JPH10132582A - Electronic equipment, operating method of the electronic equipment and navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To offer a clear and lucid explanation of an electronic equipment such as a navigation system. SOLUTION: When an equipment is operated in the demonstration mode, the equipment detects that manipulation of an manipulation part is performed in a prescribed manner, so that a state of the equipment undergoes a transition from the demonstration mode to the normal operation mode. Thereafter, at the time of detecting that a predetermined period of time elapses since the manipulation of the manipulation part is interrupted, the state of the equipment returns to the demonstration mode. Such operation as explained in the demonstration mode can be confirmed immediately in the normal operation mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to various electronic devices such as a navigation device mounted on an automobile for displaying a road map near a current position, and an operation method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various navigation devices to be mounted on automobiles and the like have been developed. This navigation device is, for example, a CD RO storing road map data.
It comprises a large-capacity data storage means such as M, a current position detection means, and a display device for displaying a road map near the detected current position based on the data read from the data storage means. In this case, as a means for detecting the current position, a means using a positioning system (hereinafter simply referred to as GPS) using a positioning satellite called a GPS (Global Positioning System), a traveling direction of the vehicle, and a traveling direction are used. There is an autonomous navigation method that tracks a change in the current position from a departure point based on information such as speed.

[0003] The data of a road map near the current position detected by the current position detecting means is stored in a CD.
A video signal for displaying a road map is read out from a large-capacity data storage means such as a ROM, and this video signal is supplied to a display device to display a road map near the current position. In some cases, the navigation device main body and the display device may be configured separately.

[0004]

By the way, in the case of a multifunctional electronic device such as a navigation device, there are many operation modes, and it is possible to understand what operation and operation are performed in each operation mode. There was a difficult inconvenience.
That is, for example, in the case of a navigation device, there are a plurality of display modes as modes for displaying a road map and the like, a mode for displaying the vicinity of the current position, a mode for displaying a target point, and a mode for displaying a target point from a start point to a target point. There is a mode in which the display map is moved by simulated traveling. In addition, there is a mode provided with a mode for displaying various information in addition to displaying these road maps.

[0005] Here, it is difficult for a user who purchases a navigation device to easily determine what kind of operation the device is, just by looking at the device exhibited at a store or the like. Have difficulty. Therefore, when selling such a device in the past, not only exhibiting the device, but also, for example, creating a video program that explains the characteristics of the device, such as operation modes, in video and audio, and creating the video program In many cases, a program is recorded on a videotape or the like, and the videotape is distributed to a store or the like, and the videotape is reproduced near the exhibited navigation device, and the video and the audio are often explained.

[0006] However, when the explanation is given to the user using the video tape as described above, the explanation is performed without any relation to the navigation device actually displayed.
There is an inconvenience that it is difficult for the user to understand the correspondence between the explanation reproduced on the video tape and the navigation device on display.

In the case where the explanation is given to the user using a video tape as described above, a video tape reproducing device for reproducing the video tape separately from the navigation device to be exhibited, and the reproduced video are displayed. A monitor receiver is required, a lot of exhibition space and equipment for explanation are needed, which is not very desirable for retailers, and it is costly for manufacturers who manufacture the equipment to distribute video tape to retailers. However, it costs a great deal other than equipment actually sold, which is not preferable.

[0008] Such a problem is not limited to the navigation device, but is often a problem when selling various electronic devices or when explaining how to use it to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a good description of an electronic device such as a navigation device.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention changes the state to a normal operation mode when detecting that a predetermined operation is performed on an operation unit when a device is in a demonstration mode. In addition, after this transition, when it is detected that a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation unit is no longer operated, the mode is returned to the demonstration mode.

According to the present invention, for example, when a device is operated in a state where a demonstration is performed using the device actually displayed, the operation of the device is performed in a normal operation in which the operation corresponding to the operation is performed. Mode, the actual operation can be confirmed using the device where the demonstration is being performed, and the demonstration is automatically restarted after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation was not performed. And the actual operation is performed efficiently.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a navigation device mounted and used on a moving body (here, an automobile), and FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration thereof. This navigation device is used by being mounted on a mobile body such as an automobile, but can be used as a map display device even when installed in a fixed place.

The navigation apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is an arithmetic processing unit 11 which is a microprocessor for performing processing of map data to be displayed on the basis of data such as the current position.
A control unit 12 which is a system controller for controlling arithmetic processing in the arithmetic processing unit 11;
And a RAM 13 as a memory required at the time of the arithmetic processing by the CPU. A CD ROM which is an optical disk on which data necessary for navigation such as map data is recorded.
(Map disk) A CDR to which 24 is detachably mounted
An OM driver 14 is provided, and various data read under the control of the control unit 12 are supplied to the arithmetic processing unit 11.

The CD ROM 24 mounted on the navigation device 10 of the present embodiment stores road data as information for displaying a road map of a predetermined area, vector data for each road (specifically, road data). The data is stored (recorded) as data on the coordinate positions of the starting point and the ending point of each road, and vector data as data on the shape of the road connecting these coordinate positions. Data necessary for the navigation operation other than the map data (for example, image data and audio data for explaining the state of major intersections and sightseeing spots with images and sounds) are also stored in the CD ROM 24.
Particularly, data for a demonstration operation as described later is also stored.

The navigation apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is connected to a GPS antenna 16. When the GPS antenna 16 is connected to the navigation apparatus 10, the GPS apparatus 16 receives signals from the GPS satellite received by the antenna 16. The signal is received by the current position detection unit 15, the received data is analyzed, and the current coordinate position and its altitude are calculated.
The moving speed and the traveling direction of the vehicle equipped with the navigation device 10 are also calculated. Here, the data of the current coordinate position is, for example, latitude and longitude data which is absolute position information, and the altitude data is altitude data. When the navigation device 10 of the present embodiment is not mounted on a moving object, the GPS antenna 16 may not be connected.

The navigation device 10 of the present embodiment includes an autonomous navigation unit 17 for performing positioning by autonomous navigation. That is, a pulse signal corresponding to the vehicle speed supplied from an engine control computer or the like of the automobile is counted by a vehicle speed sensor (pulse counter or the like) 18 and the count data is supplied to the autonomous navigation unit 17. The autonomous navigation unit 17 has a built-in gyro sensor,
In the arithmetic processing within, the traveling speed of the vehicle is detected from the count data, the traveling direction of the vehicle is detected based on the gyro output, and based on the detected speed and traveling direction, autonomous movement from a predetermined position is performed. The current position is determined by navigation. For example, when positioning cannot be performed by the current position detecting unit 15 by GPS (for example, when a signal from a satellite cannot be received for some reason), based on the control of the control unit 12, the current position detecting unit 15 finally performs positioning. From the set position, perform positioning by autonomous navigation.

These positioning data (current position detector 15)
Or the positioning data in the autonomous navigation unit 17)
Supplied to the CD ROM driver 1 under the control of the control unit 12
In step 4, the data is read from the disk 24 and supplied to the arithmetic processing unit 11. The arithmetic processing unit 11 creates road map data for display based on the road map data and the accompanying data, and supplies the road map data for display to the video signal generation unit 19 to output the road map data in a predetermined format. A video signal (for example, an RGB signal) is used. The video signal generated by the video signal generation unit 19 is supplied to a display device 30 connected to the navigation device 10, and a display screen 31 of the display device 30 displays a road map or the like.

The CD ROM driver 14 stores the CD
When the ROM disk 24 is loaded, the control unit 12 determines the type of the disk 24 and sets a corresponding operation mode. Here, when it is determined that the disc is a disc on which normal road map display data is recorded, a normal mode of operating as a navigation device is set, and a disc on which demonstration data described later is recorded together with the map data is set. When it is determined that the above is the case, the demonstration mode is set. Although the details of the demonstration mode will be described later, when the demonstration mode is set, when an operation command by operating a predetermined key of the remote control device described later reaches the control unit 12, the demonstration under the control of the control unit 12 is performed. The mode is temporarily released, and the normal mode that operates as a normal navigation device is set. Further, when the demonstration mode is temporarily canceled and the normal mode is set, if the operation command from the remote control device is not continuous for a predetermined time (for example, three minutes), the mode is returned to the demonstration mode. is there.

As the display device 30, a relatively small display device is used. For example, a liquid crystal display device having a display screen size of about 5 to 6 inches is used, but a larger display device may be connected. It is possible.

The display device 30 includes a speaker 32 and a remote control signal receiving unit 33, and outputs a sound signal supplied from the navigation device 10 to the speaker 32.
And a remote control signal (infrared signal) received by the remote control signal receiver 33 to the controller 12 in the navigation device 10. The speaker 32 and the remote control signal receiving unit 33 need not be integrated with the display device.

From the navigation device 10 to the speaker 32
For example, during the navigation operation, a process of guiding the traveling direction or the like is performed as a sound signal supplied to the navigation device, and the sound signal is converted into a sound by the data supplied from the arithmetic processing unit 11. The signal is generated by the signal generator 20 and supplied to the speaker 32. Further, a speech recognition device (not shown) can be connected to the navigation device 10 as an operation command device by voice, and the recognition voice supplied via the terminal 23 from the connected voice recognition device can also be connected. ,
The audio signal is supplied to the audio signal generation unit 20, the audio signal is generated, and the audio signal is output from the speaker 32.

Further, the navigation device 10 of the present embodiment
A traffic information receiving unit 22 is provided, and traffic information included in a signal received by any receiving device (FM broadcast receiving device, radio beacon receiving device, optical beacon receiving device, etc.) connected to the terminal 21 is transmitted by the traffic information receiving unit 22. Extract. The traffic information obtained by the receiving unit 21 is supplied to the arithmetic processing unit 11, and the traffic information created by the arithmetic processing unit 11 is converted into a corresponding map. For example, if the received traffic information includes congestion information, a process of displaying a congestion section or the like in a road map to be displayed is performed.

Various operations of the navigation device of this embodiment are performed using a remote control device (not shown) attached to the navigation device 10. A plurality of keys for instructing operation of the navigation device are arranged on this remote control device, and when each key is pressed, a corresponding remote control signal (infrared signal) is output. When the remote control signal is received by the remote control signal light receiving unit 33 of the display device 30, an operation command corresponding to the control unit 12 arrives.

Next, the operation of the navigation device of this embodiment will be described. First, the CD of the navigation device 10 of the present embodiment
The operation under the control of the control unit 12 when the CD ROM 24 is mounted on the ROM driver 14 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The control unit 12 includes a CD ROM driver 14
It is determined whether or not a disk is mounted on the disk (step 10).
1) If the disc is not loaded, the process stands by. When it is determined that the disk is loaded, it is determined whether or not the disk is of the type in which the demonstration data is recorded on the disk (step 102). The disc type is determined by, for example, the TOC (Table Of Table) recorded on the innermost track of the disc.
This is performed based on index information called Contents). If it is determined at this time that the disc is of a type having no demonstration data recorded, processing by a normal navigation operation is started (step 10).
3), execute various navigation operations based on the operation of the remote control device. In this example, the map data is also recorded for the type of disc on which the demonstration data is recorded.
A normal navigation operation can be performed.

If it is determined in step 102 that the disc is of the type in which the demonstration data is recorded, a process of reading the demonstration data is performed. This demonstration data is composed of a plurality of still image data to be displayed every few seconds in a predetermined order and audio data to be reproduced when each still image is displayed. First, the demonstration data reproduction processing of the first part is performed. (Step 104).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the demonstration data reproduction processing of the first part. First, a still image and a voice are used, and when the navigation device is mounted on a car, what kind of case is convenient, etc. The general description of the applicable range of the navigation device itself will be made with several still images and sounds (step 20).
1). Next, the concept of the navigation device 10 of the present example will be described with several still images and sounds (step 202). Next, a brief description of the main functions of the navigation device 10 of the present example will be described with several still images and sounds for each function (step 20).
3).

When the above description is completed, the process proceeds to the demonstration data reproducing process of the second part (step 105 in FIG. 2). The demonstration data reproducing process of the second part is a process of actually performing a demonstration of each function of the navigation device 10 in a simulated manner, and the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed. That is, first, the destination search processing will be described using several still images and sounds (step 301). As the destination search processing, for example, a search processing in which a position indicated by the telephone number or the address is set as a destination by an input operation of a telephone number or an address will be described.

Next, the route search process will be described with reference to several still images and sounds (step 301). This route search process is a process of searching for a route recommending which road should be taken from the current position (or the set departure point) to the set destination. The flow of the main operation to be executed will be described.

Next, the reference route guidance will be described with several still images and sounds (step 303). This reference route guidance shows an image display example when the vehicle is driven on a road under the conditions set in the route search process.
A screen is displayed that changes almost in the same way as when a certain section of the road is actually driven.

Next, the map display state will be described with several still images and sounds (step 304). The description of the map display state describes the display state of various maps that can be displayed by the navigation device 10 of the present example, and describes, for example, how much the scale can be changed.

Next, a process for receiving and displaying traffic information will be described with reference to several still images and sounds (step 305). As a display explanation of the traffic information, what kind of traffic information is displayed for each of a plurality of levels prepared in advance will be described using a specific display example.

Next, the route guidance processing when traffic information is received will be described using several still images and voices (step 306). This route guidance process
When receiving traffic information such as traffic congestion sections and road closure information, it describes the process of setting a route to a destination avoiding traffic congestion and how the route changes when receiving traffic information, etc. This will be explained using a route display on a map.

When the above description is completed, the demonstration data reproducing process of the second part is terminated, and the process returns to the demonstration data reproducing process of the first part. Since then
Unless the remote control device of the navigation device is operated, the demonstration data reproduction process of the first and second parts is repeated. Then, for example, when the power of the navigation device 10 is turned off or when the disk on which the demonstration data is recorded is removed from the CD ROM driver 14, the reproduction of the demonstration data is ended. The time from the start of the first part to the end of the second part is, for example, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Here, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, during the execution of the demonstration data reproduction processing of the first and second parts, the control unit 12 uses a predetermined key (for example, It is determined whether or not an operation command by the operation of the (Enter key) has arrived (step 106).
Continue playing the demonstration data. When it is determined that the corresponding operation command has been received, the operation mode of the navigation device is set to the operation mode as a normal navigation device, and a map display process is performed based on a key operation of the remote control device (step 107). At this time, for example, the various processes described in the demonstration data reproduction process of the second part are performed.
By executing the operation described at that time, it can be actually executed.

When the operation mode as the ordinary navigation device is set, the control unit 12
Determines whether an operation command from the remote control device has not been continued for a predetermined time (for example, three minutes) (step 108). If the next operation is performed within the predetermined time, the normal operation mode is continued. If it is determined that there is no next operation within the predetermined time, the process returns to the demonstration data reproduction process of the first part in step 104, and the process described in FIG. 3 is executed from the beginning.

As described above, according to the navigation apparatus of the present embodiment, the demonstration data is automatically reproduced simply by mounting the disk on which the demonstration data is recorded in the CD ROM driver 14. Therefore, for example, when the navigation device of the present example is exhibited at a store or the like, the concept and functions of the device can be explained using the navigation device itself simply by mounting the disk on which the demonstration data is recorded. This is done, and it is not necessary to prepare a VTR or a monitor receiver as in the related art and to reproduce a video tape for performing a demonstration, so that it is possible to simply and effectively perform the demonstration.

The disk on which the demonstration data is recorded is distributed only to a store or the like, and the disk attached to the device purchased by the user is a disk on which the demonstration data is not recorded. Since the demonstration data will not be reproduced later, and the demonstration data can be reproduced, there is no problem in use as a navigation device. Also, since the demonstration data reproduction processing in the navigation device uses the still image and audio reproduction functions provided for the navigation device in the navigation device, a new circuit is not required, and the control unit 1 is merely required.
2 can be dealt with by executing the corresponding control without increasing the manufacturing cost of the navigation device.

In this example, when a predetermined key (decision key) of the remote control device is operated during the reproduction of the demonstration data,
The reproduction of the demonstration data is temporarily interrupted, and the operation mode is set to the operation mode as a normal navigation device, and the navigation device displays various maps based on key operations. Therefore, the operation described in the demonstration can be immediately confirmed by actually using the navigation device, which is convenient. In particular, by preparing video and audio that demonstrate how to use the navigation device,
A person who has watched the demonstration can perform various operations without listening to the explanation of the operations from a clerk or the like, so that there is an effect that various operations of the navigation device can be easily tried.

In the above-described embodiment, the description in the demonstration mode is a still image and a sound for the description. However, the description may be made with a moving image instead of the still image. However, in the case of a moving image, a large amount of recording capacity is required for recording on a disk, and accordingly, the capacity of recording original data such as map data on the disk is reduced. As for the sound, not only the explanation sound but also music such as bagland music may be played. Further, the demonstration may be performed only with the video or the audio.

In the above-described embodiment, the automatic demonstration is performed only at the time of exhibition at a store or the like. However, for example, the operation method and the like have been described for a disk attached to a navigation device sold to a user. Instead of recording demonstration data and explaining it in an instruction manual, an operation method and the like may be described using images and sounds based on the demonstration data.
However, in this case, it is necessary to set the mode so that the demonstration data is reproduced only when necessary. Alternatively, at least two discs, a disc on which demonstration data is recorded and a disc on which no demonstration data is recorded, are attached to the navigation device, and the corresponding discs are set only when it is desired to view an explanation of an operation method or the like. You may make it do.

Even in the case of explaining the operation method or the like to the purchased user, the demonstration operation and the map data are recorded together on the disk so that the described operation can be performed without replacing the disk. This is convenient because it can be executed immediately.

In the above embodiment, an optical disk called a CD ROM is used as a storage medium for storing (recording) the demonstration data together with the map data. However, a disk having another configuration (such as a magneto-optical disk) is used. The demonstration data may be stored together with other data by using a storage medium such as a magnetic tape, a semiconductor memory, or the like.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a navigation device for a car has been described. That is,
Any electronic device capable of mounting a relatively large-capacity recording medium such as an optical disk on which demonstration data can be recorded and reproducing an image or sound based on data read from the mounted recording medium. Can be applied to demonstrations when exhibiting or explaining handling methods to users.

[0046]

According to the electronic device of the present invention and the operating method applied to the electronic device, when the device is in the demonstration mode, when the operation unit detects that a predetermined operation has been performed, the device enters the normal operation mode. After the transition, when it is detected that a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation unit is no longer operated, the operation returns to the demonstration mode. The demonstration can be automatically resumed when a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation has been stopped, and the explanation and the actual operation can be performed satisfactorily.

Further, according to the navigation apparatus of the present invention, when in the demonstration mode, the processing unit generates a display signal for the demonstration, and when it is detected that a predetermined operation is performed by the operation unit in the demonstration mode, The state is changed to the normal operation mode, and after the transition, when it is detected that a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation unit is not operated, the mode returns to the demonstration mode. An automatic demonstration will be performed,
It is also possible to confirm the navigation state using the navigation device in which the demonstration is actually performed, to perform an effective demonstration, and to automatically resume the demonstration when a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation is stopped. Therefore, the demonstration is automatically resumed without any operation of the navigation device on display.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing during operation according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a first demonstration according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a second demonstration according to one embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 navigation device, 11 arithmetic processing unit, 12
Control unit, 14 CDROM driver, 15 current position detection unit, 17 autonomous navigation unit, 19 video signal generation unit, 20
Voice signal generator, 22 traffic information receiver, 23 voice recognition data input terminal, 24 map disk, 30 display device, 31 display screen, 32 speaker, 33
Remote control signal receiver

Claims (3)

[Claims] An electronic device having a control unit for performing an operation in a processing unit and having a normal operation mode and a demonstration mode as operation modes controlled by the control unit, wherein the control unit sets a demonstration mode. When the control unit detects that the operation unit has been operated, the control unit changes the state to the normal operation mode. After the transition, when the control unit detects that a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation unit is no longer operated, the control unit enters the demonstration mode. An electronic device characterized by performing control for returning. 2. An operation method for an electronic device having a normal operation mode and a demonstration mode as operation modes, wherein when the device is in a demonstration mode, it is detected that a predetermined operation is performed on an operation unit. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising: making a transition to a demonstration mode, and returning to the demonstration mode when it is detected that a predetermined time has passed after the operation unit is not operated after the transition. 3. A reading unit for a storage medium, a positioning unit, an operation unit, and map data near a position measured by the positioning unit or near a position designated by the operation unit are read from the storage medium, and A processing unit for creating a display signal for displaying on a display of the navigation device, comprising, as operation modes in the processing unit, a normal operation mode and a demonstration mode; The display unit generates a display signal for demonstration. When it is detected that a predetermined operation is performed on the operation unit during the demonstration mode, the state is changed to the normal operation mode, and after the transition, the operation unit is operated. When it detects that a predetermined time has passed since it was not Navigation device, characterized in that the return.