 to display the point search menu PMN on the map (see IMG3 in FIG. 1). In this state, when the object to be searched (IIS mark, point mark, own vehicle mark, intersection) is selected from the point search menu, the point search unit 26b searches for the designated object closest to the focus position, and the focus and the search are performed. The scale level at which the object can be displayed on the same screen is obtained, and the scale level and the position data of the search point are input to the map read control unit 11.

The map read control unit 11 reads predetermined map data from the input scale level and the position of the search point and stores it in the map buffer 12, and the map drawing unit 13 develops the map data in the VRAM 14. The map reading control unit 11 also inputs the screen center position PC to the image reading control unit 15. As a result, the image reading control unit 15 controls the image portion where the focus and the search point can be drawn on one screen to VR.
Cut out from AM and display on the display screen in a scalable manner. While such a scalable display is displayed, the ENTER key 2a
When is pressed, the point search unit 26b inputs the scale level of a predetermined degree of detail and the position of the search point to the map read control unit 11. The map read control unit 11 reads the map according to the detailed scale level, and the image read control unit 15 cuts out the image from the VRAM so that the search point is located at the center of the screen and displays it on the display screen.

(F) Object processing (effective only when the vehicle is stopped) FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the object processing. A map around the position of the own vehicle is displayed and the own vehicle mark is displayed along the travel route (actually, it is displayed. It is checked whether or not there is an operation for displaying the focus while the vehicle mark is displayed in the center of the screen and the map is scrolled according to the movement of the vehicle (step 101). For example,
When the joystick key 2a is operated, the mark generation unit 2
4 displays the focus in the center of the screen instead of the own vehicle mark. When the joystick key 2a is operated, the map reading control unit 11 changes the position (longitude) PC at the center of the screen at a predetermined speed based on the operation of the joystick key 2a, and the map corresponding to the center position of the screen is displayed on the CD. -ROM
It is read from and stored in the map buffer 12. The map drawing unit 13 generates a map image based on the map data read in the map buffer and expands it in the VRAM 14, and the image reading control unit 15 cuts out the image from the VRAM based on the screen center position PC and displays it on the display screen. To do. As described above, the focus is adjusted to the predetermined point.

Next, the object control unit 26a checks whether or not an object exists in the focus instruction area (step 102), and if not, checks whether or not there is a focus erasing operation (step 103). For example, when the NV key 2e is operated, a map around the vehicle position and the vehicle mark are displayed. If the focus erasing operation is not performed, the process returns to step 102 and the subsequent processing is performed, and the focus erasing operation ends the object processing. In step 102, if an object exists in the focus instruction area, the object control unit 26a controls the mark generation unit 24 to display the focus blink graphic (step 104). Next, it is checked whether the ENTER key 2a has been pressed down (step 105). If not pressed, the processing from step 102 onward is repeated.
When the ENTER key 2a is pressed while the focus blink graphic is displayed, the object control unit 26a
Checks whether there are two or more types of objects in the focus instruction area (step 106), and if they exist, displays the object menu OBM (see FIG. 11) (step 107).

Then, it is checked whether a desired object is designated (step 108), and if so, an object menu OB corresponding to the designated object.
Display M1 to OBM4 (see FIG. 11) (step 1)
09). In step 106, when only one type of object exists in the focus instruction area, the object menu O of the object is immediately displayed.
BM1 to OBM4 are displayed (step 109). Then, when a predetermined menu item is selected and instructed from the displayed object menu, the function corresponding to the instructed menu item is executed (step 110). Then, it is checked whether or not there is a focus erasing operation, and if there is no focus erasing operation, the process returns to step 102 and the subsequent processing is performed, and the object processing for the focus erasing operation ends.

(G) Point Search Processing FIG. 13 is a flow of point search processing. In step 110 of FIG. 12, when the menu item “point search” is selected and instructed (step 201), the point search unit 26b controls the operation screen generation unit 23 to display the point search menu PMN (FIG. 11) on the map. (Step 202, see IMG3 in FIG. 1). When the object to be searched (IIS mark, point mark, own vehicle mark, intersection) is selected in the point search menu PMN (step 203), the point search unit 26b.
Searches for the designated object closest to the focus position (steps 204, 205, 206). In step 204, the object to be searched is IIS
If the mark is designated, step 205 is the case where the point mark is designated, and step 106 is the case where the intersection is designated.

When the point search of the designated object is completed, the point search unit 26b calculates the focus and the scale level at which the search point can be displayed on the same screen, and the map read control unit calculates the scale level and the position data of the search point. Enter in 11. The map read control unit 11 reads out predetermined map data from the input scale level and the position of the search point and stores it in the map buffer 12,
The map drawing unit 13 develops the map data in the VRAM 14. The map reading control unit 11 also inputs the screen center position PC to the image reading control unit 15. As a result, the image reading control unit 15 cuts out the image portion in which the focus and the search point can be drawn on one screen from the VRAM 14 and displays it in a scalable manner on the display screen (step 207, FIG. 1).
IMG4).

When the ENTER key 2a is pressed down during the scalable display (step 208), the point search unit 26b causes the scale level with a predetermined degree of detail and the search point P.
The position data of S is input to the map reading control unit 11. The map read control unit 11 reads the map according to the detailed scale level, and the image read control unit 15 cuts out the image from the VRAM so that the search point is the screen center and displays it on the display screen (step 209, FIG. 1). (See IMG5).

In the above, the case where the point mark, the home mark, the own vehicle mark, and the IIS mark are objects has been described, but only the point mark is an object and the object menu corresponding to the point mark is displayed to execute a predetermined function. Can be configured. or,
In the above description, the focus blink graphic is displayed when the object exists in the focus instruction area. However, the focus can be displayed by another method in a distinguishable manner when the object exists and when the object does not exist. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention can be variously modified according to the gist of the present invention described in the claims, and the present invention does not exclude these.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, one or more points are registered in advance, and a point mark indicating the registered point is displayed on the map as an object, or is not limited to the point mark and is included in the map information. The intersection, the home mark, the own vehicle mark, and the IIS mark are displayed as objects on the map, and it is determined whether the object exists in the area designated by the focus (cursor). When the object exists, Compared with this, the focus is displayed in a distinguishable manner, and a predetermined menu item is instructed by a key operation so that a preset menu item corresponding to an object existing in the focus instruction area is displayed on the display screen. To get instant information about the spot mark, home mark, own car mark, and IIS mark. It can be, moreover, it is possible to obtain desired intersection information (intersection enlarged view) immediately. Further, since the operable menu items related to each object are displayed, the operation performance of menu selection can be improved. Further, according to the present invention, when the point search in the menu items is instructed, the point menu is displayed, and a predetermined object (point mark, vehicle mark, intersection, IIS mark) is instructed from the point menu. At this time, the point of the designated object closest to the cursor position is searched, and the map is displayed on the display screen in a scale that allows the cursor and the searched point to be displayed on a single screen, and a predetermined key is operated during the scalable display. When the map is displayed, the map is displayed at the detailed scale with the searched point as the center of the screen, so you can easily recognize the relationship between the vehicle position and various points near the vehicle position. The map can be displayed easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a navigation system.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of data stored in map data.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of road data in map data.

FIG. 5 is an external view of a remote controller.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a navigation control device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of contents of a point memory and a home memory.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of various marks.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an object menu and executable functions when the object is an intersection.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a point mark object menu.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an object menu and a point search menu.

FIG. 12 is an object processing flow.

FIG. 13 is a point search processing flow.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a menu.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. ・ Navigation control device 2 ・ ・ Remote control device 3 ・ ・ Display device 26 ・ ・ Object processing unit FC ・ ・ Focus RMK, RMK '・ ・ Point mark OBM2 ・ ・ Point mark object menu PMN ・ ・ Point search menu

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A menu is displayed on a display screen,
In a navigation processing method in a navigation device for instructing a predetermined menu item and executing a process according to the instructed menu item, one or more points are registered in advance, and a point mark indicating the registered point is an object on a map. Display and determine whether the object exists in the area indicated by the cursor.When the object exists, the cursor is displayed distinguishably compared to the case where the object does not exist. A navigation processing method of displaying corresponding preset menu items on a display screen. 2. An intersection position included in map information, a vehicle mark, and an IIS mark indicating a registration point of IIS information are used as the objects, and the cursor can be identified when a predetermined object exists in an area designated by the cursor. The menu item which is displayed and preset in correspondence with the object existing in the cursor pointing area is displayed on the display screen.
The described navigation processing method. 3. A point search menu is displayed when point search in the menu items is instructed, and a predetermined object (point mark, own vehicle mark, intersection, IIS mark) is instructed from the point search menu. 3. The navigation processing method according to claim 2, wherein at the time, the point of the designated object closest to the cursor position is searched, and the map is displayed on the display screen at a scale capable of displaying the cursor and the searched point on one screen. 4. The navigation processing method according to claim 3, wherein when a predetermined key is operated, a map is displayed at a detailed scale with the searched point as the center of the screen.