JPH0981032A - Map information system and method for controlling screen scroll - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a map information system with which the direction and speed of scroll are settable in combination and a method for controlling the screen scroll thereof by providing the system with a parameter set processing section and a scroll control processing section. SOLUTION: The size of a scroll menu mark S is transverse ×longitudinal = 3R×3R and is segmented to nine pieces (S11 to S33 ) of the basic sizes of transverse × longitudinal = R×R. The central segment S22 is a dead zone and the 8 segments S11 to S13 , S21 , S23 , S31 to S33 on the circumference correspond to the eight directions to be scrolled. The arrow marks M indicating the scroll directions exist in the eight segments. The eight directions to be scrolled are the angles segmented to a 45 deg. unit. The arrow marks M are capable of changing the scroll speeds by the positions on their lines. Namely, the scroll of a slow speed is possible if the position on the line near the beginning point of the arrow mark M as a reference is assigned and the scroll of a fast speed is possible if the position on the line distant from the beginning point is assigned.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map information system and a screen scroll control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A map information system having various display functions of map information is used in fields such as a car navigation device, various area / facility guidance devices, educational devices, and alarm systems. Map information is prefecture map, municipal map,
There are various types such as road maps and residential maps. And each map has various scales. Here, the scale is the ratio of the actual distance on the ground surface to the distance reduced and shown on the map, and is generally expressed in the form of a fraction with 1 as the numerator. Since it is impossible to see these maps on one screen, it is necessary to update the screen on the display screen, that is, scroll. Conventional scrolling on the screen has been a vertical scroll by pressing a key and a vertical and horizontal cursor by a mouse cursor. The scroll speed can be fixed or variable, but the variable scroll speed can be set to several scroll speeds, one of them can be selected and set, and scrolling can be performed at this set speed. It was a thing.

[0003]

In the map index, it is necessary to search not only vertically and horizontally, but also diagonally such as upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left. Even when searching for more detailed map information in the map, it is convenient to scroll in the diagonal direction such as upper right, lower left, or upper left. Furthermore,
It is troublesome to set the scroll speed in advance and select it.
If you can also add scroll speed while scrolling, it will be easier to use. Furthermore, the scroll direction is 360
If all directions are possible, indexing and searching of maps and map information will become even more convenient.

An object of the present invention is to provide a map information system and a screen scroll control method for the map information system in which the scroll direction and speed can be set together. Further, the present invention provides a map information system and a screen scroll control method for the map information system, in which the scroll direction can be freely set around 360 °.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an input device and a display device for interacting with an operator, a storage device for storing map data, and map data retrieved from the storage device for processing are displayed on the display device. In a map information system including an arithmetic and control unit for displaying a map, a parameter setting processing unit for simultaneously and continuously setting the scroll direction and speed, and a scroll control processing unit for scroll control by the parameter. A map information system characterized by the above is disclosed.

Further, the present invention discloses the map information system, wherein the parameter setting processing unit sets the scroll direction and speed by instructing an arbitrary point of the scroll menu displayed on the display device. To do.

Further, according to the present invention, the scroll control processing unit continuously changes the scroll direction and speed in response to the output of the parameter setting processing unit when the arbitrary point instructing the scroll menu is continuously moved. A map information system characterized by the above is disclosed.

Further, according to the present invention, the scroll menu is
An arrow that is divided into N directions and goes outward from the center is displayed, and the scroll direction is indicated by the direction of the arrow, and the scroll speed (minimum speed at the start point, maximum speed at the end point) is indicated by the indicated point position on the arrow. A map information system that can be used is disclosed.

The present invention further discloses a map information system characterized in that the scroll menu has polar coordinates whose origin is the center point of the area, the angle indicates the scroll direction, and the length indicates the scroll speed.

Further, according to the present invention, the map information is displayed on the screen and the scroll menu is designated, so that the map information is scrolled on the screen at a scroll speed determined by the scroll direction indicated by the menu and the position of the designated point. Disclosed is a screen scroll control method in a map information system.

The present invention further relates to a map information memory for storing map information, a drawing memory means having a capacity larger than a display area for temporarily storing map information to be drawn in the map information, and a drawing memory. In a map information system comprising display means for cutting and displaying a display area from a memory means, a scroll menu is displayed on a display screen, and an arbitrary position of the scroll menu is designated to indicate a scroll direction indicated by the menu. And a screen scroll control method in a map information system, in which the map information existing in the drawing memory means is scrolled on the display screen at a scroll speed determined by the position of the designated point.

Further, in the screen scroll control method according to the present invention, the scroll menu is divided into N directions and an arrow pointing outward from the center is displayed. The scroll direction is determined by the direction of the arrow and the scroll speed is determined by the position of the indicated point on the arrow. Disclosed is a screen scroll control method in a map information system that indicates (minimum speed at start point and maximum speed at end point).

Further, in the scroll control method according to the present invention, the scroll menu has polar coordinates whose origin is the center point of the area, the angle indicates the scroll direction, and the length indicates the scroll speed. A screen scroll control method in a system is disclosed.

Further, according to the present invention, in the scroll control method, it is checked whether or not a part or all of the display area at the scroll end position is within the area of the drawing memory means, and if it is outside the area, it is outside. Disclosed is a screen scroll control method in a map information system in which corresponding map information is read from a map information memory for a display area portion and is displayed as map information in the display area at the end of scrolling.

[0015]

1 is a diagram showing an 8-direction scroll menu mark S. As shown in FIG. The menu mark S is displayed by a mouse instruction when scrolling is desired. The size of the menu mark S is horizontal × vertical = 3R × 3R, 9 pieces of basic size of horizontal × vertical = R × R (S ₁₁ ~
S ₃₃ ). Central sections S ₂₂ are dead zones, eight sections surrounding _{S 11, S 12, S 13} ,
S ₂₁ , S ₂₃ , S ₃₁ , S ₃₂ , and S ₃₃ correspond to the eight directions to be scrolled. Each of the eight sections has an arrow mark M indicating the scroll direction. The eight directions to be scrolled are the angles (0 °,
45 °, 90 °, ..., 315 °).

The scroll speed of the arrow mark M can be changed depending on the position on the line. With respect to the starting point of the arrow mark, it is possible to perform slow-speed scrolling if the position is designated on a line close to this starting point, and fast scrolling is possible if the position is designated on a line far from the starting point. FIG. 2 shows an example thereof. 2A shows an example of the designated position P on the mark line, and FIG. 2B shows an example of the designated position P at an arbitrary position within the section deviated from the mark line. FIG.
In (a), if the distance from the starting point to the designated position P is r, the scroll speed v ₁ is given by the following equation.

[Equation 1] Here, V _max is a set maximum speed (when r = R), V _min is a set minimum speed (when r = 0), and R is a segment size.
On the other hand, FIG. 2B shows an example in which an arbitrary position in a section other than the mark line can be designated. In this case, the scroll speed v ₂ is given by converting it into the length r'on the mark line.

[Equation 2] Here, the converted length r ′ on the mark line is, for example, P (P
_x , P _y ) is the distance between the perpendicular intersection and the starting point when a perpendicular is drawn from the point on the mark line. This distance is automatically obtained by calculation from the designated position P and the straight line of the mark M.

Both (a) and (b) of FIG. 2 may adopt only (a), but at the same time, that is, no matter which position is specified within the section, the length on the mark line is converted. It is easy to use if you can add scroll speed. In the dead zone S ₂₂ , when this section is designated, scrolling is not performed, and therefore scroll speed is not added (v = 0).

Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of scrolling the screen being displayed by the scroll mark S ₁ in FIG. FIG. 4 shows the drawing memory area 1. The drawing memory area 1 is a memory area that is several to several hundred times larger than the image area 2 of the display size, and is provided at high speed for realizing high-speed scrolling (for example, enlarging a map or searching a map). A memory area. In general, map data is stored in a large-capacity auxiliary memory, but at the time of display, map data to be displayed is read from the auxiliary memory and sent to a display memory, which is displayed by a display means such as a CRT. However, high-speed scroll cannot be realized at a low speed by reading map data in the scroll direction from the auxiliary memory and sending the map data to the display memory each time. Therefore, the map data currently being displayed and the map data around it are taken and stored in a high-speed memory area that is several to several hundred times larger than the display memory. It was decided to send it to the display memory by high-speed reading and realize high-speed scrolling. A part of the main memory may be used as the high-speed memory area, or an IC memory used as a buffer memory as a cache memory may be used unlike the main memory.

In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the map 10 is displayed in the center on the screen. Then, in response to the scroll request, the 8-direction scroll menu mark S is displayed at the upper right of the screen.
Is displayed. The mouse cursor is moved to an arbitrary position on the menu mark S and then clicked, and the mouse cursor is moved to a speed position to be scrolled in a section to be scrolled out of the eight outer sections. For example, the mouse cursor is moved to the section S ₁₃ . If the position of the mouse cursor, for example, this segment is S ₁₃ , the map is scrolled to the right (45 ° angle) with reference to the map 10 currently displayed. The scroll speed is determined by the position of the pointing point of the mouse cursor. When quick scrolling is desired, the mouse cursor is moved to the rightward position in the section S ₁₃ , and when slow scrolling is desired, the mouse cursor is moved near the start point of the mark.

FIG. 4 shows the movement in scrolling on the drawing memory area 1. The map 2 at an arbitrary position on the drawing memory area 1 is the currently displayed image. On the other hand, the case where the scroll is performed in the direction of the section S ₁₃ is the map 3. That is, when scrolling is performed in the section S ₁₃ , the map is scrolled (read and displayed) one after another in the arrow direction from the map 2 in the drawing memory area 1 (which is being copied and displayed in the display memory). Scroll is stopped when the click is released. Image 3 is the stop image when the scroll is released.

The scrolling speed is determined by the reading speed from the drawing memory area, the transfer speed to the display memory, and the transfer speed from the display memory to the display screen. The main one is the reading speed from the drawing memory area. There are the following methods to enable the scroll speed.
The minimum read time of the drawing memory area is determined by the memory configuration, and the scroll speed corresponding to this minimum read time is V _max of (Equation 1) and (Equation 2). Also, V _min is artificially set. Since V _max and V _min are fixed, the read time may be continuously changed according to the distance r. There is also a method in which the number of times of reading per unit time can be continuously changed according to the distance r. Incidentally, since the scroll can be arbitrarily scrolled in the eight directions in the periphery, the drawing memory area 1 is managed so that the map currently being displayed is constantly located near the center of the drawing memory area.
Also, it is preferable to manage reading from the auxiliary memory. According to this example, with respect to the map 10 being displayed, it is possible to scroll in eight peripheral directions by the scroll menu mark S, and the scroll speed can be freely adjusted by the pointing position of the mouse cursor. It was

FIG. 5 is a structural example of the present invention. The arithmetic and control unit 10 is a part including a CPU and a main memory of a computer, and an input unit 11, a display unit 13, and an auxiliary storage unit (external memory) 12 are connected as its external unit. The input device 11 comprises a keyboard and a mouse. The arithmetic and control unit 10 is composed of a main memory 26 and a CPU, and this CPU has a functional block representation. The functional units of the CPU that are made into blocks are the dialogue control processing unit 20, the parameter setting processing unit 21, the scroll control processing unit 22, the search processing unit 23, and the drawing processing unit 2.
4 and a display processing unit 25. Dialog control processing unit 20 ... Used when the operator performs input processing and operation processing via the input device 11, and when performing mouse processing looking at the display device 13. Parameter setting processing unit 21 ...
The scroll parameter is used to read the number of the mark M (or the angle θ of the mark M seen from the horizontal direction and the position of the cursor designated point) (P _x , P _y ). Scroll control processing unit 22 ... Used for displaying a scroll menu mark and performing a scroll movement process (reading and displaying in the arrow direction in FIG. 4) on the drawing memory area according to an instruction of the mouse cursor to the scroll menu mark. Further, scrolling is performed according to the scroll speed corresponding to the designated position of the mouse cursor. In addition to this, as a result of scrolling, the map data is also filled in the missing area when it appears (described later in FIG. 9).

Search processing unit 23 ... Searches a map stored in the auxiliary storage device 12. Further, it is also used for searching the display map from the drawing memory area. It is also used for map reading by scrolling on the drawing memory area in combination with the scroll control processing unit 22. Drawing processing unit 24 ...
It is used for writing map data from the auxiliary memory 12 to the drawing memory area 29. Drawing means writing map data in a drawing memory area. Display processing unit 25 ...
It is used for processing including cutting out the display area (maps 2 and 3 in FIG. 4) from the drawing memory area, transferring to the display memory, and displaying on the CRT. The main memory 26 includes a high-speed buffer memory such as a cache memory in addition to the original main memory, and has at least a scroll parameter data area 27, a map data area 28, and a drawing memory area 29. The scroll parameter data area 27 stores the mouse cursor designated position (P _x , P _y ) and V _max , V _min , R, θ. The map data area 28 corresponds to the display area, and actually corresponds to the display memory. The display processing unit 25 cuts out a map from the drawing memory area 29, temporarily stores this in the map data area, and sends it to the display device (CRT) 13 for display. The auxiliary memory 12 is a low-speed large-capacity memory, and is a memory that stores many kinds of maps and many scales of maps such as a map book. As the maps to be stored, many maps such as prefecture maps, municipal maps, residential maps, road maps, etc., and maps of various scales are stored in association with each other. In the map stored in the auxiliary memory 12, which drawing is to be sent to which position in the drawing memory area 29 to be stored, the drawing processing unit 23 determines the map and the drawing area of the destination, and reads out the area. Instruct writing to 29.

FIG. 6 shows a processing flow in the parameter setting processing section 21. In flow F ₁ , it is checked whether the branch is due to the scroll menu instruction. If the button is pressed / moved, the flow moves to F ₂ and the scroll mode is turned on. On the other hand, if not, the flow is released in F ₃ , the scroll mode is turned off, and the process ends. On the other hand, in the flow F ₄ , which position P (P _x , P _y ) the operator has designated with the mouse cursor in the scroll menu mark is read. In the flow F ₅ , it is checked which of the eight sections the designated position P belongs to, and the corresponding section is specified. Applicable classification shall be indicated by θ,

(Equation 3) It is. When n = 1, θ = 0, that is, in section S ₂₃ , when n = 2, θ =
45 °, that is, the section S ₁₃ . In the flow F ₆ , the scroll speed v from the designated point P is calculated by (Equation 1) or (Equation 2).
Ask for. The angle θ and the velocity v are the same as the point P (P _x ,
P _y ) and the scroll parameter data storage unit 27.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of scroll processing according to the present invention. In flow F ₇ , it is checked whether or not the branch is in the scroll mode. If so, the flow moves to flow F ₈ , and if not, the process ends. In the flow F8, the display area after scrolling is obtained from the scroll parameter of the storage unit 27. An example of scroll parameters is shown in FIG. FIG. 8A shows an example in which the minimum speed V _min , the maximum speed V _max , and the longest arrow length R are stored, and FIG. 8B shows the x coordinate P _x , y coordinate P _y , speed v, direction of the designated point P. An example in which θ is stored, FIG. 8C shows the scroll distance L. (I)
Coordinate of each data of (b) and the point P of (b) coordinates (P _x , P _y )
The velocity v and the direction θ were obtained from and, and both were stored together as a scroll parameter. The scroll distance L in (c) indicates the scroll distance on the map. The scroll distance L has the following examples. (1) An example in which the distance L is automatically set corresponding to the distances r and r ′ on the line of the mark M (for example, the maximum distance L = R). (2) An example in which the distance L is automatically set corresponding to the click time width of the scroll instruction with the mouse (an example in which the distance L is large when the time width is large). (3) An example in which the scroll distance is made constant by one instruction with the mouse cursor regardless of the position of the designated point P (an example in which the scroll ends faster as the speed v becomes faster). The display area after scrolling in the flow F ₈ refers to an example such as the map 3 in FIG. In FIG. 4, the map 3 is present in the drawing memory area, but it may be outside the drawing memory area or part of it may be protruded outside depending on the scroll. Therefore, flow F _{9 is} followed by flow F ₈
It is checked whether the display area calculated in step 3 is inside or outside the drawing memory area. If it is within the range, the flow moves to F ₁₁ to move the actual display area to a new display area (display area 2 → map 3 in FIG. 4). On the other hand, if it is outside, the corresponding map is read from the auxiliary memory and written in the drawing memory area 29 in the display area outside the area (this is copying).
And display.

The above flows F _{9 to} F ₁₀ will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9A shows the drawing memory area, and the map 2 shows the current display area. On the other hand, a map 3'of the display area after scrolling when a partial loss occurs when scrolled rightward and a map 3 "of all loss examples during downward scroll are also shown. If the display area is moved to this position and the display area is moved to this position, the map does not appear in the missing portion, and if it is displayed, there is no display. ), In the area of the auxiliary memory, the area A'including the defective portion 3'on the right side of the area corresponding to the drawing memory area is set as a new drawing memory area, and instead, the area corresponding to the area A'on the left side is formed. Processing for removing the area A ″ from the drawing memory area is performed. As a result, the area A is constructed as a new drawing memory area. This is the "copy of the drawing area" in flow F _10. Under this new drawing memory area, the display area 3'is an area containing all map data,
The entire area 3'is displayed. The same applies to the case of the display area 3 ″. In the flow F ₁₂ , the display area is moved under the newly constructed drawing memory area (2 → 3 ′, 2 → 3 ″ in FIG. 9). Then, the map data of this display area is sent to the storage unit 28 and displayed on the display device 13.

Another example of the present invention will be described below. (1) Although the scroll movement speed v is continuously given as an example, there is also a method of setting two speeds v ₀₁ and v ₀₂ in one section. This is shown in FIG. About 1 division,
As shown in the figure, the region is divided into a and b, and if a, v ₀₁ , b
In that case, v ₀₂ is an example. However, v ₀₁ <v ₀₂ . (2), the menu of FIG. 1 is divided into 8 sections, but a continuous scroll angle β toward the periphery of 360 °, that is, 0 ≦ β ≦
The setting of 360 ° is also possible. FIG. 11 shows an example.
With the center point of the section as the origin, arbitrary angles such as the scroll angles β ₁ and β ₂ (polar coordinates) can be set. The scroll speed is determined for the position in the scroll direction in correspondence with the distance r from the starting point. For example, it is assumed that one reference mark M is displayed on the scroll menu, and when an arbitrary position on the menu area is designated by the mouse cursor, the reference mark M is moved to this designated point. Then, an instruction is given by the mouse cursor on the reference mark after the movement. The distance r from the starting point of the designated point P (P _x , P _y ) is calculated as follows when the starting point is (0, 0).

(Equation 4) The velocity v is calculated from this distance r by (Equation 1). (3) Although the scroll direction specified point P by the mouse cursor is one point, the scroll speed is continuously changed by continuously moving the direction specified point P on the mark from the start point to the backward point. It is also possible to perform scroll control so as to change it.

[0028]

According to the present invention, quick scrolling is possible with a predetermined scroll speed and direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a scroll menu mark of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between a designated point P on a scroll menu mark and a distance r on the mark.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display screen and a scroll menu mark of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of scrolling a display area on a drawing memory area of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a map information system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example diagram of a scroll parameter setting flowchart of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a flowchart of scrolling according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of scroll parameters of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of scrolling to the outside of the drawing memory area according to the present invention and its corresponding diagram.

FIG. 10 is another example diagram of scroll speed setting according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of scroll setting according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S Scroll menu mark M Direction mark P Directive point 1 Drawing memory area 2, 3 Display area

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Katsunori Yano 3-2-1, Saiwaicho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An input device and a display device for interacting with an operator, a storage device for storing map data, and an arithmetic control device for fetching and processing map data from the storage device and displaying a map on the display device. In the map information system including the above, the map information including a parameter setting processing unit that simultaneously and continuously sets the scroll direction and speed, and a scroll control processing unit that performs scroll control by the parameter. system. 2. The map information system according to claim 1, wherein the parameter setting processing unit sets the scroll direction and speed by instructing an arbitrary point of a scroll menu displayed on the display device. . 3. The scroll control processing unit according to claim 2, wherein the scroll direction and speed are continuously received in response to the output of the parameter setting processing unit when the arbitrary point instructing the scroll menu is continuously moved. A map information system characterized by being changed. 4. The scroll menu according to claim 2, wherein the scroll menu is divided into N directions and an arrow pointing outward from the center is displayed. The scroll direction is the direction of the arrow and the scroll speed ( A map information system characterized by showing a minimum speed at the start point and a maximum speed at the end point. 5. The map information system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the scroll menu has polar coordinates whose origin is a center point of the area, an angle indicates a scroll direction, and a length indicates a scroll speed. . 6. The map information is displayed on the screen and a scroll menu is instructed to scroll the map information on the screen at a scroll speed determined by the scroll direction indicated by the menu and the position of the indicated point. Screen scroll control method in information system. 7. A map information memory for storing map information,
A map information system comprising drawing memory means for temporarily storing map information to be drawn in this map information and having a capacity larger than that of the display area, and display means for cutting and displaying the display area from the drawing memory means. In, the scroll menu is displayed on the display screen, and by designating an arbitrary position of this scroll menu, the scroll direction indicated by the menu and the scroll speed determined by the designated point position exist in the drawing memory means. A screen scroll control method in a map information system, wherein map information is scrolled on a display screen. 8. The screen scroll control method according to claim 7, wherein the scroll menu is divided into N directions, and an arrow pointing outward from the center is displayed. The scroll direction is the direction of the arrow, and the scroll direction is the pointing point position on the arrow. A screen scroll control method in a map information system that indicates speed (minimum speed at start point, maximum speed at end point). 9. The map according to claim 7, wherein the scroll menu has polar coordinates with the center point of the region as an origin, the angle indicates the scroll direction, and the length indicates the scroll speed. Screen scroll control method in information system. 10. The scroll control method according to claim 7, wherein it is checked whether or not a part or the whole of the display area at the scroll end position is within the area of the drawing memory means, and if it is outside the area, it is outside the area. A screen scroll control method in a map information system, wherein corresponding map information is read from a map information memory for a certain display area and displayed as map information of the display area at the end of scrolling.