JPH1089978A - Navigation apparatus and display method for image data in the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a car navigation apparatus by which, in addition to map data, image data obtained by photographing a scene is displayed on a screen so as to correspond to a present position or the like. SOLUTION: Image data (animation data) obtained by photographing a scene is stored in a DVD-ROM 107. The search point (time) of the animation data corresponding to a present position detected by a position detecting part 105 is obtained by a link information table T2, and the animation data corresponding to the present position is retrieved and read out from the DVD-ROM 107. The animation data is decoded by an MPEG2 decoder 31 so as to be sent to an overlay display part 33. Then, a map and a scene image which correspond to the present position are synthesized by the overlay display part 33 so as to be displayed on an identical screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a navigation device and a video data display method in the navigation device.
In particular, the present invention relates to a navigation device improved to display video data using a large-capacity storage medium such as a DVD, and a video data display method in the navigation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a car navigation system, the position of a vehicle is detected by means such as GPS or autonomous navigation, and a marker (pointer) indicating the position of the vehicle is displayed on a map. In addition, functions such as voice guidance and route setting are provided.

[0003] However, in such a conventional car navigation device, a map composed of graphics data is used as a base for image display. Therefore, although the position of the vehicle can be recognized by a marker displayed on the map, As for actual scenes, only those described in advance in the map data are displayed. For this reason,
For example, it has been difficult to accurately grasp the surrounding situation such as an intersection that is easily overlooked early before passing. Also, the map data usually contains only specific data such as intersection names and shops, and is not always easy for users to use.

[0004]

As described above, in a conventional car navigation device, a map composed of graphics data is used as a base for image display.
As for actual scenes, only those described in advance in the map data are displayed. For this reason, for example, it is difficult to accurately grasp the surrounding situation such as an intersection that is easily overlooked at an early stage before passing.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and stores a video image of a landscape in a large-capacity storage medium such as a DVD as video data such as a moving image, and stores the video data at the current position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device and a moving image display method in the navigation device, which are capable of displaying a screen in association with, for example, and providing a user-friendly image.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in a navigation device for displaying a current position on a map, a correspondence between the image data and position information is stored in a storage medium in which image data of a landscape is stored. Means for reading out video data corresponding to the current position or the designated position according to the link information shown; and means for combining and displaying the read out video data and the map on the screen. A corresponding landscape image can be displayed on the screen.

In this navigation device, video data such as a moving image of a landscape is stored in a storage medium such as a DVD, and video data is searched according to link information indicating a correspondence between the video data and position information. Is performed, and the video data corresponding to the current position or the specified position is read from the storage medium. The read video data is superimposed on the map data, and the combined display is performed. Therefore, since a real image can be presented to the user at an early stage before passing the actual surrounding situation, it is possible to provide an image that is more user-friendly. Further, since the search and the reading of the video data are performed based on the current position and the link information, the reproduction speed of the video data can automatically follow the speed of the automobile.

The video data includes a plurality of landscape images shot at different angles at the same shooting point, and the angle of the landscape image corresponding to the current position or a point ahead of the current position can be appropriately switched. It is preferable to do so. In this case, by switching the angle of the landscape image according to the change in the traveling direction of the vehicle,
For example, it is possible to seamlessly play back a landscape image even when the direction of a car changes.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a car navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This car navigation device has a function of reproducing moving image data stored in a DVD video format, and can display a current position on a map and display a landscape image corresponding to the current position as a moving image. it can. As shown, the car navigation device includes a data processing unit 101, a landscape image display unit 102, a map display unit 103, an operation panel 104, a position detection unit 105, a direction detection unit 106, a DVD-ROM 107, and a DVD video interpretation unit. 111.

The data processing unit 101 includes a CPU and its C
It comprises a memory for storing programs executed by the PU and the like.
From the DVD-ROM 107 interpreted by the DVD-Video interpreter 111, and the map and the scenery image corresponding to the current position are stored in the DVD based on the DVD-ROM 107 map and the video link information. Read out from the ROM 107 and display it on the screen using the map display unit 102 and the video display unit 103;

The video display unit 102 includes a data processing unit 101
, Performs a decoding process corresponding to the encoding format of the landscape video, and displays it on a screen such as an LCD. The map display unit 103 generates an image in which a marker (pointer) indicating the position and direction of the car is superimposed on the map specified by the data processing unit 101, and displays the image on a screen such as an LCD by superimposing it with a landscape image. I do.

The operation panel 104 informs the data processing unit 101 of the operation specified by the user. Position detection unit 105
Detects the current position using a method such as GPS or autonomous navigation,
This is notified to the data processing unit 101. Direction detection unit 10
6 detects the direction in which the vehicle is heading, and transmits the direction to the data processing unit 101. The DVD-ROM 107 has map data 110, moving image data 109 composed of landscape images shot by a video camera or the like, maps, and video link information 10.
8 and the like are stored. Map, video link information 108
Includes first link information indicating a correspondence between map data and position information, and second link information indicating a correspondence between moving image data and position information. Is searched for the map corresponding to
The moving image data corresponding to the current position is searched by the link information.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the principle of the operation of displaying a map and a landscape image in the car navigation device of FIG. 1 will be described. In FIG. 2, the link information table T1
Is generated from the first link information of the DVD-ROM 107, and indicates the correspondence between the position and the storage location (address) of the map data. The link information table T2 is generated from the second link information of the DVD-ROM 107, and indicates the correspondence between the position and the storage location of the moving image data (time information based on the beginning of the moving image stream). . The map buffer 32 is provided, for example, in the data processing unit 101, in which map data of a corresponding area is read from the DVD-ROM 107 in advance and stored. The MPEG2 decoder 31 is shown in FIG.
Is a functional element of the landscape video display unit 102 of
2 is used to decode the recorded moving image data which has been digitally compressed and encoded.

The overlay display section 33 is provided in the landscape video display section 102 or the map display section 103 shown in FIG. 1, and overlays the map data on the decoded moving image frame.

In the system shown in FIG. 2, for a landscape image, a search point (time) of moving image data corresponding to the current position detected by the position detection unit 105 is obtained from the link information table T2. The corresponding moving image data is retrieved from the DVD-ROM 107 and read. This moving image data is stored in the MPEG2 decoder 31
After that, it is sent to the overlay display unit 33.

For map data, the position detection unit 105
A search point (address) of the map data corresponding to the current position detected in step (1) is obtained from the link information table T1, and the map data corresponding to the current position is retrieved from the map buffer 32 and read out. A marker (pointer) indicating the current position and the traveling direction is superimposed on the map data and sent to the overlay display unit 33.

The map data is superimposed on the moving image data by the overlay display section 33,
A map and a landscape image corresponding to the current position are displayed on the same screen. FIG. 3 shows an example of this screen display.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 202 denotes a map display portion on which map data including the current position and its surroundings is displayed. Reference numeral 203 denotes a marker indicating the position and direction on the map data 202 where the vehicle is running.

Reference numeral 201 denotes a landscape video screen on which a landscape video taken from the current position indicated by the marker is displayed.
Here, the vehicle is in front of the intersection, and the scenery image screen shows the detailed situation of the intersection, and there is a telephone pole on the right side before the intersection, showing how a hospital signboard is attached to it. Have been.

As described above, by simultaneously displaying the landscape image and the map corresponding to the same point, not only the current position on the road but also the actual situation around the road can be grasped. In this case, it is preferable to always display an image of a point ahead of the current position for a landscape image. As a result, it is possible to present a real image to the user at an early stage before passing through the actual surrounding situation.

A mode for displaying only a landscape video screen, a mode for displaying only map data, and the like may be prepared, and these modes may be switched by an operation from an operation panel.

FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure of the data processing unit 101 when the screen of FIG. 3 is displayed. When the user performs an operation such as turning on a display switch, a display operation of navigation data (map and landscape video) is started (step S11). First, position information indicating the current position is obtained from the position detection unit 105, and the current position is recognized (step S12). Then, the first
Then, map data and landscape video data are searched based on the second link information, a map of a region corresponding to the current position and a marker indicating the current position are displayed in the map data area, and the map is slightly smaller than the current position. A landscape image of the previous point is displayed on the screen (steps S13 and S14).
In this case, the user can determine how far ahead the site should be displayed as a landscape image. Further, an image captured from the current position indicated by the marker may be displayed. Thereafter, when the user performs an operation such as turning off the display, the display process is processed (step S1).
5).

FIG. 5 shows another example of screen display. In the present embodiment, since the moving image data of the landscape image uses the DVD video format, a stream of the moving image data can include a plurality of images of the same shooting point shot at different angles. It is possible to switch at which angle the video shot is displayed in accordance with an instruction from the user.

Therefore, even if the current position is the same,
An angle scenery image as shown in FIG. 5 (a) and FIG. 5 (b)
It is possible to switch and display a landscape image of an angle like.

Such an angle change can be automatically performed under the control of the data processing unit 101 so as to be performed in response to a change in the traveling direction of the own vehicle. Images can be provided.

As described above, in the car navigation system of this embodiment, not only a map but also a landscape image corresponding to a current position or a specified position ahead of the current position is displayed on a display screen such as an LCD. Because I can do things
In addition to confirming the position of the vehicle on the map, it is also possible to confirm the situation of the point that will be passed from now on with the actually shot video, so that navigation that is more intelligible to the user can be provided.

Further, since a function of interpreting DVD video data is provided, information such as restaurants and leisure spots can be added, and more information can be provided to users by interactive operations. Using a certain DVD video player, it is possible to carry out a preliminary search or the like in advance. Although the image changes depending on the direction of the car, the use of the multi-angle structure of the DVD video format enables seamless reproduction even when the direction of the car changes.
Also, even when a guide is provided by audio or sub-video, it is easy to automatically change the stream depending on the direction.

In a navigation device having a function of displaying an enlarged view of a major intersection of each road, a photographed image of the intersection is stored in association with an enlarged map or with position information. By doing so, it is also possible to display a landscape image of the intersection designated as the enlarged display as a still image or the like.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, a conventional car navigation system is provided with a function for handling video data in the DVD video format, and displays a captured scenery image in accordance with the position of the vehicle. With this configuration, it is possible to present a real image to the user at an early stage before passing the actual surrounding situation to the user, and it is possible to provide a user-friendly image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a car navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining the principle of an image display operation in the car navigation device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a state where a landscape image and a map are displayed on the screen in a manner associated with each other by the car navigation device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a data processing unit provided in the car navigation device of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view for explaining angle switching of a landscape image displayed on the screen by the car navigation device of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101: Data processing unit, 102: Landscape image display unit, 10
3. Map display unit, 104 operation panel, 105 position detection unit, 106 direction detection unit, 107 DVD-ROM,
111: DVD video interpreter, 201: landscape video, 20
2 ... Map, 203 ... Marker.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A navigation device for displaying a current position on a map, comprising: a storage medium storing video data of a scene;
Means for reading out video data corresponding to a current position or a designated position in accordance with link information indicating a correspondence relationship between the video data and position information; and means for combining and displaying the read video data and the map on a screen A navigation device characterized in that a landscape image corresponding to a current position or a designated position can be displayed on a screen. 2. The video data is stored in the recording medium after being digitally compressed and encoded, and a recording position of a video data corresponding to a current position or a designated position is searched according to the link information. The navigation device according to claim 1. 3. A navigation device for displaying a current position on a map, comprising: map data; first link information indicating a correspondence relationship between the map data and position information; Second indicating the correspondence between data and location information
The map data corresponding to the current position and the image corresponding to the current position or a point ahead of the current position with reference to the first and second link information from the recording medium in which the link information is stored. Means for reading data; means for combining and displaying the read map data and video data; and means for displaying a marker indicating the current position on the displayed map, and displaying the current position on the map. A navigation device which is capable of displaying and displaying a landscape image corresponding to the current position or a point ahead of the current position. 4. The video data is stored by being digitally compressed and encoded in the recording medium, and according to the second link information, recording of video data corresponding to a current position or a point ahead of the current position. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein a position is searched. 5. The image data includes a plurality of landscape images shot at different angles at the same shooting point, and further includes means for switching an angle of a landscape image corresponding to a current position or a point ahead of the current position. The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the navigation device is provided. 6. The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein the means for switching the angle of the landscape image switches the angle of the landscape image in accordance with a change in the traveling direction. 7. A video data display method in a navigation device for displaying a current position on a map, comprising: a storage medium storing video data of a scene;
According to the link information indicating the correspondence between the video data and the position information, the video data corresponding to the current position or the designated position is read, and the read video data and the map are combined and displayed on a screen. Alternatively, a video data display method characterized in that a landscape video corresponding to a designated position can be displayed on a screen.