JPH09184736A - Navigation device and medium storing computer program for construction retrieval process - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly calculate a route for a destination by calculating the route with a spot on a road adjoining the destination construction as an end point of the route. SOLUTION: A central process device 1 performs operation control and calculation of a navigation device with a CPU 2. A current position detection device 20 obtains the data for detecting a current position of the car. An input/ output device 30 inputs the information required for destination setting such as a starting point, a destination, a stop-at point and a pass-through point, etc., and outputs guiding information while navigation operation. And, a point on a road adjoining a construction on the place of destination is made an end point of a route, and a guiding route for reaching the end point is calculated for setting. By this, the end point of the guiding route is not set on the road distant from the destination, the guiding route is set to a specified position on the road adjoining the destination. So that guiding of route is performed to the road passing in front of the destination.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device which guides a route to a destination set by a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional navigation device calculates a route from a detected current position to a set destination by using a road map formed based on road information, and moves the current position. Along with this, guidance is provided along the route to the destination (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-3899).

Further, in setting a destination, by searching for a road or an intersection around the input coordinate and setting a point or an intersection on the searched road as an end point of guidance. , Search for a route.

Further, in the display, the road is composed of a coordinate sequence, and for a large facility, the outer periphery may be displayed and the facility name may be displayed so that the site of the facility can be confirmed.

[0005]

However, in the conventional navigation device, it is not known where the entrance of the displayed facility is, and the end point of guidance is set based on the input point to set the route. To calculate
Although it is possible to guide to the periphery of the destination, there is a problem that when the destination has a complicated shape or an irregular shape, the destination is guided to a back door or a side road.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device capable of appropriately calculating a route to a destination.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention sets a point on a road adjacent to a building at a destination as an end point of a route to reach the end point. Set the guide route. This allows
The end point of the guide route is not set on the road away from the destination, and the guide route is set on the road adjacent to the destination.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1. Summary of Embodiments An embodiment according to the present invention described below includes an information storage unit (house shape data file) for storing building information for displaying the shape of a building, a destination, a stop-by place, and a passing place. Input means (step 51, FIG. 23 in FIG. 13) for inputting locations / points, etc., and search means (FIG. 13) for searching the building corresponding to the point input by the input means from the information storage means. 23) and route calculation means (step 64 in FIG. 14) for searching for a route with the building searched by the search means as a destination, and the route calculation means. The navigation device is characterized by calculating a route with a point on a road adjacent to an object as an end point of the route.

In the embodiments described below, the information storage means (house shape data file) for storing the building information for displaying the shape of the building and the input means for inputting the target genre ( 23), a search means (step 248 in FIG. 23) for searching the building corresponding to the genre input by the input means from the information storage means, and a cursor position detection means for detecting the cursor position. 23 (step 260 in FIG. 23), a building search means (step 262 in FIG. 23) for searching a building corresponding to the detected cursor position, and a building corresponding to the genre input by the input means. No. 1 display mode (step 258 of FIG. 23), and the building searched by the building search means is displayed in the second display mode (step of FIG. 23). Flop 264) is a navigation system, characterized in that it comprises a display unit (display 33).

[0010] 2. Overall Circuit FIG. 1 shows the overall circuit of the navigation device. The central processing unit 1 controls the operation of the navigation device and performs calculations by the CPU 2. The flash memory 3 has a CPU
The system program executed in 2 and the programs and various parameters required for display control and voice guidance control are stored. The RAM 4 stores externally input data, various parameters used for calculation, calculation results, and the like.

The ROM 5 stores a program for operating the information storage device 37 and a program for rewriting the program of the flash memory 3. This R
The OM 5 may store display data for route guidance and map display, programs for display output control and voice output control, various parameters, and the like. The clock 6 generates time information. The sensor input interface 7 receives detection data from the absolute azimuth sensor 21, the relative azimuth sensor 22, the distance sensor 23, and the vehicle speed sensor 24 of the current position detection device 20, and sends it to the CPU 2. The communication interface 8 transmits / receives various data to / from the device connected to the data bus 28.

The image processor 9 reads out the image data stored in the image memory 10 and outputs the image data to a display 33 capable of displaying an image such as a CRT, a liquid crystal display or a plasma display. The image memory 10 stores the image data displayed on the screen of the display 33, and sends and receives the image data to and from the image processor 9. The image processor 9 converts the map data into display data according to a command from the CPU 2 to form image data to be displayed on the screen of the display 33. At this time, in order to scroll the screen, the display 33
An image around the screen displayed in is also formed and saved in the image memory 10. The ROM 5 stores voice waveform data in which synthetic voices for the guide voice or recorded real voices are stored.
The voice waveform data required by the CPU 2 is read out and sent to the voice processor 11. The voice processor 11 forms a voice waveform of an analog waveform from the input voice waveform data and sends it to the speaker 13.

The current position detecting device 20 is a device for obtaining data for detecting the current position of the vehicle. The absolute direction sensor 21 is, for example, a geomagnetic sensor that detects geomagnetism and outputs data indicating the north-south direction that is the absolute direction. The relative azimuth sensor 22 outputs data indicating the deviation in the traveling direction of the vehicle with respect to the absolute azimuth detected by the absolute azimuth sensor 21, and for example, a gyro device such as an optical fiber gyro or a piezoelectric vibration gyro, or steering of wheels. It is a steering angle sensor that detects an angle. The distance sensor 23
The digital counter outputs data indicating the distance traveled by the vehicle, and is, for example, a digital counter linked with a distance meter. The speed sensor 24 generates a voltage signal or a digital signal proportional to the traveling speed of the vehicle.

The GPS receiver 25 is a GPS (Global P
ositioning System) signal and outputs the position data. The beacon receiving device 26 receives GPS correction data and a beacon from an information providing system such as VICS (road traffic information communication system) and outputs the received data. In the data transmitting / receiving device 27, information is transmitted / received to / from the information providing system using bidirectional communication such as cellular phone, FM multiplex signal or telephone line. For example, like ATIS (traffic information service),
The current position information is transmitted / received to / from the information providing system.

The input / output device 30 inputs information necessary for setting a destination such as a departure place, a destination, a stop-by place or a passing place, and outputs guidance information during a navigation operation.
On the screen of the display 33, the transparent touch panel 3
4 are provided. This touch panel has transparent touch switches arranged in a planar matrix. The printer 35 is output via the communication interface 8 and is connected to the I / O data bus 28 to read out programs, data, etc. described later.

FIG. 2 shows the stored contents of the information storage device 37. Disk management information is stored in the information storage device 37. This information is the data described below, information about the program, for example, version information of the program.

The information storage device 37 stores a navigation processing program executed by the CPU 2 according to a flowchart described later and a program related to other processing. These programs are read from the information storage device 37 (external storage means / medium), written and stored (installed / transferred / copied) in the flash memory 3 (internal storage means / medium).

This installation (transfer / copy) is automatically executed when the information storage device 37 is set in the navigation device, or automatically when the power of the navigation device is turned on, or by the operator. It is executed by an operation. This information storage device 37 can be replaced with another information storage device 37, whereby the programs and data are replaced with newer or latest programs. As a result, this replacement provides a modern navigation system.

The information storage device 37 (database) includes:
Display guide data as map data, intersection data, node data, road data, photo data, destination data, guide point data, detailed destination data, destination reading data, house shape data, and other data necessary for navigation operation , Voice guidance data, simplified guidance route image data, etc. are stored. The information storage device 37 is composed of a recording medium such as an IC memory, a CD-ROM, an IC memory card, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, and a reading device for the recording medium.

The map data file stores road map data such as national road maps and residential map data for specific areas such as municipalities of major cities. As the road map data, a plurality of different scale maps are provided for the same area. The house map data may be one map data for each area, or a plurality of map data of different scales may be provided.

For example, FIG. 3 is an example of a screen displayed on the display 33 based on the most enlarged scale map data. On a road map display screen based on road data, roads are distinguished by lines having different thicknesses and colors. Further, a symbol mark is displayed at the coordinates of the center of the place where the main building or facility exists. Although not shown, the names of buildings and facilities, names of main roads, district names, road regulation marks such as one-way streets, etc. are displayed.

On the residential map (building shape map), the house shape, that is, the actual shape of the building is displayed, and further geographical information is displayed. This house shape represents external information of a building, that is, the shape of an actual building, facility, house, road, river, or the like.
This house shape is displayed, for example, in a ratio almost the same as the size ratio of the actual building, or in a plan view of a building, a site, etc. or a perspective view of a building, etc. The three-dimensional appearance shape of the above, and the two-dimensional shape and the three-dimensional appearance shape thereof are represented by the perspective method. The house shape also includes external features such as the number of floors, area, height, advertisement, and color of the building. Although a “house shape” is used for convenience of explanation, the house shape also includes a place other than the house such as a site of a facility, a road, or a river. These definitions are the same in the following description.

For example, FIG. 4 is an example of a screen displayed on the display 33 based on the most enlarged scale map data. On a road map display screen based on road data, roads are distinguished by lines having different thicknesses and colors. In addition, a symbol mark is displayed at the coordinates where the main building or facility exists. Although not shown, the names of buildings and facilities, names of main roads, district names, road regulation marks such as one-way streets, etc. are displayed.

On the other hand, the residential map is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a map having a scale further enlarged than that of the road map data having the maximum scale shown in FIG. 3, or a map having the same scale. The ratio of the width of each road on this residential map is the same as the ratio of the actual width of the road, and there are also indications such as sidewalks and pedestrian bridges. In addition, display of signalized intersections, map symbols, although not shown, names of buildings and facilities, names of main roads,
Area names, road regulations, etc. are displayed. The house map data is data for displaying such a house map on the display 33.

The intersection data file stores data about the intersection such as the position and name of the intersection. The node data file stores data of nodes set on the road. The road data file stores data about roads such as the position and type of roads, the number of lanes, and the connection relationship between the roads. The photograph data file stores image data of photographs showing various facilities, tourist spots, places where visual display is required such as major intersections.

In the destination data file, the locations and names of places and facilities that are likely to become the destinations of major tourist destinations, buildings, companies or establishments listed in the telephone directory, and destinations such as names. Data is stored. The guide point data file stores guide data of a point where guidance such as the contents of a guide display plate installed on a road and guidance of a branch point is requested. The detailed destination data file stores more detailed data regarding the destinations stored in the destination data file. The destination reading data file stores list data for searching the destination stored in the destination data file by reading the destination.

The house shape data file stores the shape data of the house shape for displaying the house shape and the identification data for each house shape, corresponding to the house map data. Other data files include address list data files for searching the above destinations from addresses, phone number list data files for searching the above destinations by phone numbers, and registration by users such as business partners. There are data files etc. regarding the destinations that have been selected. The house shape data file stores internal information of the building, that is, internal characteristics of the building. In addition to the above-mentioned telephone number and address, the internal characteristics are name, postal code, field, industry, brand, item, price, achievement or achievement, etc.

[0028] The road map is a map in which the road network, characters, symbols and figures representing the locations of major buildings and facilities, and geographical information such as map symbols and geographical names such as municipalities are displayed. Is. The residential map is a map in which house shapes of places such as roads, rivers, buildings and facilities are displayed in the same ratio as the ratio of actual dimensions, and further geographical information is displayed. In addition, the house shape is represented by a plan shape such as an actual building, facility, road, river, etc. in a plane, such as a section, building, site, or perspective view. It is a three-dimensional appearance shape of the place. For convenience of explanation, the "house shape" is used, but the house shape also includes places other than the house such as the site of the facility, roads, and rivers. These definitions are the same in the following description.

3. Data Group FIG. 5 shows a part of the data group stored in the RAM 4. In the external data GD, all or part of the data stored in the information storage device 37 is copied. The current position data MP is the current position data of the vehicle detected by the current position detection device 20. The absolute azimuth data ZD is data indicating the north-south direction obtained based on the data from the absolute azimuth sensor 21. The relative azimuth angle data θ is an angle formed by the traveling direction of the vehicle based on the data from the relative azimuth sensor 22 with respect to the absolute azimuth. The mileage data ML is the mileage of the own vehicle obtained based on the data from the distance sensor 23. The current position information PI is data regarding the current position input from the beacon receiving device 26 or the data transmitting / receiving device 27. VICS data VD and ATI
The S data AD is VICS or ATIS data input from the beacon receiving device 26 or the data transmitting / receiving device 27. The registered destination data TP is data regarding the destination such as the position and name of the destination registered by the user. The guide route data MW is data indicating an optimum route or a recommended route to the destination searched in the route search process (step 52) described later. The guidance start point data SP is coordinate data on the map of the start point of the navigation operation determined in the route search process (step 52). The final guidance point data EP is coordinate data on the map of the end point of the navigation operation, which is determined in the route search process (step 52). Stopover data D
P is data regarding a stop-by place set in the destination setting process (step 51).

4. Road Data FIG. 6 shows a part of road data in the road data file stored in the information storage device 37. This road data file contains information about roads having a certain width or more existing within the area stored in the map data file. If the number of roads included in this road data file is n, road data relating to n roads are included, and each road data is road number data,
It is composed of a guidance target flag, road attribute data, shape data, guidance data, and length data.

The road number data is an identification number assigned to each of the divided roads by dividing all the roads included in the map data at intersections. In the guidance target flag, "1" is stored for the guidance target road, and "0" is stored for the non-guidance target road. The guidance target road is a road that can be selected when setting the guidance route, and is a road having a predetermined width or more such as a main road or a general road. In addition, with non-guidance target road,
It is a road that cannot be selected when setting the guide route, and is a narrow road having a predetermined width or less such as a road or alley, or a private road on the site.

The road attribute data is data indicating attributes of an elevated road, an underpass, a highway, a toll road, and the like. The shape data is data indicating the shape of a road, and is coordinate data of a start point, an end point, and nodes from the start point to the end point of the road. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, roads 1 to 14 are attached to the roads divided at the intersections K1 to K7. Then, nodes N1 to N are connected to the roads with the road numbers 1, 4, and 14.
4 are provided. A large number of nodes are provided at regular intervals on a straight road, and a large number of nodes are provided on a curved road to approximate a straight line. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, since one road has lanes whose traveling directions are opposite to each other, different lane numbers L1 to L8 are attached to both lanes.
However, the coordinates of the intersections and nodes of the paired roads are common. For example, the starting point Ka and the ending point Kd of the road numbers L1 and L2 are common coordinate data.

The guide data includes intersection name data, caution data, road name data, road name voice data, and destination data. The intersection name data is data representing the name of the intersection when the end point of the road is an intersection. The caution data is data regarding cautions on the road such as railroad crossings, tunnel entrances, tunnel exits, and width reductions. The road name voice data is voice data representing a road name used for voice guidance. The length data is data on the length from the start point to the end point of the road, the length from the start point to each node, and the length between each node.

The destination data is data relating to a road continuing to the end of the road (this is the destination), and is composed of the number of destinations k and data for each destination. The destination data includes destination road number data indicating the destination road number, destination name data indicating the destination road name, destination voice data for voice guidance of the destination road name, and direction of the destination road. And direction guide data for guiding the driver to approach the right lane, the left lane, or the center to enter the destination road.

5. House Shape Data As described above, the house map data is provided for the municipalities of major cities, and the house map number is attached to each area. The house shape data is classified according to the house map number, and the house shape data corresponding to the house map number stores shape data and identification data of each place. As described above, the house shape data is data in which the shape data of the house shape is associated with identification data of a place such as type data, adjacent road data, and detailed data. In the present embodiment, the shape data is data representing a planar shape of a section, a site, or a building in a planarly partitioned place such as a building or facility existing in the house map.

FIG. 9 shows the house shape data of one area in the house shape data file. The house map number data corresponds to the number data of the house map data stored in the map data file. The data number data is the number N of house shapes existing in one area indicated by the house map number. Then, for each of the N house shape data, type data, shape data, adjacent road data, detailed data,
Other data is included. Of these, the shape data is external information of the building, and the data other than the shape data is internal information of the building.

The type data is not only data indicating the type of building such as public facilities such as government offices, schools, hospitals, private residences, condominiums, single-family houses, etc., but is also divided by roads, railways, rivers, and other boundary lines. It also contains data that describes the type of location. The shape data is coordinate data that represents the shape of the house shape by a coordinate sequence, and includes the number-of-coordinates data that represents one house shape and the coordinate data of each vertex of the planar shape.
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the house shape is a hexagon, the coordinates (X0, Y0) to (X5, Y5) of the vertices of the house shape.
Is coordinate data representing the house shape. The curve is approximately represented by a fine line segment and the coordinates of each vertex are used as coordinate data.

The adjacent road data is the number data of the road adjacent to the house shape and the coordinate data (road location) of the node closest to the house shape among the nodes included in the adjacent road. When there are a plurality of adjacent roads, the adjacent road data includes the respective road number data and the coordinate data of the node closest to the house shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, it is assumed that two guide target roads LD1 and LD2 intersect at an intersection Kp, and a registered destination TP1 is adjacent to the guide target roads LD1 and LD2. These roads LD1 and LD2 are divided at an intersection Kp and divided into left and right lanes. LD1a, LD1b, LD2a, LD
Road numbers 2b, LD3a, LD3b, LD4a, and LD4b are given. Therefore, the road numbers LD1b and LD2a are stored in the adjacent road data of the house shape data of the registered destination TP1. In addition, the house shape has vertices A to F.
The coordinate data of the nodes ND1 and ND2, which are the ranges surrounded by and are closest to the coordinates A, B, and F facing the road, are stored in the adjacent road data.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the registration destination T
When P2 is adjacent to the non-guidance target road LD5, the road number of the non-guidance target road LD5 is stored in the adjacent road data. Since the non-guidance target road LD5 is narrow,
The road is not divided into left and right lanes. If the non-guidance target road is also divided into the left and right lanes, the road number attached to the lane on the side adjacent to the registered destination TP2 is stored in the adjacent road data. Also, the registration destination T
The coordinate data of the node ND6 closest to P2 is stored in the adjacent road data.

The detailed data is data representing detailed contents regarding one house shape. For example, when the type of house shape is a multi-tenant building, the detailed data includes the name of the place, for example, the name of the building, the address data of the place, the floor data of the building, and the companies existing in the building. And the number data of department names and the content data of each company and department. The address data is data representing addresses such as prefectures, municipalities, chome, street addresses, numbers, large letters, and letters.

The content data includes name data such as company name and department name, telephone number data, classification data, and classification data. The division data is data indicating a room number or the number of floors. The classification data is data indicating the work content, and the classification is determined in accordance with, for example, the occupation classification in the telephone number book for each occupation. For example, gas stations, restaurants, convenience stores, parking lots, police boxes, pharmacies, banks, post offices, stations, hospitals, schools, movie theaters, halls / theaters, live houses, museums, libraries, museums, aquariums, plants Hall, amusement park, bowling
Skating rinks, disco clubs, karaoke, sports facilities, hotels / inns / accommodations, department stores / shopping centers, bookstores, CDs / videos, sports shops, miscellaneous goods /
Other categories such as gourmet, company (general), and so on are used.

The specific coordinate data stores the coordinate data of the most convenient point for entering the place, such as the coordinate data of the entrance of the building and the coordinate data of the entrance of the parking lot attached to the building. The other data includes list image data for displaying detailed data on the display 33, stereoscopic display image data for stereoscopically displaying a house shape, and the like.

6. Overall Process FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the overall process executed by the CPU 2. This process starts when the power is turned on and ends when the power is turned off. This power on / off may be linked to the on / off of the engine start (ignition). When starting, CPU2, RA
Initialization processing (step 55) of M4, the image memory 9 and the like is performed. Then, the current position acquisition process (step 50), the destination setting process (step 51), the route search process (step 52), the guidance / display process (step 5)
3) and other processing (step 54) are repeatedly executed.

In the current position acquisition process (step 50),
The current position of the vehicle is calculated based on the data sent from the current position detection device 20. In this calculation processing of the current position, the latitude and longitude are calculated from the data input from the GPS receiving device 25, and the latitude and longitude are stored in the RAM 4 as the current position data MP. The current position data MP is modified by the information about the current position input from the beacon receiving device 26 or the data transmitting / receiving device 27.

Further, based on the absolute azimuth data ZD, the relative azimuth angle data θ, and the traveling distance data ML, arithmetic processing for specifying the own vehicle position is performed. The own vehicle position obtained by this arithmetic processing is collated with the map data in the external data GD, and is corrected so that the current position on the map screen is accurately displayed. By this correction processing, the current position of the vehicle can be accurately obtained even when GPS signals cannot be received in the tunnel or the like.

In the destination setting process (step 51), a process of setting a destination according to a destination setting operation by the user is executed. The destination is designated by the user on the road map screen or the residential map screen, or by the user selecting a desired place from a list display for each item. After the destination is determined, the user performs an operation of instructing the confirmation of the destination, and the data regarding the determined destination is stored in the RAM 4 as registered destination data TP. When the destination is specified on the house map screen, the house shape data of the place to be the destination is read from the house shape data file and registered destination data TP
If the destination is specified on the road map screen,
The destination data of the place to be the destination is read out from the destination data file to be registered destination data TP.

Further, while traveling along the guide route, a sudden request such as meal or shopping may occur. In such a case, it is possible to search by the navigation device whether or not there is a place requested by the user around the current position. Such a place where you pass through due to sudden desire is called a “stop-in place”. Then, similarly to the setting of the destination, the stop-by place is set. In this case, when the user designates a desired genre, the candidate places of stopovers corresponding to the designated genre are displayed on the display 33, and the user selects a desired place from these. To do. The selected place is stored in the RAM 4 as stop-by place data. Further, when the stop-by place is designated on the house map screen, the house shape data of the place to be the stop-by place is read from the house-shape data file to be the stop-by place data DP, and the stop-by place is specified on the road map screen. In this case, the destination data of the place to be the stop-by place is read out from the destination data file and used as the stop-by place data DP. It should be noted that this destination setting process (step 51) is jumped when a new destination setting operation or stop-by place setting operation is not performed.

In the route search process (step 52), a guide route to the destination is searched based on the registered destination data TP, the current position data MP, and the road data.
Then, the road number data of the roads forming the guide route are arranged according to the route from the starting point to the destination, and the arranged road number data is stored in the RAM 4 as the guide route data MW. For example, in the case of going from the departure place to the destination, in the destination setting process (step 51), the user designates the destination, the designated destination is set as the registered destination, and the destination is set as the registered destination. A point on the nearby guidance target road is set as the final guidance point EP.

Further, the current position is set as the departure point, and the current position or a point on the guidance target road close to the current position is set as the guidance start point SP. Then, an optimum route or a recommended route from the guidance start point SP to the final guidance point EP is automatically searched. Then, the road number data forming the guide route is stored in the RAM 4 as the guide route data MW. Therefore, the guide route is set to the route from the guide start point to the final guide point. Also,
When the stop-by place is set, a guide route from the current position to the stop-by place is set. After arriving at the stop, the guide route from the stop to the original registered destination is automatically set.

The next guidance / display process (step 5)
If the current position deviates from the guide route during the process of 3), the route search process (step 52) is executed in response to a predetermined switch operation or voice input, or automatically. Is reset. It should be noted that this route search processing (step 52) is jumped if there is no change in the guide route.

In the guide / display process (step 53), the guide route obtained in the route search process (step 52) is displayed in the image displayed on the display 33 by thick lines of red, blue and other conspicuous colors. It The guide route starts from the guide start point and ends at the final guide point. Further, a current position mark indicating the current position and a direction mark indicating the direction of the destination or the stop-off place with respect to the current position are displayed. Then, the guidance is audibly produced by the speaker 13 or displayed on the map screen so that the vehicle can travel along the guidance route. The image for displaying the guide route is a road map around the current position,
Or it is a map of the house around the current location. Even if a simplified guide route image is displayed instead of the road map, the display of the geographical information is omitted and only the minimum necessary information such as the guide route and the direction of the destination or stop-by place and the current position is displayed. good.

When the vehicle approaches a predetermined guidance point such as an intersection, an enlarged map near the guidance point is displayed, the guidance is displayed, and the voice guidance is pronounced. The current position is corrected according to the progress of the vehicle, and the map screen is automatically scrolled as the current position moves. Further, in this guidance / display processing (step 53), the displayed image is changed from the road map or the simplified guide route image to the residential map, or the house map is changed to the road map or the simplified guide route image. To do. This map change is performed in response to a user's manual operation or automatically. For example, when the traveling speed of the own vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed, the road map or the simplified guide route image is displayed. It becomes possible to switch to a residential map. Further, when the current position coordinates deviate from the coordinate range of the residential map when the residential map is displayed, the road map or simplified guide route image around the current position is switched to. It should be noted that when the destination or the stop-by point approaches within a predetermined distance, the road map display or the simplified guide route image may be switched to the residential map display.

7. Route Search Process FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the route search process (step 52). In this process, the start point and the end point of the guide route from the current position to the destination or from the current position to the stop-by place are determined by the guidance start point determination process (step 60) and the final guidance point determination process (step 62). It The guidance start point is the start point, and the final guidance point is the end point. Then, when the guidance start point and the final guidance point are determined, an optimal or recommended route for reaching the final guidance point from the guidance start point is set (step 64). This guide route is created by selecting consecutive roads from the guide start point SP from the road data file, and can reach the final guide point EP smoothly by using many main roads at the shortest distance. It is such a route. Then, the road number data forming the guide route is stored in the RAM 4 as the guide route data MW.

8. Guidance Start Point Determination Process FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the guidance start point determination process (step 60) executed in the route search process (step 52). Since a narrow road or a private road having a predetermined width or less is a non-guidance target road, when the current position is a point other than the non-guidance target road or the road, the guidance route starts from a point on the guidance target road. Therefore, in this route guidance start point determination processing, when the current position is not on the guidance target road, a point on the guidance target road that is closest to the current position is searched, and this point is set as the guidance start point SP. It

First, the current position data MP is read by the CPU 2 (step 72), and it is judged whether or not the current position is on the guidance target road (step 74). For example,
By searching for the guidance target road data in the road data file, it is determined whether or not the road data of the guidance target road includes shape data that matches the coordinates of the current position. If there is matching shape data, it is determined that the current position is on the guidance target road.

When the current position is on the guidance target road, this current position data MP is the guidance start point data SP.
Is stored in the RAM 4 as (step 84). On the other hand,
If the current position is not on the guidance target road, next, the start point data and the node data on the guidance target road existing within the predetermined distance range from the current position are read (step 7).
6). Then, the distance between each of the read start point data and node data and the current position is calculated (step 68). Further, by comparing the magnitude of the distance obtained in this step 68, the starting point or node located at the shortest distance from the current position (this is the shortest point).
Is required (step 80). If there are a plurality of shortest points, the one closest to the registered destination TP or the stop-by place DP is selected. Then, the coordinates of this shortest point are stored in the RAM 4 as guidance start point data SP (step 82).

When a perpendicular line is drawn from the coordinates of the current position to a straight line connecting the coordinates of the shortest point obtained in the above step 80 and the coordinates of the starting point or node adjacent to this shortest point, this perpendicular line The coordinates with the intersection with the straight line may be used as the guidance start point. In this case, a point closer to the current position can be set as the guidance start point than when the shortest point is set as the guidance start point. When there are a plurality of intersections, the one closest to the current position among these intersections is the guidance start point.

9. Final Guide Point Determination Process FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the final guide point determination process (step 62) executed within the route search process (step 52). First, the CPU 2 reads the registered destination data TP from the RAM 4 (step 90). Then, it is determined whether or not the registered destination data TP is house-shaped data (step 92). As previously mentioned,
In the destination setting process (step 51), when the destination is designated on the residential map screen, the registered destination data TP is house shape data, and when the destination is designated on the road map screen. The registered destination data TP is destination data. For example, a flag indicating the difference between the house shape data and the destination data is added to the registered destination data TP, and the flag is determined by this flag. If the registered destination data TP is house shape data, then the adjacent road data in this house shape data is read (step 94). Then, the coordinate data of the node in the read adjacent road data is stored in the RAM 4 as the final guidance point data EP (step 96).

On the other hand, in step 92, the registered destination data T
If it is determined that P is not house-shaped data, then
By searching the road data file, the end point and the node on the guide target road, which are within the predetermined distance range from the registered destination TP, are obtained (step 98). For example, a plurality of points on the boundary of a predetermined distance range centered on the coordinates of the registered destination TP are calculated, and the coordinates of the plurality of boundary points are compared with the coordinates of the end point and the node included in the road data. Thus, it is determined whether or not the point is within the predetermined distance range.

Next, the distance between each of the end points and the nodes obtained in step 98 and the registered destination TP is calculated (step 100). For example, the difference between the coordinates of each end point or node and the coordinates of the registered destination TP is obtained and calculated using the Pythagorean theorem. Further, by comparing the magnitudes of the distances obtained in step 100, the end point or node (the shortest end point) located at the shortest distance from the registered destination TP is obtained (step 102). Then, the coordinates of the shortest end point are stored in the RAM 4 as the final guidance point data EP (step 10).
4).

When a perpendicular line is drawn from the coordinates of the registered destination to a straight line connecting the coordinates of the shortest end point obtained in the above step 102 and the coordinates of the end point or node adjacent to this shortest end point, this perpendicular line is drawn. The coordinates of the intersection of the above and the above straight line may be the final guidance point. In this case, a point closer to the registered destination can be set as the final guidance point than when the shortest end point is set as the final guidance point. When there are a plurality of intersections, the one closest to the registered destination among these intersections is the final guidance point.

10. Guided Route Search Process FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the guided route search process (step 64) executed within the route search process (step 52). First, the CPU 2 reads the guidance start point data SP, the final guidance point data EP, and the registered destination data TP from the RAM 4 (step 110). Next, it is determined whether or not the registered destination data TP is house shape data (step 112). As described above, in the destination setting process (step 51), when the destination is specified on the house map screen, the registered destination data TP is house shape data, and the destination is on the road map screen. When designated, the registered destination data TP is destination data.

If the registered destination data TP is house shape data, then the adjacent road data in this house shape data is read (step 114). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a non-guidance target road in the read adjacent road data (step 116). For example, road data that matches the road number in the adjacent road data is read from the road data file, and it is determined whether or not the guidance target flag of this road data is OFF. Here, when the non-guidance target road is included in the adjacent road data, from the destination road number data included in the road data of the non-guidance target road, the road of the road continuous to the non-guidance target road The number is read. Then, the read road number data is stored in the RAM 4 as continuous road number data LN (step 11).
8). On the other hand, if the non-guidance target road is not included in the adjacent road data, the process of step 118 is not performed.

Next, the road number having the guidance start point SP is retrieved from the road data file, and this road number is written in the first data area of the guide route data register MW in the RAM 4 (step 120). And
A road that is a continuation of this road and that has a favorable condition for reaching the registered destination TP is searched from the road data file (step 122). The road number of the next consecutive road is obtained from the destination road number data in the road data shown in FIG. 6, and the condition is determined based on the road attribute data and the destination direction data. By determining this condition, the main road is preferentially selected, and the road whose destination direction is close to the direction of the registered destination TP is prioritized. The direction of the registered destination is obtained when the registered destination TP is set in the registered destination setting process (step 51) and is stored in the RAM as the destination direction data MH.
4 is stored. The direction of the registered destination is, for example, an angle formed by a straight line connecting the guidance start point SP and the final guidance point EP with respect to the absolute azimuth ZD. Further, in this step 122, the most advantageous road satisfying the above conditions is extracted from the continuous roads. When a plurality of roads with the same condition are extracted, another condition is further determined. For example, the shortest distance from the start point of each road to the final guidance point EP is extracted. Then, the road number of the extracted road is written in the next data area of the guide route data register MW (step 122).

Next, it is judged whether or not the road searched in step 122 is an adjacent road (step 12).
4). That is, it is determined whether or not the road number data of the road searched in step 122 matches the road number data in the adjacent road data. If it is not an adjacent road, it is then determined whether or not the road searched in step 122 is the road LN read in step 118 (step 140). If it is not the road LN, the process returns to step 122 again, and the next consecutive advantageous guidance target road is searched. Therefore, step 122
, Until the adjacent road or the above road LN is searched,
The consecutive guide target roads are searched and sequentially written in the guide route data register MW (step 1
22, 124, 140).

On the other hand, if the road retrieved in step 122 is an adjacent road, it means that the guide route has reached the registered destination TP, so the road number data of this adjacent road is the final data of the guide route data register MW. It is written in the area (step 126). Then, the node data on the road searched in step 122 is read out from the node data in the adjacent road data, and the coordinate data of this node is determined as the final guidance point data EP (step 128). In this step 128, the final guidance point data EP written in the RAM 4 in the final guidance point determination process (step 62) is erased, and step 1
The final guidance point data EP determined in 28 is written. As a result, when there are a plurality of final guidance point data EP, one of them is determined.

For example, in FIG. 11, when the guide route comes from the upper direction of the road LD1b, the road number of the adjacent road LD1 is written in the final data area of the guide route data register MW, and the coordinate data of the node ND1 is stored. The final guidance point data EP is determined. When the guide route comes from the road LD3b or LD4b, the adjacent road LD2a is preferentially extracted as a road continuous with the road LD3b or LD4b. Therefore, the adjacent road LD
The road number 2a is written in the final data area of the guide route data register MW, and the coordinate data of the node ND2 is determined as the final guide point data EP. Note that in step 122, continuous roads are extracted on the assumption that the final guidance point EP is a node on an adjacent road, so the guidance route does not come from the right side of the road LD2b.

On the other hand, if the road continuous in step 124 is not an adjacent road, the road searched in step 122 is the road LN continuous with the non-guidance target road read in step 118. It is determined whether or not (step 140). The determination in step 140 is YE
If S, then the road number data of this road LN is written in the guide route data register MW (step 142). Further, the road number data of the adjacent road continuing to this road LN is read from the adjacent road data,
It is written in the final data area of the guide route data register MW (step 144). For example, the road data that matches the road number of the adjacent road is read from the road data file, and the road data in which the road number of the road LN is included in the destination road number data in the road data is searched. The road number of the searched road data is the road number of the adjacent road continuous to the road LN. And
This road L is selected from the node data in the adjacent road data.
The coordinate data of the nodes of the adjacent roads consecutive to N are read out and determined as the final guidance point data EP (step 1
46). Also in this step 146, the above step 128 is performed.
Similarly to the above, the final guidance point determination process (step 62)
Then, the final guidance point data EP written in the RAM 4 is erased, and the final guidance point data EP determined in step 146 is written.

For example, in FIG. 12, the road numbers of the road LD2a and the road LD2b are stored in the RAM 4 as the road LN continuous with the adjacent road LD5 (step 11).
8). When the guide route comes from the left side of the road LD2a or from the right side of the road LD2b, the road number of the road LD2a or LD2b is written in the guide route data register MW (step 14).
2) Further, the road number of the adjacent road LD5 is written in the final data area of the guide route data register MW (step 144). Then, the coordinate data of the node ND6 of the adjacent road LD5 is determined as the final guidance point data EP (step 146).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 112 that the registered destination data TP is not house-shaped data, then the road number of the road having the guidance start point SP is searched from the road data file, The retrieved road number data is written in the first data area of the guide route data register MW (step 130). Then, it is a road continuing from this road, and the registered destination TP
A guide target road having an advantageous condition for reaching is retrieved from the road data file (step 132).
Then, the road number data of the extracted road is written in the next data area of the guide route data register MW (step 134). These steps 132,
The process of 134 is the same as the process of step 122 described above.

Next, it is judged whether or not there is the final guidance point EP on the road searched in step 132 (step 136). For example, the node data included in the road data of the road searched in step 132 is read,
It is determined whether the coordinate data of these nodes and the coordinate data of the final guidance point EP match. If there is no final guidance point EP, the process returns to step 132 again, and the next consecutive advantageous guidance target road is searched (step 132). Therefore, until the road having the final guidance point EP is searched, consecutively guided roads are searched and sequentially written in the guide route data register MW (steps 132, 134, 136).

Then, in step 132, the final guidance point E
When the road with P is searched, the determination in step 136 is YES, and the final guidance point EP on the searched road is determined as the final guidance point EP. For example, in the final guidance point determination process (step 62), RA
If there are a plurality of final guidance point data EP written in M4, these final guidance point data EP are erased and the final guidance point data EP determined in step 138 is written. As a result, one final guide point that is the end point of the guide route is determined from the plurality of final guide point data EP.

When the stop-by place is set,
The guide route to reach this stop-by place is set by the same process as the guide route setting process to the registered destination. Registered destination data during each process of the guide start point determination process (step 60), the final guide point determination process (step 62), and the guide route search process (step 64). This is a process in which TP is replaced with the stop-by data DP.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the destination or the stop-by place is set on the residential map, the adjacent road data is included in the house shape data, and the guide route is based on the adjacent road data. Is set (step 6)
4). Then, in the guidance / display processing (step 53), when the registered destination or the stop-by place is displayed in the house shape on the residential map, it is a node on the adjacent road and is the registered destination or the stop-over house shape. The guide route is displayed up to the nearest node. Therefore, when there are a plurality of adjacent roads, the optimum point as the final point of the guide route is selected from the nodes on the plurality of adjacent roads.

For example, when the registered destination is set on the road map, the adjacent road data is not used in the guide route setting process (step 52) (step 13 in FIG. 17).
0-138). In this case, since the guide route is created only on the guide target road, the final guide point EP may not be on the adjacent road. On the other hand, when the registered destination is set on the residential map, the adjacent road data is used in the guide route setting process (step 52) (step 114 in FIG. 17). The non-guidance target road can be included in the adjacent road data. Thereby, the guide route is set including the non-guidance target road, and the guide route can reach the road adjacent to the registered destination.

11. Example Using Specific Coordinate Data (Second Example) In the above example (first example), when the destination or the stop-by place is house shape data, nodes on the road adjacent to this house shape are By setting the final guidance point, a guidance route is set up to a point advantageous for reaching the destination or the stop-by place. In the examples described below,
Based on the specific coordinate data in the house shape data, a guide route to reach a position close to a specific position such as an entrance of a building at a destination or a stop-by place or an entrance of a parking lot is set.

In this embodiment, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 5, the RAM 4 stores a register in which the designated position data IZ selected by the user from the particular coordinate data in the house shape data is stored, and this designation. A register for storing specific adjacent road number data SN representing road number data of an adjacent road having a position is added. Then, in the destination setting process (step 51 in FIG. 13), the arrival point designation process (step 150) shown in FIG. 18 is performed, and the final guidance point determination process (step 62) in FIG. 14 is the process shown in FIG. Then, the guide route search process in FIG. 14 (step 6
4) is the processing shown in FIG. These processes will be described below.

12. Arrival Point Designation Process of Second Embodiment FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the arrival point designation process (step 150) performed within the destination setting process (step 51). Before the processing is started, the destination is designated by the user and the destination data or the house shape data for the designated destination is stored in the RAM 4 as the registered destination data TP, as described above. . After the registration destination data TP is stored in the RAM 4, this process is started. First, it is determined whether the registered destination TP is stored in the RAM 4 (step 152). If the determination in step 152 is YES, then it is determined whether the registered destination data TP is house-shaped data (step 154). As described above, when the destination is specified on the residential map screen, the registered destination data T
P is house shape data, and when the destination is specified on the road map screen, the registered destination data TP is the destination data.

Here, if the registered destination data TP is not house-shaped data but destination data, the specific position cannot be determined, so this arrival point designation processing (step 1)
50) ends. On the other hand, if the registered destination data TP is house shape data, then the specific coordinate data is read from the house shape data stored as the registered destination data TP (step 156). Then, the contents of the specific coordinate data are displayed on the display 33 (step 1
58). For example, the image data for displaying on the display 33 is added to the specific coordinate data together with the coordinate data of the specific position, and the image regarding the specific coordinates is displayed on the display 33 based on this image data.
For example, if the specific coordinate data is the entrance of a building and the entrance of a parking lot, the characters “building entrance” and “parking entrance” are displayed on the display 33. Then, it is determined whether or not the user has selected the specific position (step 160). The user looks at the image displayed on the display 33 and selects the desired position. When the specific position is selected, the coordinate data of the selected specific position is stored in the RAM 4 as designated position data IZ.

13. Final Guide Point Determination Process of Second Embodiment FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the final guide point determination process performed in the route search process (step 52). In addition,
In FIG. 19, steps that perform the same processing as the steps in the final guidance point determination processing in the embodiment shown in FIG. 16 are given the same reference numerals. First, the CPU 2
The registered destination data TP is read from AM4 (step 90). Then, it is determined whether or not the registered destination data TP is house-shaped data (step 92). If the registered destination data TP is house-shaped data, then the designated position data IZ is read from the RAM 4 (step 170). Further, the adjacent road data is read out from the house shape data which is the registered destination data TP (step 172).

Then, the distance between each node included in the adjacent road data and the specified position is calculated (step 174), and the node closest to the specified position is obtained (step 176). The obtained coordinate data of the node is the RAM 4 as the final guidance point data EP.
(Step 178). Further, the road number data of the adjacent road having the node serving as the final guidance point is stored in the RAM 4 as the specific adjacent road number data SN (step 180).

On the other hand, in step 92, the registered destination data T
If it is determined that P is not house-shaped data, then
By searching the road data file, the end point and the node on the guide target road, which are within the predetermined distance range from the registered destination TP, are obtained (step 98). Next, the distance between each of the end points and the nodes obtained in step 98 and the registered destination TP is calculated (step 100). Further, the shortest end point is obtained by comparing the magnitudes of the distances obtained in this step 100 (step 102). Then, the coordinates of the shortest end point are stored in the RAM 4 as the final guidance point data EP (step 104).

14. Guided Route Search Process of Second Embodiment FIG. 20 is a flowchart of the guided route search process performed during the route search process (step 52). Note that FIG.
In 0, the same reference numerals are given to steps that perform the same processing as the steps in the guide route search processing in the above embodiment shown in FIG. First, the CPU 2 causes the RAM 4 to guide the guidance start point data SP, the final guidance point data EP,
And the registered destination data TP are read (step 1
10). Next, it is determined whether or not the registered destination data TP is house shape data (step 112).

Here, if the registered destination data TP is house shape data, then the specific adjacent road data S from the RAM 4 is next.
N is read (step 190). Then, it is judged whether or not there is a non-guidance target road in the read specific adjacent road data SN (step 116). For example, road data that matches the road number in the specific adjacent road data is read from the road data file, and it is determined whether or not the guidance target flag of this road data is OFF. Here, when the non-guidance target road is included in the specific adjacent road data SN, from the destination road number data included in the road data of the non-guidance target road, the road continuous to the non-guidance target road The road number of is read. Then, the read road number data is stored in the RAM 4 as continuous road number data LN (step 118). On the other hand, if the non-guidance target road is not included in the specific adjacent road data SN, the process of step 118 is not performed.

Next, the road number having the guidance start point SP is retrieved from the road data file, and this road number is written in the first data area of the guidance route data register MW in the RAM 4 (step 120). And
A road that is a continuation of this road and that has a favorable condition for reaching the registered destination TP is searched from the road data file (step 122). The road number of the next consecutive road is obtained from the destination road number data in the road data shown in FIG. 6, and the condition is determined based on the road attribute data and the destination direction data. Further, in this step 122, the most advantageous road satisfying the above conditions is extracted from the continuous roads.
Then, the road number data of the extracted road is written in the next data area of the guide route data register MW (step 122).

Next, it is judged whether or not the road searched in step 122 is a specific adjacent road (step 19).
2). If the road is not the specific adjacent road, it is then determined whether or not the road searched in step 122 is the road LN read in step 118 (step 14).
0). Here, if it is not the road LN, step 12 is again performed.
Returning to 2, the next consecutive advantageous guidance target road is searched. Therefore, until the adjacent road or the road LN is searched in step 122, consecutively guided roads are searched and sequentially written in the guide route data register MW (steps 122, 192, 14).
0).

On the other hand, if the road retrieved in step 122 is a specific adjacent road, the guide route has reached the registered destination TP, and the road number of this specific adjacent road is the final value of the guide route data register MW. It is written in the data area (step 194). Then, the final guidance point data EP on this specific adjacent road is determined as the final guidance point data EP (step 196). This step 1
In 96, the final guidance point determination process (step 62)
The final guidance point data EP written in the RAM 4 is erased, and the final guidance point data EP determined in step 196 is written. As a result, when there are a plurality of final guidance point data EP, one of them is determined.

For example, referring to FIG. 11, the registration destination TP
Two specific coordinate data TZ1 and TZ in one house shape data
2 and the specific coordinate TZ2 is designated by the user. In this case, the designated position data IZ is the specific coordinate data TZ2 (step 162 in FIG. 18). The final guidance point EP is the node ND2 closest to the specific coordinate TZ2 (step 178 in FIG. 19). The specific adjacent road number SN is the road number of the adjacent road LD2a in which this node ND2 is located (step 18).
0).

For example, when the guide route comes from the upward direction of the road LD1b, even if the node ND1 is a node close to the registered destination TP1, it is not the node closest to the designated position, and therefore it is excluded from the final guide point EP. It In this case, since the final guidance point EP is the node ND2, the specific adjacent road LD2 is set in the final data area of the guidance route MW.
The road number of a is written (step 194). When the guide route comes from the road LD3b or LD4b, the specific adjacent road LD2a is preferentially extracted as a road continuous with the road LD3b or LD4b.
Therefore, the road number of the adjacent road LD2a is written in the final data area of the guide route data register MW, and the coordinate data of the node ND2 is determined as the final guide point data EP. In step 122, the final guidance point EP
Since consecutive roads are extracted assuming that is a node on a specific adjacent road, the guide route is road LD.
It does not come from the right side of 2b. Therefore, when the specific coordinate TZ1 is designated by the user, the final guidance point EP becomes the node ND1 and the specific adjacent road is the road LD.
Since it is 1b, the guide route where the node ND1 is the end point is only when coming from above the specific adjacent road LD1b.

On the other hand, if there is no final guidance point EP on the continuous road in step 124, then step 1
It is determined whether or not the road searched in 22 is the road LN continuous with the non-guidance target road read in step 118 (step 140). And this step 14
If the determination of 0 is YES, then the road number data of this road LN is written in the guide route data register MW (step 142). Further, the road number data SN of the specific adjacent road continuing to this road LN is read and written in the final data area of the guide route data register MW (step 200). Then, the coordinate data of the node on the specific adjacent road is read out from the adjacent road data, and is determined as the final guidance point data EP (step 202). Also in this step 202, as in the case of step 196, the final guidance point data EP written in the RAM 4 in the final guidance point determination process (step 62) is erased, and the final guidance point data EP determined in step 202 is obtained. Written.

For example, in FIG. 12, since the registered destination TP2 has one specific coordinate TZ3 and one adjacent road LD5, the final guidance point EP is the node ND6 (see FIG. 1).
9 step 178), the specific adjacent road is LD5 (step 180 in FIG. 19). Therefore, the road LD2a
And the road number of the road LD2b are stored in the RAM 4 as the road LN continuous with the adjacent road LD5 (step 118). When the guide route comes from the left side of the road LD2a or from the right side of the road LD2b, the road number of the road LD2a or LD2b is written in the guide route data register MW (step 14).
2) Further, the road number of the specific adjacent road LD5 is written in the final data area of the guide route data register MW (step 200). Then, the coordinate data of the node ND6 of the adjacent road LD5 is determined as the final guidance point data EP (step 146).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 112 that the registered destination data TP is not house-shaped data, then the road number of the road having the guidance start point SP is the road, as in FIG. The data file is searched, and the searched road number data is written in the first data area of the guide route data register MW (step 130). And it is a road continuing to this road,
A guide target road having an advantageous condition for reaching the registered destination TP is searched from the road data file (step 132). Then, the road number data of the extracted road is written in the next data area of the guide route data register MW (step 134).

Next, it is judged whether or not there is the final guidance point EP on the road searched in step 132 (step 136). If there is no final guidance point EP, the process returns to step 132 again, and the next consecutive advantageous guidance target road is searched (step 132). Therefore, until the road having the final guidance point EP is searched, consecutively guided roads are searched and sequentially written in the guide route data register MW (steps 132 and 13).
4, 136). Then, when the road having the final guidance point EP is searched in step 132, step 136 is performed.
Is YES, the final guidance point EP on the searched road is determined as the final guidance point EP (step 138).

When there are a plurality of specific adjacent roads, the specific adjacent road determined as the guidance target road is the road searched in step 122 or one specific adjacent road continuous to this road (step 200). ), And the final guidance point EP is also limited to nodes on this road (steps 196 and 202).

When a stop-by place is set,
The guide route to reach this stop-by place is set by the same process as the guide route setting process to the registered destination. The guide route setting process to the stop-by place is the guide start point determination process (step 60), the final guide point determination process (step 62), the guide route search process (step 64), and the arrival point designation process (step 150). Registered destination data TP during each process of
The process is replaced with.

15. Third Embodiment In the above first and second embodiments, the road number of the road adjacent to the house shape and the coordinates of the node closest to the house shape are the adjacent road data. A flag indicating that the road is adjacent may be added to the coordinate data adjacent to the inside road. Hereinafter, this flag will be referred to as an adjacent flag. Further, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 5, a register for storing the adjacent road data LD is added to the RAM 4. The adjacent road data LD is road number data of a road adjacent to the house shape of the registered destination TP. Therefore, the adjacent road data in the house shape data is not provided in this third embodiment. In the third embodiment, it is assumed that the road data does not distinguish between the guide target road and the non-guide target road. Therefore, the final guidance point determination process (step 62) and the guidance route search process (step 64) are as shown in FIG.
1, as shown in FIG.

16. Final Guide Point Determination Process of Third Example FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the final guide point determination process (step 62) of the third example. In addition, in FIG.
Steps that perform the same processing as the steps in the final guidance point determination processing in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 15 are assigned the same reference numerals. First, the CPU 2 reads the registered destination data TP from the RAM 4 (step 90).
Then, it is determined whether or not the registered destination data TP is house-shaped data (step 92). Here, if the registered destination data TP is the house shape data, then the shape data is read from the house shape data that has been made the registered destination data EP (step 210). Further, the read shape data is searched for the coordinate data with the adjacency flag (step 212).

Next, by searching the road data file, the end point or node existing within the predetermined distance range from the coordinates with the adjacency flag is obtained (step 214). Next, the distance between each of the end point and node obtained in step 214 and each coordinate to which the adjacency flag is attached is calculated (step 216). Further, by comparing the magnitudes of the distances obtained in this step 216, the end point or node at the shortest distance is obtained for each coordinate with the adjacency flag (step 218). Then, the road number having the end point or the node obtained in step 218 is searched from the road data file, and the road number of the lane adjacent to the house shape of the registered destination TP is extracted, and the extracted road number is extracted. Data is R as adjacent road data LD
It is stored in AM4 (step 220).

For example, road data having shape data matching the coordinate data of the end point or the node obtained in step 218 is searched. Then, in step 21 above.
The road number of the lane on the side closer to the coordinates of the end point or node obtained in step 8 and the vertex of the house shape adjacent flag is extracted. In this case, the road attribute data includes lane information data indicating in which direction the lane is with respect to the center line. Then, the above step 218
The adjoining road can be found by finding the direction of the coordinates of the apex to which the adjacency flag is attached with respect to the coordinates of the end point or the node found in 1. and comparing this direction with the lane information data. Then, the coordinates of the end point or the node obtained in step 218 are the final guidance point data E.
It is stored in RAM 4 as P (step 104).

On the other hand, in step 92, the registered destination data T
If it is determined that P is not house-shaped data, then
By searching the road data file, the end point and the node on the guide target road, which are within the predetermined distance range from the registered destination TP, are obtained (step 98). Next, the distance between each of the end points and the nodes obtained in step 98 and the registered destination TP is calculated (step 100). Further, the shortest end point is obtained by comparing the magnitudes of the distances obtained in this step 100 (step 102). Then, the coordinates of the shortest end point are stored in the RAM 4 as the final guidance point data EP (step 104).

17. Guided Route Search Process of Third Embodiment FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a guided route search process of the third embodiment. Note that, in FIG. 22, steps that perform the same processing as the steps in the guide route search processing in the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. First, CP
The guidance start point data SP, the final guidance point data EP, and the registered destination data TP are read from the RAM 4 by the U2 (step 110). Next, it is determined whether or not the registered destination data TP is house shape data (step 112). As described above, in the destination setting process (step 51), when the destination is specified on the house map screen, the registered destination data TP is house shape data, and the destination is on the road map screen. When designated, the registered destination data TP is destination data. If the registered destination data TP is house-shaped data, then the adjacent road data LD stored in the RAM 4 is read (step 230).

Next, the road number having the guidance start point SP is retrieved from the road data file, and this road number is written in the first data area of the guide route data register MW in the RAM 4 (step 120). And
A road that is a successor to this road and that has an advantageous condition for reaching the registered destination TP is searched from the road data file, and the road number of this searched road is next to the guide route data register MW. Is written in the data area (step 232).

Next, it is judged whether or not the road searched in step 232 is an adjacent road (step 12).
4). That is, it is determined whether or not the road number data of the road searched in step 122 matches the road number data of the adjacent road data LD. If the road is not an adjacent road, the process returns to step 232 to search for the next consecutive advantageous road. Therefore, step 232
Then, until the adjacent road is searched, consecutive roads are searched and sequentially written in the guide route data register MW (steps 232 and 124).

On the other hand, if the road retrieved in step 232 is an adjacent road, it means that the guide route has reached the registered destination TP. Therefore, the road number data of this adjacent road is the final data of the guide route data register MW. It is written in the area (step 126). Then, the final guidance point on the adjacent road is determined as the final guidance point data EP (step 234). In this step 234, the final guidance point data EP written in the RAM 4 in the final guidance point determination process (step 62) is erased, and the final guidance point data EP determined in step 234 is written. As a result, when there are a plurality of final guidance point data EP, one of them is determined. In step 220 of FIG. 21, the road number of each adjacent road and the final guidance point located above it are stored in the RAM 4 in association with each other.

For example, referring to FIG. 11, the registration destination TP
The shape data in the first house shape data is the coordinate data of the vertices A to F. Then, the adjacency flag is attached to the coordinate data of the vertices A, B, and F that are adjacent to the roads LD1b and LD2a. Therefore, the final guidance point determination process (Fig. 2
In 1), the end point or node located at the shortest distance from each of the vertices A, B, and F is obtained (step 2 in FIG. 21).
18). In this case, the nodes are ND1 and ND2.
It is impossible to stop at the center of the intersection.
p is excluded from the final guidance point candidates.

For example, when the guide route comes from the upward direction of the road LD1b, the node ND1 is determined as the final guide point EP (step 138 in FIG. 22). When the guide route comes from the road LD3b or LD4b, the adjacent road LD2a is preferentially extracted as a road continuous with the road LD3b or LD4b. Therefore, the road number of the adjacent road LD2a is written in the final data area of the guide route data register MW (step 12 in FIG. 22).
6), the coordinate data of the node ND2 is determined as the final guidance point data EP (step 234 in FIG. 22). In addition,
In step 232, since continuous roads are extracted on the assumption that the final guidance point EP is a node on an adjacent road, the guidance route does not come from the right side of the road LD2b.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 112 that the registered destination data TP is not house-shaped data, then the road number of the road having the guidance start point SP is the road, as in FIG. The data file is searched, and the searched road number data is written in the first data area of the guide route data register MW (step 130). And it is a road continuing to this road,
A road having a favorable condition for reaching the registered destination TP is searched from the road data file (step 23).
6). Then, the road number data of the extracted road is written in the next data area of the guide route data register MW (step 134).

Next, it is judged whether or not there is the final guidance point EP on the road searched in step 236 (step 136). Here, if there is no final guidance point EP, the process returns to step 132 again, and the next continuous advantageous road is searched (step 236). Therefore, the final guidance point E
Until the road with P is searched, consecutive roads are searched and sequentially written in the guide route data register MW (steps 236, 134, 136). Then, when the road having the final guidance point EP is searched in step 236, the determination in step 136 becomes YES, and the final guidance point EP on the searched road is determined as the final guidance point EP ( Step 138).

When a stop-by place is set,
The guide route to reach this stop-by place is set by the same process as the guide route setting process to the registered destination. Registered destination data during each process of the guide start point determination process (step 60), the final guide point determination process (step 62), and the guide route search process (step 64). This is a process in which TP is replaced with the stop-by data DP.

18. Fourth Example For example, when setting a point such as a destination, a passing point, a stop-by point, or a detour point, if the desired facility is not specified in advance, the genre is selected so that the point can be easily set. In order to be able to do so, there is a conventional operation means which is composed of a menu and a list.

In the conventional road map formed based on the road information, it is not possible to store much facility information due to the capacity of the memory. Further, even if the memory capacity can be increased and the facility information can be enhanced, it is difficult to recognize the location of the facility. Therefore, the shape of the building is converted into data, and the map is displayed as a residential map with improved visibility of points. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the selection of points, the designated genre is judged, and the display form of the building corresponding to the designated genre is changed to recognize the corresponding building on the displayed map screen. , Easy to choose.

19. 23. Spot Setting Process of Fourth Embodiment FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the spot setting process (step 240). First, it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling (step 242). If it is determined that the vehicle is in a traveling state, the process ends without performing the point setting process. When it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, the spot setting process is possible, and it is determined whether or not the spot setting operation by the genre (range information) is performed from the operation menu (step 244). When the operation for setting the point by genre is performed, the genre list is displayed, and the user selects a desired genre from the list (step 246).

Next, the spot corresponding to the selected genre is displayed (or voice output), and the user selects the desired spot. Next, the selected facility / point is searched from the information storage means (step 248). Next, it is judged whether or not the searched point exists on the residential map (step 250), and when it is judged that the searched point exists on the residential map,
A map centered on the point is displayed (step 25).
6). In addition, it is determined whether the map currently displayed is a road map, and if it is determined that the map is a road map, the current display scale is stored.

Further, the building corresponding to the above-mentioned genre is searched from the house shape information, and the corresponding building is first searched.
Is displayed (step 258). The first
The display form of is different from the normal display form or the display form of other display objects so that the building corresponding to the selected genre can be easily distinguished or identified from other buildings. The colors, brightness, brightness, etc. are different. next,
So that you can set the point from the displayed map screen,
The position of the cursor is detected in the input form using the cursor (step 260).

The above-mentioned genres include geographical ranges such as addresses, streets, avenues, postal codes, and telephone numbers (partial), commercial ranges such as names, industries, brands, items, prices, results, floors, areas, and high prices. It is also possible to specify by various range information such as a building range such as Sa.

Next, the building corresponding to the position of the cursor is searched from the house shape information (step 262), and the searched building is displayed in the second display form (step 26).
4). Note that the second display form is brighter than the first display form when the brightness is, for example, brighter than the first display form so that the position indicated by the cursor can be easily identified. It should be possible to change it so that the display can be emphasized. The second display form is also different from the normal display form or the display form of other display objects in the color, the brightness, the brightness, and the like, and is also identified unlike the first display form.

Also, the display form changes with the movement of the cursor. For example, when the cursor is moved to the building displayed in the first display form, it is determined that the position of the cursor indicates the structure, and the display form of the building changes to the second display form. Be changed. Further, when the cursor is moved and the cursor is out of the position of the building and points to another building, the building is displayed in the first display form (step 266).

This cursor designates a particular building or a particular place in the display screen, but other designation methods are possible. For example, within a specific frame from the current position or the center of the screen. The buildings in this frame are changed to the second display form. Alternatively, it is to specify a specific feature according to the detailed data or the content data described above. The building corresponding to the designation information is searched based on the detailed data or the content data of the building in the genre (range information) and displayed in the second display form.

Further, by storing detailed information on each building, detailed information on the building indicated by the cursor is notified in response to the user's request (display guidance / voice guidance).
(Steps 268, 270). next,
When the desired spot is found, it is judged whether or not the spot has been set (registered) (step 282). When it is judged that the spot has been registered, the spot setting flag is turned on, and the spot setting process ends. (Steps 284, 286).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the selected point is not the point stored in the house map information (NO in step 250), it is determined whether the current map display is a road map. (Step 272), when it is determined that the residential map is displayed, the road map is displayed centering on the selected point based on the map scale of the previously stored road map (steps 274, 276). .

Next, the cursor position is detected (step 278), and the user can register the corresponding point at the desired point (steps 282, 284, 286). If the desired point is not found in the middle of the process, the process can be terminated in the middle by operating the return (step 280).

20. 24. Route Search Process of Fourth Embodiment FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the route search process (step 300). First, the destination input by the user is retrieved from the information storage means (step 302). When the searched destination is within the range of the house map information, the adjacent road is searched from the house map information (step 304).
The adjacent road can be stored in advance in the house shape data, or a road having a coordinate shared with the coordinates of the destination from the shape of the house can be set as the adjacent road.

Next, it is determined whether or not specific information, for example, point information such as entrance, exit, parking lot, etc., is stored in the house shape information of the input destination (step 306). If it is determined that there is specific information, the node on the nearest road is calculated based on the specific information and set as the end point of guidance (steps 308 and 310). That is,
If the house shape data of the input destination stores the information of the entrance as the specific information, it may be the final point of the node or route on the road closest to the entrance based on the information of the entrance. Therefore, even when there are a plurality of adjacent roads, it is possible to reliably guide the route to a point desired by the user. It is also possible to store a plurality of pieces of specific information. In this case, by configuring the user so that the specific information of the destination can be selected, a user's request, for example, "guidance to a parking lot is displayed. I want you to. ], "I want you to guide me to the front gate. , "I'd like you to show me to the exit to pick you up. It is possible to appropriately respond to various requests such as ".

Next, the route from the current position detected by the current position detecting means to the calculated ending point of the guidance is searched (step 312). If the specific information does not exist in the house shape data, the end point of the guidance is set by searching the node closest to the center point of the house shape (step 314) and the route to the destination is searched. (Steps 310 and 312).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the first and second embodiments, the case where the road data has a distinction between the guidance target road and the non-guidance target road has been described, but road data without such a distinction may be used.
In this case, steps 116 and 1 in FIGS.
The processes of 18, 140 to 146, 200 and 202 are unnecessary.

Further, in the second embodiment, the specific coordinates designated by the user may be determined as the final guidance point and the guidance route may be set up to the specific coordinates.
Further, the adjacent road may be calculated based on the shape data in the house shape data without providing the adjacent road data and the adjacent flag. For example, it can be obtained by searching the coordinates common to the road data and the house shape data.

The house map may be a map that can recognize the whole shape or a part of the shape of a building, a facility, a building such as a bridge by coordinates. Regarding the display of the shape of the building, all the buildings in the data may be displayed. That is, the appearances of all buildings, site shapes, etc. in the map displayed on the screen may be displayed. Also,
If necessary, the appearance of a part or one building in the displayed map, the shape of the site, etc. may be displayed. Further, the house shape data may be any data as long as it represents the shape of the building and detailed information belonging to the building. By forming the shape of the building as data and recognizing the shape of the building, it is possible to search for the building at the input point, and the user can easily input the building of the desired destination. It can be carried out. Further, by using the shape data of the building and displaying the shape of the building on the display screen, the visibility of the currently displayed point can be improved, and the point can be easily recognized. Become.

As the input means, the touch switch input has been described above, but it goes without saying that various changes such as joystick input, remote control input, voice input and the like can be made. The information storage device 37 can be set in a computer in a room or other portable computer, so that the above-mentioned navigation processing can be executed in a place other than the vehicle. For example, map display, simulation movement from the current position to the destination, or distance calculation along the road between any points on the map. And, it is possible to carry the portable navigation device for outdoor activities such as cycling, traveling, mountaineering, hiking, and fishing.

The program and / or data may be sent (transmitted) from the external system to the flash memory 3 via the data transmitting / receiving device 27. This external system is a current position information supply system or an ATIS (Traffic Information Service) information processing center. This external system is located far from the navigation device. The sent program is installed (transferred / copied) in the flash memory 3 when the program is sent to the navigation device or when the operator gives an instruction.

The route search process (step 52), the guidance start point process (step 460), the final guidance point determination process (step 462), the guidance route search process (step 464), the point setting process (step 460), etc. are executed. It may be executed by the external system. This processing result and map information are sent (transmitted) from the external system to the navigation device. Based on the received processing result and map information, the navigation device displays road information and guides the route. In this case, the road information, the map information, the facility information and the traffic congestion information are collectively processed and controlled by the external system, so that more optimal route search and point setting can be performed.

The above program is automatically executed when the information storage device 37 is set in the navigation device, or automatically when the power of the navigation device is turned on, or executed by the operation of the operator. . Since this program and data cannot be stored in the RAM 4 in a non-volatile manner, this installation is executed every time the power is turned on. If the information reading speed from the information storage device 37 is high, the CPU 2
May directly read and execute the program of the information storage device 37. The flash memory 3 is a RAM with a battery backup, an IC memory card or an EP.
It may be ROM.

The display 33 and the image memory 10 are divided into two or more, and the divided image memory 1
The data of the road map and the data of the residential map are written in each 0, and the road map and the residential map are simultaneously displayed. In this case, both maps are maps corresponding to the current position or the destination or the stop-by place, but only one map may correspond to the destination or the stop-by place, and the other map may correspond to the current position.

The current position includes a departure point or a start point which can be guided, as the case may be. The departure place may include a current position or a start point which can be guided. The above destinations include stop points or end points that can be guided.

Further, according to the present invention, the house shape representing the shape of the two-dimensionally divided place included in the predetermined area, the position of each place, and the house form data associated with the information about each place are stored. House-shaped data storage means, road data storage means for storing information about roads included in a predetermined area,
Destination setting means for storing house shape data of a destination place designated by the user as data on the destination, adjacent road information storage means for storing information on roads adjacent to the house shape, and moving means Present position detecting means for detecting the present position of the vehicle, guide starting point determining means for determining the starting point of the guide route based on the present position detected by the present position detecting means, and the house shape of the destination. First adjacent road extracting means for extracting information about roads adjacent to the data from the adjacent road information storage means,
For each house shape stored in the house shape data storage means,
Specific position storage means for storing coordinate data of a previously specified position, and a specific position for determining a specific position stored in the specific position storage means for a destination location stored by the destination setting means Determining means, second adjacent road extracting means for extracting information about an adjacent road closest to the specific position determined by the specific position determining means or information about a road adjacent to the specific position from the adjacent road information storage means; For each house shape stored in the house shape data storage means, adjacent position information storage means for storing information indicating the position where the house shape is adjacent to the road, and from this adjacent position information storage means, the destination setting means Adjacent position information retrieval means for retrieving stored adjacent position information of the destination location, and next to the destination location retrieved by the adjacent location information retrieval means Third adjacent road extracting means for extracting information on a road adjacent to the house shape of the destination place from the road data storage means based on the position information; and the first, second or third adjacent road extracting means. Based on the adjacent road information extracted by the road extracting means, the final guide point is determined by setting a predetermined point on the road adjacent to the house shape of the destination place set by the destination setting means as the final guide point. Means, road determining means for determining whether the adjacent road extracted by the first or second adjacent road extracting means is a guidance target road or a non-guidance target road, and the adjacent road is determined by the road determination means. When it is determined that the road is a non-guidance target road, a continuous road searching means for searching the road data storage means for a guidance target road continuous to this adjacent road, and the guidance start point determining means. The guide route searching means for sequentially searching for roads from the selected guide start point to the final guide point determined by the final guide point determining means, and the roads searched by the guide route searching means are the first and the first. Adjacent road discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the road is the adjoining road extracted by the second or third adjoining road extracting means, and the guide searched by the continuous road searching means for the road searched by the guide route searching means. A continuous road discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the road is a target road, and when the adjoining road discriminating means discriminates the extracted adjoining road, the final guidance determined by the final guide point determining means. A first final guide point determining means that sets the final guide point on the adjacent road extracted from the points as one final guide point, and the adjacent road by the continuous road determining means. When it is determined that the guide target road is continuous to the road, one of the final guide points on the adjacent road continuous to the guide target road is selected from the final guide points determined by the final guide point determining means. A second final guide point determination means as a final guide point, a display means for displaying an image, a guide route searched by the guide route searching means, and a current position detected by the current position detecting means are displayed on the display means. It may be a navigation device characterized in that it is provided with a route display control means for displaying.

[0135]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the point on the road adjacent to the building at the destination is set as the end point of guidance, and the guide route for reaching this end point is set. I decided to do it. Thus, the end point of the guide route is not set on the road away from the destination, and the guide route is set to a predetermined position on the road adjacent to the destination. Therefore, the route is guided to the road passing in front of the destination, and the user can know which position around the destination is reached by the house shape of the destination displayed on the residential map.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall circuit diagram of a navigation device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an information storage device 37.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a road map.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a residential map.

5 is a diagram showing a part of data stored in a RAM 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of a road data file.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a guide route.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the structure of road number data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the content of house shape data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of shape data of a house shape.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between a house shape of a destination and an adjacent road.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a relationship between a house shape of a destination and a road when an adjacent road is a non-guidance target road.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flowchart of overall processing.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a flowchart of route search processing.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of guidance start point determination processing.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a flowchart of final guidance point determination processing.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a guidance point search process.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a flowchart of arrival point designation processing of the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of final guidance point determination processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a guide route search process of the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a flowchart of final guidance point determination processing of the third embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a guide route search process of the third embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a spot setting process of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a route search process of the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Central processing unit, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... Flash memory, 4 ... RAM, 5 ... ROM, 9 ... Image processor, 1
0 ... Image memory, 11 ... Voice processor, 13 ... Speaker, 20 ... Current position detection device, 21 ... Absolute direction sensor,
22 ... Relative direction sensor, 23 ... Distance sensor, 24 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 25 ... GPS receiving device, 26 ... Beacon receiving device, 27 ... Data transmitting / receiving device, 30 ... Input / output device, 33
... display, 34 ... touch panel, 37 ... information storage device.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A route to an input destination is calculated,
In a navigation device that provides route guidance according to a route, information storage means for storing building information for displaying the shape of a building, input means for inputting a destination such as a destination or a passing point, and the above-mentioned input means The route calculation means for searching the building corresponding to the point input by the information storage means from the information storage means, and the route calculation means for searching the route with the building searched by the search means as the destination. A means for calculating a route, wherein the means calculates a route by using a point on the road adjacent to the searched building as an end point of the route. 2. The information means further stores information on a specific point, and the route calculation means searches for a route to the specific point from the information storage means based on the information on the specific point. The navigation device according to claim 1. 3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the information on the specific point is information on an entrance of a building. 4. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the information on the specific point is information on a parking lot. 5. A route to the input destination is calculated,
In a navigation device that provides route guidance according to a route, an information storage unit that stores building information for displaying the shape of a building, an input unit that inputs a target genre, and a genre input by the input unit. Search means for searching the building corresponding to the above from the information storage means, cursor position detecting means for detecting the position of the cursor, building searching means for searching the building corresponding to the detected cursor position, and the above input Display means for displaying a building corresponding to the genre input by the means in a first display form, and displaying the building searched for by the building search means in a second display form, Navigation device. 6. A destination or passage point that is input or designated from the stored external information about the shape of each building and the stored information about the road portion closest to each building. Alternatively, the building corresponding to the stop-by place is searched, and the route to the searched building is searched based on the stored road information, and the searched building of the searched route is searched. A medium storing a computer program for a building search process, characterized in that the closest road location corresponding to is the final point of the searched route. 7. The building corresponding to the input or designated range information is searched from the stored building external information related to the shape of the building, and the external structure of the searched building is searched. A medium storing a computer program for a building search process, characterized in that information is displayed on a display means so that the information can be distinguished from other displayed objects. 8. The building corresponding to the input or designated location is searched based on the stored information about the building and the information about the road, and the road closest to the searched building is selected. A medium storing a computer program for a route search process, characterized in that the route to the building is searched by using the selected road. 9. The building corresponding to the input or designated designated information is searched from the stored external information of the building or the external information of the building that has been discriminated and displayed. 8. The building search process according to claim 7, wherein the external information of the searched building is displayed on the display means so as to be distinguishable from other display objects and different from the distinguishing display. A medium storing the computer program of.