JPH09292831A - Item retrieving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to easily execute item retrieval and also retrieve items from geographical conditions by displaying an item list and, at the same time, a map corresponding to the said item list, too. SOLUTION: When the place name retrieval mode is specified, Prefectures list is displayed in each line in a display region 20 and, at the same time, a deformed map of the whole of Japan is displayed in a map display region 22. The displayed Prefectures list can be changed only by specifying the desired letter situated at the head of a line by means of a cursor 32. Prefectures to be specified can be specified by means of a cursor 31. A point mark 30 is displayed superimposed on the specified Prefectures in the map of the whole of Japan. The display position of the said point mark 30 moves in correspondence with the movement of the cursors 31, 32. Since the location can also be grasped at the time of item retrieval, the user's burden is lightened. Furthermore, the displayed list can be changed only by specifying the letter situated at the head of a line by means of a cursor. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of retrieval.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an item search device capable of searching a place name or facility desired by a user on a display screen provided in, for example, a vehicle-mounted navigation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In-vehicle navigation devices are generally
In addition to the basic function of displaying the current position of the vehicle together with the surrounding road map, it also has the function of searching for facilities classified by place name or prefecture. This search function is generally used when the user sets a destination, waypoint or registered place. That is, when setting a destination or the like, the user searches the place name or facility using the search function and sets the searched place name or facility as the destination or the like.

For a place name search or facility search, a place name or facility is displayed on the screen in a list form item list, and the place key or facility can be searched from the item list by operating the operation key. There is something I did. More specifically, for example, when searching for an interchange (IC) on a highway, first, Kinki,
A list of regional names such as Kanto and Chubu is displayed. If, for example, the Kinki region is searched from the list, a list of route names such as the Chugoku Expressway, Meishin Expressway and Maizuru Expressway existing in the Kinki region is displayed on the next screen. When, for example, a Chinese motorway is searched from the list, a list of IC names existing on the Chinese motorway is displayed on the next screen, and finally, a specific IC is searched from this list. It

When searching for an expressway or an IC, a list of items is only displayed on the screen. Therefore,
In order to grasp the geographical position of the highway or IC to be searched, the search screen including the item list is once switched to the map screen. Further, as another technique for searching a place name or a facility, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-204
There is a technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 081 (the first publication of the same publication).
See Figure 0. ). In this publication, when a registration candidate point is searched, a peculiar point position mark 23 is superimposed and displayed at a position corresponding to one specific registration candidate point on the map displayed on the CRT display, and the registration is performed. The name of the candidate point is displayed in one corner of the CRT display. In this state, if the leftward movement cursor key of the manual operation unit is operated, the peculiar point position mark 23 moves to a position corresponding to another registration candidate point. At the same time, the name displayed in one corner of the CRT display is also updated to the name of the other registration candidate point.

[0005]

By the way, in the former public technology, as described above, only the item list is displayed on the screen, so that the correspondence between the item to be searched and its geographical position can be grasped at the same time. I couldn't. Moreover, in the technique disclosed in the latter publication, only one registration point name is displayed in one corner, so it is very difficult to predict what registration point name will be updated next. It was Also, it was not possible to grasp how many registration point names could be displayed as a whole. Therefore, the user must focus on the search task,
A heavy burden was placed on the user.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, to simultaneously grasp the geographical position of an item to be searched, and to simplify the search operation. It is to provide a device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a map data storage means for storing map data for item search and an item list including a plurality of items are displayed on a display screen. In addition to displaying, the item search map data corresponding to the area where the items included in the item list to be displayed are read from the map data storage means, and the map corresponding to the read item search map data is displayed. Display control means for simultaneously displaying on the screen, item designating means for designating any one of the items included in the item list displayed on the display screen, and the item designating on the map displayed simultaneously with the item list A map display control means for highlighting a position where an item designated by the means (hereinafter referred to as "designated item") exists. A search device.

In the present invention, an item list including a plurality of items is displayed on the display screen, and a map corresponding to the area where the items included in the item list are present is displayed on the display screen. The user can specify any item from the item list. The map display control means highlights the position where the designated item on the displayed map exists. Each time the designated item is switched, the highlighted display is switched to the position where the designated item exists.

As described above, according to the present invention, the item list and the map are simultaneously displayed. Therefore, the user
When one item is designated from the items included in the item list, the position of the item on the map can be grasped at the same time. Moreover, since the item list includes a plurality of items, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of the search efficiency as compared with the conventional technique in which only one item is displayed.

The highlighting is achieved, for example, by superimposing the mark at the position on the map where the designated item exists. More specifically, a spot mark, a cross cursor mark, a line mark, an arrow mark, an icon, etc. are displayed in an overlapping manner at the position. Further, the position on the map where the designated item exists, or the region on the map including the position where the designated item exists (for example, Osaka city) may be colored with a unique color to perform the highlighting.

Further, as in the invention described in claim 2, the position on the map which is displayed at the same time as the item list and which is included in the item list and is other than the designated item is set to the above-mentioned position. The highlighting may be performed in a form that can be distinguished from the highlighting at the position where the designated item exists. More specifically, the position where an item other than the specified item exists is displayed with lower brightness than the position where the specified item exists, or the position where the item other than the specified item exists is displayed from the position where the specified item exists. May be displayed in a light color, or the position where the designated item exists may be blinked while the position where the item other than the designated item exists may simply be lit.

With this configuration, it is possible to grasp the positional relationship between the position where the designated item exists and the position where the item other than the designated item exists. Also, if it is included in the item list, its position is highlighted on the map, so even if you cannot display all of the item list due to the limited number of items that can be displayed on the display screen, Can be highlighted on the map. Therefore, the number of items included in the item list can be grasped.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for designating any one of a plurality of initial letters, and an item list displayed on the display screen in response to designation of the initial letters. The item search device according to claim 1, further comprising means for switching to an item list including items starting from the designated initial letter. According to the present invention, the displayed item list can be switched by a simple operation of designating an initial letter. Therefore, it is possible to display the necessary item list without displaying the unnecessary item list.

The map displayed simultaneously with the item list may be a deformed map as described in claim 4, for example. According to this configuration, the amount of information of the map to be displayed can be reduced, so that the map can be displayed quickly. Further, the map displayed together with the item list may be a detailed map as described in claim 5, for example. With this configuration, it is possible to more accurately indicate the position of the designated item.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. This vehicle-mounted navigation device is for supporting the traveling of the vehicle and includes a wheel speed sensor 1 and a gyro 2. The wheel speed sensor 1 is for detecting the traveling distance of the vehicle, and can be replaced with, for example, a vehicle speed sensor. The gyro 2 is for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle, and various types such as a vibration gyro, a gas rate gyro, and an optical fiber gyro are applicable. Wheel speed sensor 1 and gyro 2
Each output of is given to the navigation device body 3.

The navigation device body 3 includes a CPU 4,
The RAM 5, the VRAM 6 and the SRAM 7 are provided.
The CPU 4 controls the control center of the vehicle-mounted navigation device, and executes position detection processing, item search processing, and the like. The RAM 5 is used as a work area. The VRAM 6 is used to create display data. The SRAM 7 is used in the item search process and is for storing the prefecture name designated last time.

When the respective outputs are given from the wheel speed sensor 1 and the gyro 2, the navigation device body 3 is CP
Under the control of U4, the current position of the vehicle is detected based on the outputs. Further, the navigation device main body 3 uses the GPS (Global Positioning Sy
stem) Corrects with the current position of the vehicle detected by the receiver 8.

That is, the current position of the vehicle detected based on the outputs of the wheel speed sensor 1 and the gyro 2 is:
Usually, an error is included. On the other hand, the GPS receiver 8 detects the current position of the vehicle based on the propagation delay time of the radio waves transmitted from the GPS satellites that are orbiting the earth. That is, the GPS receiver 8 detects the current position of the vehicle as an absolute position. Therefore, the correction is performed as described above.

When the current position of the vehicle is detected, the navigation device body 3 reads out road map data around the current position of the vehicle from the map-dedicated disk 9 and supplies the road map data and the current position data to the VRAM 6. Then, in the VRAM 6, display map data in which a car mark is associated with the current position of the vehicle is created, and the display map data is given to the screen display device 10.

The screen display device 10 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display element (LCD), a plasma display element or a CRT. When the display map data created from the road map data and the current position data is given, the screen display device 10 displays the road map on which the car mark indicating the current position of the vehicle is superimposed based on the display map data. Let

The map dedicated disk 9 stores road map data as described above. Road map data is, for example, 1/2500, 1/5000, 100
It is divided into 10 types of scales, such as 1/00, 1/25000, and 1/10000. The road map data of each scale is composed of mesh units obtained by dividing the Japanese road map so as to correspond to each scale.

The map-dedicated disk 9 also stores item data in addition to the road map data. The item data is data required in the item search process described later. More specifically, the item data includes prefectures, municipalities, hotels, motorways, highways, highway interchanges (ICs), railways, railway stations, golf courses, department stores, ferries, marinas, It includes all place names or facilities (hereinafter referred to as "items") such as gas stations, resorts, museums, airports, etc.

The expressway IC is a concept that includes not only the IC but also the expressway parking area (PA) and the expressway service area (SA). Further, the map dedicated disk 9 stores item position data in association with each item included in the item data. The item position data is for specifying the position where the item exists in order to highlight the position where the item exists on the map.

Specifically, item position data corresponding to items represented as points such as hotels and ICs on expressways are stored as one coordinate data. Further, item data corresponding to items represented by lines such as highways and railroads are stored as coordinate sequence data or link sequence data representing the lines. Further, item data corresponding to items represented as a surface such as a prefecture or a municipality is stored as a plurality of coordinate data representing the entire surface.

Furthermore, the map dedicated disk 9 stores item map data in addition to the road map data, item data and item position data. The item map data is necessary in the item search process described later, and corresponds to the deformed map. More specifically, the item map data includes a national map, local maps such as Kinki, Kanto, and Chubu, a first area map within a predetermined range centered on each prefecture and municipality, and a specific highway or railway. It is data corresponding to a second regional map showing the prefectures and municipalities in which the tracks exist.

The on-vehicle navigation system further comprises a remote controller (remote control) 11. The remote controller 11 is connected to the navigation device body 3 and is permanently installed, for example, near the driver's seat so that the user can easily operate it while driving. The remote controller 11 is provided with a menu key 12, a map key 13, and a joystick / set key 14 to list the components related to the present invention. The menu key 12 is operated when the menu screen is displayed on the screen display device 10. The map key 13 is operated when displaying a normal navigation screen on which a car mark representing the current position of the vehicle is superimposed on the road map on the screen display device 10.

The joystick / set key 14 is used when scrolling a road map and when designating any one of a plurality of lists. More specifically, by tilting the joystick / set key 14 vertically and horizontally, the road map can be scrolled vertically and horizontally, and by pressing the joystick / set key 14, one of a plurality of lists can be selected. Can be specified. The joystick / set key 14
Is also used in the item search processing, but details will be described later.

Next, the CPU of the navigation device body 3
The item search process executed in No. 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In the following description, FIG. 1 will be referred to when necessary. A normal navigation screen is displayed on the screen display device 10 while the vehicle is traveling. In this state, the user operates the remote controller 11
When the menu key 12 provided in is operated, the menu screen is displayed on the screen display device 10 as a window screen. The menu screen includes a plurality of mode lists including a place name search mode and a facility search mode. The user tilts the joystick / set key 14 to move the cursor to a mode to be designated in the mode list, and in that state, the joystick / set key 1 is pressed.
Press 4. This allows the mode to be specified.

Next, the item search process when the place name search mode is designated by the user will be described. This item search process includes a prefecture selection process, a city / gun selection process, and a town / village selection process, and the processes are executed in this order. FIG.
6 is a flowchart for explaining a prefecture selection process. In this prefecture selection process, the navigation device body 3 first defaults the temporarily selected prefecture (step S1). In addition, the navigation device body 3
Reads out the item data, the item position data and the item map data from the map dedicated disk 9 and stores them in the RAM 5.

The default setting of the provisionally selected prefecture is to recognize the prefecture name designated in the previous item search processing. This is because, in view of the fact that the prefecture designated last time is likely to be designated again, the prefecture can be designated with a single touch when the prefecture is designated in the item list described later.
However, it is not necessarily specified just because it is highly likely that it will be specified again, so the default setting is "provisional selection".

The prefecture name designated in the previous item search process is stored in the SRAM 7 as described later. At the time of default setting, the prefecture name is read from the SRAM 7. It should be noted that there may be cases where no setting was made last time. For example, the case where this on-vehicle navigation device is used for the first time corresponds to this. On the other hand, at the time of shipment of the device, some prefecture name was previously SR
It is stored in AM7. Specifically, “Aomori”, which is the first prefecture in the order of Japanese syllabary, is stored. Therefore, in such a case, the prefecture name is recognized.

After the default setting, the navigation device body 3 displays the prefecture search screen on the screen display device 10 (steps S2, S3, S4). Basically, the screen forms such as the prefecture search screen, the city county search screen described later, and the hotel search screen are common. Therefore,
First, the screen mode of each of these search screens will be described with reference to FIG.

Each of these search screens is divided into a list display area 20, a line display area 22, a map display area 23, and a message display area 24, as shown in FIG. 3, for example. The list display area 20 is an area for displaying an item list. The start-of-line display area 21 is an area for displaying the start-of-line character of each line from "A line" to "Wa line" in order to specify the start-of-line character of the item included in the item list to be displayed in the list display area 20. is there. Map display area 2
Reference numeral 3 is an area for displaying a map corresponding to an area where the items included in the item list displayed in the list display area 20 are present. The message display area 24 is an area for displaying a message for instructing the user to perform an operation.

The processing relating to the display of the prefecture search screen will be described in detail. When displaying the prefecture search screen, the navigation device body 3 reads out the data corresponding to the prefecture to be displayed in the list display area 20 from the prefecture data in the item data stored in the RAM 5, and stores it in the VRAM 6. give. Specifically, the prefecture data set to the default is read out line by line, and the data is given to the VRAM 6. And VRAM6
In, the prefecture list data is created based on the prefecture data.

[0035] The default prefecture is "Osaka"
In the case of, the prefecture data of “A” starting with “Osaka” is read from the RAM 5. The only prefectures following "Osaka" in "Ako" are "Okayama" and "Okinawa". Therefore, in this case, the prefectures included in the prefecture list data are “Osaka”, “Okayama”,
It is "Okinawa".

Further, the navigation device body 3 is provided with the item map data corresponding to the whole of Japan and the cursor 31.
The item position data corresponding to the prefecture associated with is read from the RAM 5 and given to the VRAM 6. And
In the VRAM 6, an item map corresponding to the item map data is drawn, and a point mark representing a point is drawn so as to be superimposed on the position on the item map corresponding to the item position data. This creates national map data for display.

After that, the navigation device body 3 displays the prefecture list data and the national map data for display,
Also, the prefecture search screen data is created based on the data necessary for display including the cursor data and the character data. Specifically, cursor data is associated with each of the deformed prefectures and the bullets of the prefectures. Also, necessary character data is included. The prefecture search screen data is displayed on the screen display device 10.
Given to. As a result, the screen display device 10 displays a prefecture search screen as shown in FIG. 3 (a), for example.

FIG. 3A shows an example in which the default prefecture is "Osaka". List display area 2
At 0, a list of prefectures with “Osaka” at the top is displayed. The cursor 31 is associated with “Osaka” at the top of the prefecture list. Also,
In the line head display area 21, the cursor 32 is associated with the line “a” which is the line of “Osaka”. Further, in the map display area 22, a map of Japan with the point mark 30 superimposed on "Osaka" is displayed. Furthermore, the message "Select a place name" is displayed in the message display area 23.

After displaying the prefecture search screen, the navigation device body 3 determines whether or not the user operates the remote controller 11 (step S5). If it is determined that the user has operated the remote controller 11, the content is subsequently identified (step S6). The user presses the joystick / set key 14 when directly specifying the defaulted prefecture. On the other hand, if you want to specify a prefecture other than the defaulted prefecture, use the joystick / set key 1
Tilt 4 to the left or right or up and down. Joystick /
When the set key 14 is tilted to the left or right, the cursor 32 associated with the initial character moves to display the item list of prefectures on another line. Also, by tilting the joystick / set key 14 up and down, the prefecture can be changed within the same line.

When it is identified that the joystick / set key 14 is pressed as a result of the identification in step S6, it is determined that the defaulted prefecture is designated, and the designated prefecture data is stored in the SRAM 7. After this, the city / gun selection process described below is executed. On the other hand, when it is identified that the joystick / set key 14 is tilted, the prefecture search screen is switched (step S7). For example, in the search screen shown in FIG. 3 (a), when the joystick / set key 14 is tilted to the right and the cursor 32 is moved to the bullet "ta" of "ta line", Prefecture data is RAM5
Is read out and the prefecture list data is created in the VRAM 6. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the prefecture name corresponding to the prefecture list data of the "ta row" is displayed as a prefecture list. Again,
The cursor 31 is displayed in association with the prefecture name at the top of the item list.

Further, the display position of the point mark 30 displayed on the national map is also changed according to the change of the prefecture. Specifically, for example, in the example of FIG. 3B, since the cursor 31 is displayed at "Chiba" at the top, the point mark 30 is moved to the position corresponding to "Chiba".
After that, again in step S5, it is determined whether or not the user operates the remote controller 11, and then in step S6.
When it is identified that the joystick / set key 14 has been pressed in, it is determined that the changed prefecture is designated, the designated prefecture data is stored in the SRAM 7, and the next city / gun selection process is executed. .

Of the "Tayuki", for example, "Tochigi"
To specify, the joystick / set key 14 may be further tilted downward to move the cursor to "Tochigi", and the joystick / set key 14 may be pressed in that state. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the city / gun selection process. In the city / gun selection process, the navigation device body 3 first defaults the temporarily selected city / gun in the designated prefecture (step T1). That is, similarly to the above-mentioned prefecture selection processing, the previously designated city or district is recognized, or the city or district stored at the time of shipment is recognized. Then, the city / gun search screen is displayed on the screen display device 10 (steps T2, T).
3, T4).

More specifically, the navigation device body 3 reads the city / county data starting with the defaulted city / gun name from the item data stored in the RAM 5 row by row and supplies it to the VRAM 6. And VRA
Create city / gun list data in M6. Further, the navigation device body 3 reads the first area map data centered on the designated prefecture and the item position data corresponding to the designated prefecture from the RAM 5,
Give to RAM6. Then, in the VRAM 6, the first area map corresponding to the first area map data is drawn, and the item position corresponding to the item position data is colored to create display city / county map data.

After that, the navigation device body 3 creates the city / gun search screen data based on the data necessary for the display including the city / gun list data and the display city / country map data. At this time, each area 20 of the prefecture search screen
23, in addition to the selection name display area 2 as shown in FIG.
4 is newly created, and the designated prefecture data is associated with the selected name display area 24. Then, the relevant city / gun search screen data is given to the screen display device 10. As a result, the screen display device 10 displays a city / gun search screen as shown in FIG. 5 (a).

FIG. 5A shows an example in which the designated prefecture is "Chiba" and the default city is "Asahi". In the list display area 20, a city / gun list with “Asahi City” at the top is displayed, and a cursor 31 is associated with “Asahi City”. In addition, the map display area 22
Shows the first regional map centered on Chiba.
The area corresponding to the entire Chiba prefecture in this first area map is colored. That is, the designated prefectures are emphasized with a two-dimensional spread. As a result, the user can glance at and recognize the designated prefecture. Further, in the selected name display area 24, “Chiba Prefecture”, which is the designated prefecture, is displayed.

The designation of cities and districts (steps T5 to T7) is the same as the designation of prefectures, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted, and only a specific example in the case of changing a defaulted town or district will be described. To specify "Urayasu City" in the example of Fig. 5 (a), tilt the joystick / set key 14 downward to move the cursor 31 to "Urayasu City",
Then, the joystick / set key 14 is pressed. As a result, the screen shown in FIG. 5 (a) is switched to the screen shown in FIG. 5 (b).

The designated city / gun data is stored in the SRAM 7 as in the case of designation of the prefecture.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the town and village selection process. In the town and village selection process, the navigation device body 3
First, defaults the temporary towns and villages in the designated city and district (step U1). Then, as shown in FIG. 7, a town / village search screen is displayed (steps U2, U3, U).
4).

On the town and village search screen, a town and village list in which the towns and villages in the designated city and district are arranged in row order in alphabetical order is displayed in the list display area 20. Further, the city name designated by the city selection process is displayed in the selection name display area 24. The other contents are the same as those of the city / gun search screen. Fig. 7 (a)
In the example, the designated city / gun is “Urayasu City” and the default town / village is “Maihama”.

The designation of the towns and villages (steps U5 to U7) is the same as the designation of the prefectures and municipalities, so the description thereof will be omitted. The designated town and village data is stored in the SRAM 7 as in the case of the designation of the prefecture and the designation of the city. When the designation of the towns and villages is completed, the screen display device 10
The display screen of is automatically switched from the search screen to a normal navigation screen corresponding to the search screen (step U8). At this time, the navigation screen is
The cursor is displayed superimposed on the specified town and village. Further, on the navigation screen, a message saying "You can set a point with the set key." Is displayed, and you are prompted to set the point.

The point setting will be specifically described. When the joystick / set key 14 is pressed by the user, in response to this, a list including the destination, the registered place, or the current place is displayed in a window on the navigation screen. When any one of the lists is selected by the user's operation of the joystick / set key 14, the designated town or village is set as the selected point.

Next, the item search process when the facility search mode is specified by the user will be described. FIG.
It is a flow chart for explaining processing when a hotel is specified as a facility. Navigation device body 3
First, the screen display device 10 displays a message for prompting the selection of the facility attribute. The user selects the facility attribute in response to this message display. After displaying the message, the navigation device body 3 identifies which facility attribute has been selected (step V1). In this flowchart, it is assumed that “hotel” is selected as the facility attribute.

When the facility attribute is identified as a hotel, the navigation device body 3 causes the screen display device 10 to display a message prompting the user to select a prefecture. The user
Select a prefecture in response to this message display. After displaying the message, the navigation device body 3 identifies which prefecture has been selected (step V
2).

After that, the navigation device body 3 defaults the contents of the temporary hotel selection (step V).
3). This default setting is performed for the hotels in the prefectures identified in step V2. afterwards,
The hotel search screen is displayed on the screen display device 10 (steps V4 to V6). The process of the navigation device body 3 when displaying the hotel search screen is substantially the same as the above-mentioned city / county search process. The difference is that the item data to be read from the RAM 5 is hotel data, not the prefecture data, and that the item position data to be read from the RAM 5 does not correspond to the specified prefecture, but is all in the specified prefecture. It corresponds to the hotel in.

The hotel search screen is substantially the same as the city county search screen. The difference is that the hotel list is displayed line by line in the Japanese syllabary order in the list display area 20, and the message "Please select a facility" is displayed in the message display area 23. Figure 9 (a) shows
In this example, the designated prefecture is “Chiba” and the default hotel is “Maihama A Hotel”.

Hotel designation processing (steps V7 to V9)
Is similar to the above-mentioned city / gun search processing. That is, when setting the default hotel as it is, the joystick / set key 14 may be pressed.
To specify a different hotel, use the joystick /
The set key 14 may be tilted to move the cursors 31 and 32 and then pressed.

For example, when the hotel to be designated is "Maihama C Hotel", the joystick / set key 14 is tilted downward to move the cursor 31 from "Maihama A Hotel" to "Maihama C Hotel". , And then press it. As a result, the screen shown in FIG.
The screen switches to that shown in (b). When the designation of the hotel ends, the designated hotel data is stored in the SRAM 7. Further, the normal navigation screen corresponding to the last displayed search screen is displayed on the screen display device 10 (step V10). In this case as well, similar to the point search, the cursor is superimposed and displayed at the position corresponding to the specified hotel, and the message "You can set the point with the set key." Is displayed. That is, also in this case, the hotel specified in step V10 can be set as the destination, the registered place, or the current place in the same manner as after the place name search is completed.

In the above explanation, the hotel search screen for each prefecture is displayed when the prefecture is specified. However, for example, after specifying the prefecture, the city / gun is further specified, and then the city / country unit is specified. The hotel search screen may be displayed. FIG. 10 and FIG. 12 are flowcharts for explaining the item search process when “IC of a highway” is designated as the facility attribute. This processing includes highway search processing and IC search processing, and the processing is performed in this order.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the highway search processing. When "IC of highway" is selected as the facility attribute in step W1 (step W1), the navigation device body 3 determines that
Display a message on the screen prompting you to select a region such as Chubu. The user responds to this and selects the region. The navigation device body 3 identifies which region has been selected (step W2), and defaults the provisional highway selection contents in the identified region (step W3). After that, the highway search screen is displayed (steps W4 to W6).

The process of the navigation device body 3 when displaying the expressway search screen is substantially the same as the process when "hotel" is selected as the facility attribute. The difference is that the map data to be read from the RAM is not the first area map data but the local area map data.
That is, the item position data to be read from 5 does not correspond to all the hotels in the designated prefecture, but to all the expressways in the designated region.

The expressway search screen is substantially the same as the hotel search screen. The difference is that the list display area 20 is not a hotel list, but a highway list in which the names of highways are arranged in Japanese syllabary order is displayed, and a local map is displayed in the map display area 22. The region name is displayed in the selection name display area 24, and the message "Please select a toll road" is displayed in the message display area 23.

Further, the point that greatly differs from the hotel search screen is the way of highlighting. That is, the item position data corresponding to the expressway is stored as coordinate string data or link string data as described above. Therefore, while hotels are highlighted as dots,
Expressways are highlighted as lines.

In FIG. 11A, the selected area is "Kinki".
In this example, the default highway is "Maizuru Expressway". As shown in Fig. 11 (a),
A line mark 33 corresponding to the Maizuru Expressway is superimposed and displayed on the local map corresponding to Kinki. in this way,
Maizuru Expressway is highlighted as a line. Designation of the expressway (steps W7 to W9) is substantially the same as the above-mentioned prefecture search processing, so only a specific example of changing the expressway to be designated will be briefly described. For example, when changing from "Maizuru Expressway" to "Meishin Expressway", tilt the joystick / set key 14 downward to move the cursor 31 from "Maizuru Expressway" to "Meishin Expressway", and then Press. As a result, the screen shown in FIG. 11 (a) is switched to the screen shown in FIG. 11 (b).

When the designation of the expressway is completed, the designated expressway data is stored in the SRAM 7. Then, the next IC search process is performed. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the IC search process. In the IC search process, the same process as the expressway search process is performed. That is, the IC in the designated expressway is set as a default (step X1), and as shown in FIG.
The C search screen is displayed on the screen display device 10 (steps X2 to X4).

The process of the navigation device body 3 when displaying the IC search screen is substantially the same as the process when displaying the above-mentioned highway search screen. The difference is that the map data to be read out from the RAM 5 is not the local map data but the second regional map data representing the prefecture in which a particular expressway exists, and in addition to the item position data corresponding to the expressway, The item position data corresponding to the IC on the expressway is read from the RAM 5.

The IC search screen is substantially the same as the expressway search screen. The difference is that the list display area 20 displays an IC list in which the ICs in the expressway designated by the expressway search processing are arranged in the order of ascending or descending, and the map display area 22 specifies the IC list. The second area map showing the prefecture in which the expressway exists is displayed, and the designated expressway name is displayed in the selection name display area 24.

In FIG. 13, the designated expressway is "Maizuru Expressway" and the default IC is "Maizuru Nishi I".
This is an example of the case of "C". As shown in FIG. 13, a line mark 33 corresponding to the Maizuru Expressway is displayed overlaid on the second area map corresponding to Hyogo Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture where the Maizuru Expressway is present, and Maizuru Nishi is further displayed on the line mark 33. The point mark 34 corresponding to the IC is superimposed and displayed.

Regarding the display of the IC list, the arrangement order may be in the Japanese syllabary order instead of the order along the ascending or descending road. Designation of IC (Step X5
.. to X7) are substantially the same as those in the case of designating the expressway, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted. When IC is specified,
The IC data is stored in the SRAM 7 and I
A normal navigation screen corresponding to the search map displayed when C is designated is displayed on the screen display device 10 (step X8). Also in this case, the IC designated in step X8 can be set as the destination, the registered location, or the current location in the same manner as after the hotel search is completed.

In the above description, the case where "hotel" and "highway IC" are selected as facility attributes is taken as an example. However, the facility attribute can be arbitrarily selected. For example, even if you select a golf course, ski resort, department store, restaurant, etc., you can search for the hotel or IC
The process is similar to the search. Even when "railway station" is selected, the same process as when "highway IC" is selected if the railroad track is changed to the highway and the railway station is changed to the highway IC. Becomes

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the item list is displayed and the item is designated, the map including the position corresponding to the designated item is displayed at the same time.
Item search can be performed while grasping the position.
Therefore, the item search can be easily performed. This is particularly effective when the place name or facility name is only vaguely remembered but the position on the map is remembered.

Moreover, since the item list including a plurality of items is displayed, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of the search efficiency as compared with the case where only one item is displayed. As a result, it can contribute to the improvement of the user interface. Further, when any of the bullets displayed in the bullet display area 21 is designated by the cursor 32, the item list displayed in the list display area 20 is displayed as an item starting from the designated bullet. Quickly switch to the included item list.
Therefore, without having to go through the unnecessary item list,
You can display the required item list. for that reason,
It can further contribute to the improvement of search efficiency.

Furthermore, since the map displayed together with the item list is a deformed map, the map can be made easier for the user to see than a normal detailed map screen. In addition, the processing speed can be increased. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the designated item is highlighted by displaying the point mark 30 or the like only at the position on the map corresponding to the item designated by the cursor 31. However, for example, the map display area 2
The point mark 30, etc. is displayed at the position corresponding to all the items existing on the map displayed in 2 and included in the item list data, and the point mark 30, etc. corresponding to the designated item is corresponded to other items. Point mark 3
The designated item may be highlighted by displaying the luminance higher than 0 or the like.

More specifically, as the item list data, "Osaka A Hotel", "Nanwa B Hotel", "Cayamachi C"
When “Hotel”, “Umeda D Hotel”, and “Sonezaki E Hotel” are included, as shown in FIG. 14, points are pointed to positions corresponding to all the hotels existing on the map and included in the item list data. The mark 30 is displayed. At this time, when the "A" line is designated, "Umeda D Hotel" and "Osaka A Hotel" are displayed in the list display area 20, and when "Umeda D Hotel" is designated by the cursor 31, the "Umeda" is selected. The brightness of the point mark 30 corresponding to "D hotel" is made higher than the brightness of the point mark 30 corresponding to another hotel indicated by the broken line.

According to this structure, since the point mark 30 is displayed at every position where the hotel exists, the positional relationship of all the hotels can be grasped on one screen. Therefore, it becomes easier to search for hotels. In addition, based on the number of the point marks 30 displayed in the map display area 22, there are hotels listed as a list other than the hotels displayed in the list display area 20, and the hotels listed as a list. You can know the number of. Therefore, an efficient search can be performed. This is particularly effective when the space for displaying the list of hotels is small and the number of hotels that can be displayed as the list must be reduced.

In the above description, the luminance of the point mark 30 corresponding to the designated item is made higher than that of the point mark 30 corresponding to the items other than the designated item, and the position corresponding to the designated item is highlighted. However, for example, the color of the point mark 30 corresponding to the designated item may be darker than the color of the point mark 30 corresponding to the item other than the designated item, or only the point mark 30 corresponding to the designated item may be blinked, The point mark 30 corresponding to an item may be simply turned on.

In the above embodiment, the map displayed together with the item list is a deformed map,
For example, it may be a detailed map used on a normal navigation screen. Specifically, for example, FIG. 15 (a)
Alternatively, it may be a map as shown in FIG. In this case, the cross cursor 40 representing the item is displayed in the approximate center of the map display area 22. With this configuration, the position of the item to be designated can be grasped more accurately.

However, in this case, it becomes necessary to change the map to be displayed according to the inclination of the joystick / set key 14. On the other hand, if the map data is read from the map dedicated disk 9 every time the map changes, it takes too much time. Therefore, when the prefecture is designated, the detailed map data corresponding to the prefecture is previously stored in the RAM 5
The detailed map data may be read out as needed and given to the screen display device 10 via the VRAM 6.

Further, FIG. 3, FIG.
Although FIG. 7 and the like show an example in which the search screen is displayed like a window, it goes without saying that the search screen may be displayed not on the window but on the entire display screen of the screen display device 10. Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the items are expressed in Japanese, the item list is displayed line by line (eg, “A” line, “KA” line, etc.). However, for example, when expressing an item in a language other than Japanese, an item that begins with the character of the language corresponding to the Japanese bullet ("a", "ka", etc.) is regarded as one unit. The item list may be displayed. For example, when expressing items in English, the item list may be displayed in alphabetical units such as "A", "B", .... In this case, it is necessary to display the alphabet in the head of line display area 21.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the item list is displayed in units of lines has been described, but it is also possible to display the item list by simply arranging the items in alphabetical order. In this case, the head of line display area 21 may be omitted. Besides, it is possible to make various design changes within the scope of the technical matters described in the claims.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the map corresponding to the item list is displayed at the same time as the item list, when the item displayed in the item list is searched, the map of the item is displayed. The position of can be grasped at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to easily search for items and also to search for items based on geographical conditions. Moreover, since the item list includes a plurality of items, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of the search efficiency as compared with the case where only one item is displayed. Therefore, the burden on the user can be reduced.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the invention, all positions where designated items and items other than designated items exist are highlighted, so that the positional relationship of all items can be grasped on one screen. . Therefore, an efficient search can be performed. If the item list is included in the item list, its position will be highlighted on the map. Therefore, even if all the items included in the item list cannot be displayed because the number of items that can be displayed on the display screen is limited. The item list can be highlighted on the map. Therefore, the number of items included in the item list can be grasped. Therefore, an efficient search can be performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the displayed item list can be switched by a simple operation of designating the initial letter, so that the unnecessary item list can be saved without bothering. The required item list can be displayed quickly. Therefore, it can further contribute to the improvement of the search efficiency. Therefore, it can further contribute to the improvement of the user interface.

According to the invention of claim 4, since the map displayed together with the item list is a deformed map, the map can be made easier for the user to view than a normal detailed display map. , The map can be displayed quickly. According to the invention of claim 5, since the map displayed together with the item list is detailed, the position of the item designated from the item list can be more accurately grasped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted navigation device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a prefecture search process in a place name search mode.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in a prefecture search process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining city / city search processing in a place name search mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in a city / gun search process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a town / village process in a place name search mode.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in a town and village search process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an item search process in a facility search mode when “hotel” is designated as a facility attribute.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in a facility search mode when “hotel” is designated as a facility attribute.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a highway search process in a facility search mode when “IC of a highway” is designated as a facility attribute.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the highway search processing.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an IC search process in a facility search mode when “IC on a highway” is designated as a facility attribute.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the IC search processing.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in a case where the luminance of the position corresponding to the designated item is made higher than the positions corresponding to other items and the designated item is highlighted.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when a detailed map is adopted as a map to be displayed in a facility search process when “hotel” is designated as a facility attribute.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Navigation device body 4 CPU 5 RAM 6 VRAM 7 SRAM 9 Map dedicated memory 10 Screen display device 12 Menu key 14 Joystick / set key 20 List display area 21 Line display area 22 Map display area 30, 34 Point mark 31 Cursor 32 Cursor 33 Line mark 40 cross cursor

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A map data storage means in which map data for item search is stored, and an item list including a plurality of items is displayed on a display screen, which corresponds to an area where an item included in the item list to be displayed exists. Display control means for reading out the map data for item search from the map data storage means and displaying a map corresponding to the read map data for item search on the display screen at the same time, and an item list displayed on the display screen. Item specifying means for specifying any of the included items, and a position on the map displayed at the same time as the item list, where the item specified by the item specifying means (hereinafter referred to as "specified item") exists. And a map display control means for highlighting the item. 2. The map display control means determines the position on the map displayed at the same time as the item list, which is included in the item list and has an item other than the designated item, as the designated item. The item search device according to claim 1, wherein the item search device is used for highlighting in a form that can be distinguished from the highlighting in the position where the item exists. 3. A means for designating any one of a plurality of initial letters, and a list of items displayed on the display screen in response to designation of the initial letter, the designated initial word 3. The item search device according to claim 1, further comprising means for switching to an item list including items starting with a letter. 4. The item search map data stored in the map data storage means corresponds to a deformed map, claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3. Item search device. 5. The item search map data stored in the map data storage means corresponds to a detailed map, claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3.
Item search device described.