JPH1152847A - Simple map display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase a place name of a node displayed on a simple map. SOLUTION: A map data storage 3 stores correspondingly link identification numbers of plural road links, the place names and the additional data of respective nodes of both end parts of the road links. A route retrieval device 6 shows a recommended route by a set of the link identification numbers of the road links constituting the recommended route. A route guide device 7 generates the guide data for guiding a traveling state of a vehicle on a place shown by its node at every node at both ends of respective road links constituting the recommended route. A map processor 8 refers to the link identification numbers of respective road links constituting the recommended route, and reads out the place names and the additional data from the map data storage 3, and lines up the place names in order of via on the route, and arranges the additional data and the guide data of respective nodes in relation to the place names to generate the simple map. Thus, the simple map in detail more than usual is generated, and further, its generation processing is simplified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a simplified map display device preferably used for presenting a recommended route searched by a navigation device to an occupant of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a navigation device displays a recommended route on which a vehicle should travel, for example, on a road map that faithfully reproduces the actual road shape and connection relationship. In such a display method, unnecessary information other than the information on the recommended route is displayed on the display screen of the display device in addition to the information on the recommended route, so that the display is complicated. Therefore, it is difficult for the occupant of the vehicle to grasp the information on the recommended route only by glance at the display screen. To this end, the navigation device may include a simple map display device. The simple map display device expresses a place name of a point on the recommended route and additional data relating to the point by a character, and creates and displays a simple map in which these are arranged in the order of passage.

As a prior art of a simple map display device, there is a navigation device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-44796. In this navigation device, a branch point where the road branches, that is, an intersection, is extracted from all the points on the recommended route, and the branch point name of the point is displayed in a list. At this time, if the recommended route passes through only one certain road and the number of branch points on the road is small, the name of the branch point displayed on the simple map is reduced, so that the recommended route is displayed in the simple map. The number of points is reduced and the information presented by the simplified map is poor. Therefore, for example, by comparing the branch point name displayed on the simplified map with the place name of the point where the vehicle is actually traveling, it is determined which part of the recommended route the vehicle is traveling. It becomes difficult. In particular, when the path length of the section between two branch points on the recommended route is close to the entire path length of the recommended path, the time required for the vehicle to travel in this section is long and the vehicle is traveling in this section. In the meantime, the place name of the place where the vehicle is actually traveling does not match the place name of the place displayed on the simplified map. Therefore, the time during which the occupant of the vehicle does not know where in the section the vehicle is currently traveling may be long.

In the simple map display device, a recommended route is a sequence of road links, and a link identification number for identifying each road link, a so-called link ID.
Represented by a set of At this time, in the simplified map display device, information on the road link identified by the link identification number, for example, a link identification number table for storing which road segment on the road map represents the road link, Information about nodes on the map, for example, a node table that stores the name of the point represented by the node is provided as an independent table. Further, in order to associate the two tables, a road that stores the link identification numbers of the road links at both ends of one road represented by a series of road links in association with the node numbers of all nodes on the road. A list table is provided.

Therefore, in order to read the name of a node representing a point on the recommended route, first, for each two consecutive road links among the road links constituting the recommended route, which road link Whether it is configured is determined by referring to the storage contents of the link identification number table. Next, among the determined roads, a node number of a node serving as a connection point between the two road links is determined with reference to the storage contents of the road list table. Finally, the name of the node is read from the data regarding the node having the determined node number in the storage contents of the node table. As described above, when the recommended route is expressed as a series of road links, it is necessary to refer to the storage contents of the three tables to read the name of the node representing the point on the recommended route. Therefore, a longer time is required as compared with the time required for processing other data.

[0006]

According to the present invention, when a simple map representing a recommended route having a small number of passes through a node corresponding to a branch point of a road is created, data such as a place name is represented on the simple map. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple map display device capable of increasing the number of nodes to be used and simplifying a data reading process when creating a simple map.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there are provided a data storage means for storing identification data for individually identifying nodes corresponding to a plurality of nodes representing points on a road map; Route setting means for sequentially connecting road links and setting a route on which the vehicle travels; and extracting means for responding to the output of the route setting means and extracting nodes at both ends of the road link forming the route. The apparatus includes a creating unit that reads the identification data of the nodes extracted by the extracting unit from the data storage unit and arranges the simplified map by arranging the nodes in the order of route on the route, and a display unit that displays the simplified map created by the creating unit. This is a simplified map display device.

According to the present invention, the simplified map display device first extracts nodes at both ends of each road link from all nodes on the route set by the route setting means as described above. A simple map is created from the node identification data as described above. The points represented by the nodes at both ends of the road link may be road junctions, that is, intersections, or may be inflection points on the road. Thereby, the simplified map display device according to the present invention can reduce the number of identification data to be displayed on the simplified map, compared to the simplified map display device of the related art that displays only the identification data of the node corresponding to the branch point of the road. Can be increased. Therefore, for example, when the number of intersections on the route is small, it is possible to prevent the number of pieces of identification data displayed on the simple map from being extremely reduced.

According to the present invention, a link number for identifying a plurality of road links which are line segments for approximating a road is associated with identification data for identifying each node at both ends of the road link. Data storage means, a plurality of road links sequentially connected, a route setting means for setting a route on which the vehicle travels, and a link number of each road link constituting the route set by the route setting means. Reading the associated identification data from the data storage means,
A simple map display device comprising: a creating unit that creates a simple map by arranging the route in a route order on a route; and a display unit that displays the simple map created by the creating unit.

According to the present invention, as described above, the data storage means stores the identification data of the nodes representing the points at both ends of each road link in direct association with the link number of the road link. . The creating means reads the identification data of each node based on the link number of the road link, and creates a simplified map as described above. In the simple map created in this way, the number of identification data to be displayed is increased as compared with the simple map created by the conventional simple map creating device, similarly to the simple map created in claim 1. Therefore, for example, when the number of branch points on the route is small, it is possible to prevent the number of pieces of identification data displayed on the simple map from extremely decreasing.

From this data storage means, node identification data can be directly read out based on the link number of the road link. Therefore, when a simple map representing a route represented as a set of link numbers is created as described above, the identification data should be read before the identification data is read, as in the simple map creation device of claim 1. There is no need to extract a node and determine the node number of that node. This eliminates the extraction means from the simple map creation device of the first aspect, thereby simplifying the configuration of the device and the simple map creation process. Further, the processing time of the simple map creation processing can be reduced.

[0012] In the present invention, the data storage means associates the additional data representing information related to the point represented by each node with a link number of a road link having the node as an end and identification data of the node. Further storing, the creating means reads from the data storage means identification data and additional data associated with the link number of each road link constituting the route set by the route setting means,
A simple map is created by arranging the read identification data in the order of passage on the route and arranging the read additional data of each node in association with the identification data of the node.

According to the present invention, the data storage means stores the additional data as described above, and the creating means arranges the additional data in the simplified map in association with the identification data. This additional data is, for example, the name of a road passing through the point represented by the node, the direction toward the road, the presence or absence of facilities associated with the point, and the name of the facility. By displaying such a simplified map, not only the route on which the vehicle should travel, but also detailed data other than the place name relating to the point can be presented to the occupant of the vehicle. Therefore, the information presented to the occupant in the route guidance using the simple map becomes detailed, so that the route guidance that is easy for the occupant to understand can be performed.

Since the additional data is stored in the data storage means in association with the link number of the road link and the identification data of the node, the additional data is stored on the basis of the link number of the road link. It can be easily read. Therefore, to read the additional data,
There is no need to look up the node number of a node. Therefore, it is possible to easily search for the additional data as compared with the case where the link number, the identification data, and the additional data are stored in independent tables as in the related art. In addition, since the processing procedure of the search can be simplified, the processing time for obtaining additional data can be reduced.

According to the present invention, in response to the output of the route setting means, guidance data relating to the running state of the vehicle at the point represented by the node is provided for each node at both ends of each road link constituting the route. Further comprising guidance data creating means for creating, wherein the creating means reads, from the data storage means, identification data associated with the link number of each road link constituting the route set by the route setting means, and reads the identification data. It is characterized in that the identification data is arranged in the order of passage on the route, and the guidance data of each node created by the guidance data creation means is arranged in association with the identification data of the node to create a simple map.

According to the present invention, each of the identification data displayed on the simplified map is further displayed in association with the above-mentioned guide data. The guidance data includes, for example, whether to stop the vehicle when passing through the node, whether to change the traveling direction of the vehicle when passing through the node, and which direction the vehicle travels when passing through the node. Including whether to change.

In the simple map created by the simple map display device of the first and second aspects, only the identification data of the node representing the point passing on the route is displayed. At this time, the occupant of the vehicle compares, for example, the column of identification data with the road map,
It is necessary to know the traveling direction of the vehicle at that point. If guidance data is displayed in association with the identification data as in the present invention, the traveling state of the vehicle when passing the point represented by the node identified by the identification data can be easily grasped from a simple map. Can be. Therefore, when the occupant of the vehicle drives the vehicle with reference to the simplified map created by the simplified map display device of the present invention, it refers to the simplified map created by the simplified map display device of claims 1 and 2. It is possible to easily drive the vehicle so as to follow the route, as compared with a case where the vehicle is driven. Therefore, usability of the simple map displayed by the simple map display device can be improved.

According to the present invention, the data storage means includes a link number for identifying a plurality of road links, which are line segments for approximating a road, and a node for identifying each node at both ends of the road link. It is characterized in that identification data and additional data indicating information related to a point represented by each node at both ends are stored in association with each other.

According to the present invention, as described above, the link number of the road link and the identification data and the additional data of the nodes at both ends of the road link are stored in the data storage means in direct association with each other. . A data storage medium for realizing this data storage means can be used, for example, for route guidance of a recommended route.

Generally, a recommended route is represented as a set of link identification numbers including link numbers of road links. In the data storage medium of the related art, the identification data and the additional data are associated with the node number of the node, and are stored in a table different from the table storing the link identification number. Therefore, when only the link number is known as described above, it is necessary to check the node number of the node before reading the identification data and the additional data.

Since the identification data and the additional data can be directly read from the data storage means of the present invention on the basis of the link number of the road link, when the identification data and the additional data are read, the identification data and the additional data are read. No need to look up node numbers. Therefore, when the route is represented as described above, the identification data and the additional data of the nodes at both ends of the road link among the nodes on the route are stored in the data storage means realized by the data storage medium of the prior art. It is easier to read than when reading from. Thus, in the route guidance device and the simple map display device using the data storage unit, the process of reading the identification data and the additional data is simplified, and the processing time of the entire route guidance process and the simple map display process is reduced. be able to.

[0022]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of a navigation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device 1 is mounted on a vehicle, for example, and searches for and guides a route on which the vehicle should travel. The navigation device 1 includes a map data storage device 3, a vehicle position search device 4, an input device 5,
It includes a route search device 6, a guidance data creation device 7, a map creation device 8, and an output device 9.

The map data storage device 3 stores map data representing a road map. In the road map, roads in an actual road map are approximated by connecting road links, and points on the road map are represented by nodes. In this map data, the road attribute and the route cost of each road link are stored together. Further, the map data storage device 3 stores, for each node, point data representing information on the node. The point data includes a place name, which is identification data for identifying a node on a road map, and additional data indicating information related to the node. This point data is stored in association with a link identification number including a link number for identifying a road link. Details of the storage contents of the map data storage device 3 will be described later.

The vehicle position search device 4 searches for the current vehicle position of the vehicle. The input device 5 is operated by an occupant of the vehicle. The occupant operates the input device 5 to instruct the start / end of the operation of the route search device 6 and the guidance data creation device 7, to specify the departure position where the vehicle should start traveling, and to the destination position where the vehicle should reach Is specified. In some cases, a relay position to be routed while the vehicle is traveling from the departure point to the destination point is specified.

The route search device 6 includes a point setting section 6a, a search section 6b, and a search result storage section 6c. The point setting unit 6a sets a departure point and a destination point on the road map based on the map data and the departure position and the destination position input from the input device 5. When a relay position is designated, a relay point is also set on the road map. The search unit 6b searches for a recommended route from the starting point to the destination point in response to the output of the point setting unit 6a and the output of the map data storage device 3. When a relay point is set, the recommended route is searched so as to pass through the relay point. This route search is realized using, for example, the Dijkstra method. The recommended route determined by the search unit 6b is stored in the search result storage unit 6c as a set of link identification numbers of road links constituting the recommended route.

The guidance data generating device 7 stores the recommended route stored in the search result storage section 6c, the map data read from the map data storage device 3, and the own vehicle position searched by the own vehicle position searching device 4. The guide data is created based on. The guidance data is information for instructing the occupant of the vehicle on the traveling state of the vehicle so that the vehicle can travel on the recommended route. The guidance data includes, for example, the current position of the vehicle, the presence or absence of an intersection ahead of the vehicle in the traveling direction,
And data indicating the traveling direction to which the vehicle should go immediately after passing through a node on the recommended route.

The map creation device 8 is based on the recommended route stored in the search result storage section 6c, the spot data stored in the map data storage device 3, and the guidance data created by the guidance data creation device 7. Then, simple map data representing a simple map is created. The simplified map expresses the place names of the point data of the nodes at both ends of each road link constituting the recommended route by a character, arranges them in the order of passing on the recommended route, and adds additional data and guidance data to each place name And are arranged in association with each place name. The character is a concept including kana, kanji, Western characters, symbols, pictograms, and figures.

The output device 9 displays the recommended route stored in the search result storage section 6c. At this time, the output device 9
The display of a road map and the display of a simple map can be switched. For example, when there is no instruction from the occupant, the output device 9
Displays the recommended route superimposed on the road map, and also displays the guidance data created by the guidance data creation device 7. When the occupant instructs to display the simple map, the output device 9 displays the above-described simple map. Thus, the recommended route is provided to the occupant of the vehicle in a state of being superimposed on the road map or as a simplified map. Further, the output device 9 is provided with the own vehicle position searched by the own vehicle position search device 4, and the own vehicle position is displayed on the recommended route superimposed on the road map or on the simple map.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific electric structure of the navigation device 1. Specifically, the navigation device 1 includes a regulator 21, a power detection circuit 22, a central processing circuit 23, memories 24 and 25, an input device 5, a storage medium 26, a data reading device 27, a data conversion device 28, and sensors 29 to 31. , Interface 32,
GPS device 33, display device 34, graphic memory 3
5, including a graphic controller 36, a display controller 37, and a system bus 39. Central processing circuit 2
3, memories 24 and 25, input device 5, data conversion device 2
8, a graphic controller 36, a display controller 37, and an interface 32 are connected to a system bus 39.
And can exchange signals with each other.

Each component 21 to 37 of the navigation device 1
, Power is supplied from a power supply 41 of the vehicle via a power switch 42 and a regulator 21. Power supply 41
Is a power supply for supplying power to the lighting device 43 of the vehicle and the electric components of the vehicle.
And a lighting switch 43 connected to the lighting device 43 of the vehicle. When both the lighting switch 44 and the power switch 42 are turned on, power is supplied to the lighting device 43.
The power switch 42 is realized by, for example, an ignition switch. The regulator 21 stabilizes the voltage of the power supplied from the power supply 41. Power detection circuit 22
Detects the presence or absence of power supply to the conducting wire 45 between the power switch 42 and the regulator 21, thereby detecting each component 21 to 3 of the navigation device 1 from the power supply 41 of the vehicle.
7 is started. The central processing circuit 23 starts operating when the power detection circuit 22 detects the start of power supply.

The central processing circuit 23 reads out the operation program stored in the memories 24 and 25 and operates according to the operation program. The memory 24 stores an operation program and invariable data necessary for executing the program. The memory 25 is a writable memory and stores variable data necessary for executing the program. Further, a search result storage unit 6c is provided in the memory 25. The memory 24 is realized by, for example, a read-only memory, and the memory 25 is realized by, for example, a random access memory. The central processing circuit 23 and the memories 24 and 25 operate as the route search device 6, the guidance data creation device 7, and the map creation device 8 by changing the operation program to be executed. In addition, as described later, it operates as a component for the arithmetic processing of the vehicle position search device 4. The components 6a and 6b, the guidance data creation device 7, and the map creation device 8 in the route search device 6 include a central processing circuit 23.
Is a virtual circuit realized by the arithmetic processing. These units 6a and 6b, the guidance data creation device 7, and the map creation device 8 may be individually prepared as actual circuits.

The map data storage device 3 includes a recording medium 26, a data reading device 27, and a data conversion device 28.
The storage medium 26 stores map data and point data, for example, electrically, magnetically, or optically, and is mounted on the data reader 27. The data reading device 27 operates in response to a control signal provided from the central processing circuit 23 via the data conversion device 28, and transfers a desired portion of the map data and the point data from the storage medium 26 to an electric or magnetic device. Read out optically or optically. The data converter 28
The map data and point data read by the data reading device 27 are converted into a form that can be processed by the route search device 6, the guidance data creation device 7, and the output device 8, and output. The map data and the point data output from the data conversion device 28 are stored in the memory 25. The map data and the point data are preferably stored in a storage medium that is detachable from the data reader 27 and can be exchanged. For this purpose, the storage medium 26 is realized by, for example, a CD-ROM.

The vehicle position search device 4 includes an azimuth sensor 29,
Angular velocity sensor 30, distance sensor 31 Interface 3
2, GPS device 33, central processing circuit 23, and memory 2
4,25. Further, the vehicle position search device 4 may further include a wireless device and acquire traffic information provided by a traffic information service such as VICS, for example, the vehicle position, traffic congestion, and traffic regulation information. The own vehicle position is represented by, for example, latitude and longitude and altitude.

The direction sensor 29 detects the traveling direction of the vehicle. The angular velocity sensor 30 detects an angular velocity when the traveling direction of the vehicle is angularly displaced. The distance sensor 31 detects a traveling distance of the vehicle. The detection results of the sensors 29 to 31 are given to the central processing circuit 23 via the interface 32. The central processing circuit 23 reads an operation program for the own vehicle position search operation from the memory 24, and reads out the sensors 29 to 3
Based on the detection result of No. 1, the own vehicle position is calculated as a position relative to the reference position. Specifically, for example, first, the presence / absence of angular displacement in the traveling direction of the vehicle and the amount of angular displacement are obtained from the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor 29. Each time the angular displacement occurs, the traveling distance measured by the distance sensor 31 while the vehicle travels in a certain traveling direction before that is cumulatively added while correcting according to the traveling direction detected by the azimuth sensor 29, The distance of the vehicle from a predetermined reference point is calculated, and a position apart from the reference position by that distance is defined as the own vehicle position.

The GPS (Global Positioning System) device 33 performs triangulation using signals from a plurality of positioning satellites orbiting the earth orbit, and detects the position of the vehicle, the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the current time. . The detection result of the GPS device 33 is provided to the central processing circuit 23 via the interface 32. Further, the own vehicle position detected by the GPS device 33 may be used as a reference position when the central processing circuit 23 relatively obtains the own vehicle position from the outputs of the sensors 29 to 31.

The input device 5 is realized by, for example, a remote controller having a keyboard, an input device combining a display device and a touch panel, and a device combining a mouse device and a display device. This display device may be used also as the display device 34 of the output device 9, or may be provided separately from the display device 34. The input device 5 has, for example, instructions to be individually input to a plurality of keys of a keyboard, and an instruction corresponding to a key operated by an operator is transmitted to the central processing circuit 23 as an instruction from the input device 5. Is entered.

When the display device and the touch panel, the display device and the mouse device, and the display device and the keyboard are used in combination, the touch panel, the cursor keys of the keyboard,
Alternatively, the cursor in the display screen of the display device can be arbitrarily moved by operating the mouse device. At this time, the figure in the image displayed on the display device
When an instruction to be input is associated in advance and a predetermined instruction key or mouse button in the input device 5 is operated in a state where a cursor is overlaid on the graphic, the instruction associated with the graphic is input. 5 is input to the central processing circuit 23. This is a so-called “click with mouse” operation when using a mouse. By operating the input device 5 in this manner, the occupant of the vehicle can give a desired instruction to the central processing circuit 23.

The output device 9 includes a display device 34, a graphic memory 35, a graphic controller 36,
And a display controller 37. The display device 34 has a two-dimensional display screen capable of displaying images, and is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal display device and a cathode ray tube. The graphic memory 35 stores drawing data representing various images. The graphic controller 36 is a central processing circuit 2
3, reads drawing data from the graphic memory 35 and creates image data representing an image to be drawn on the display screen of the display device 34. This image data is also stored in the graphic memory 35. The display controller 37 is controlled by the central processing circuit 23, supplies image data generated by the graphic controller 36 to the display device 34, and displays an image on a display screen. Further, the output device 9 may include a speaker, and may acoustically display data provided from the central processing circuit 23 via the system bus 39.

The road map will be described below. In a road map, an actual road is represented by a broken line approximation using a series of road links, and points on the road map are represented by nodes. The road link is a line segment that forms a fold line obtained by approximating a real road with a fold line, and is a line segment having both ends at an inflection point or an intersection of the actual road. The node represents a point on the road map, and includes a point corresponding to an inflection point of the bent line and an intersection of the bent line. That is, the points represented by the nodes include intersections and inflection points of roads, that is, points at both ends of a road link. The nodes and the road links are alternately and sequentially connected to form the broken line. The points represented by the nodes may include points along the link and points away from the link. The nodes at both ends of the road link are
This is a so-called ID change point node.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a road map. In this schematic diagram, line segments represent road links, white circles represent nodes at both ends of the road link, and white triangles represent nodes in the middle of the road link. For example, a two-dot chain line curve 71
As an example, this road is approximated by a broken line connecting the road links L1 to L6 sequentially. Nodes N1 to N7, N11 to N1 representing points on this road
3, nodes N1 to N7 are nodes at both ends of the road link, and nodes N11 to N13 are nodes representing points other than both ends. Nodes N1 and N2 are located at both ends of the road link L1, and nodes N2 and N3 are located at both ends of the road link L2. Also, among the nodes N1 to N7, the nodes N1, N2, and N7 correspond to road junctions,
Nodes N3 to N6 correspond to inflection points on the road.

Each road link is handled by the navigation device 1 in the form of a link identification number for indicating the road link. The link identification number is a so-called link ID
And a set of a link number for identifying the road link and bits representing information related to the road link. This information can be represented by, for example, one or more bits. For example, the road attribute of the road link, the node numbers of the nodes at both ends of the road link, and the direction in which the vehicle can travel on the road link And the distinction between toll roads and free roads. Further, detailed information on each road link, for example, the route length of the road link, the traffic regulation of the road link, and the route cost are associated with the link number and stored in the map data storage device 3 in a table format, for example. I have.

Hereinafter, the point data will be described. The point data is prepared for route guidance when a vehicle passes through the node, is set individually for each node, and includes a place name and additional data. The place name is identification data for identifying the node. Specifically,
The place name of the point represented by the node is represented by a character. The additional data is information represented by a character in relation to the point represented by the node, and includes, for example, the presence or absence of a facility associated with the point, the type of facility,
The name of the road passing through the node and the name of the destination of the road passing through the node are included.

The point data of all the nodes is associated with the link identification number of the road link to form a point data list having a structure as shown in FIG. In the point data list, the node numbers of the nodes at both ends of the road link are associated with the link identification number of a certain road link, and the point data of the node with the node number is associated with the node number. .

For example, in the road map of FIG. 3, the link identification numbers of the road links of link numbers L1 to L7 are ID1 to ID1.
Let it be ID7. At this time, the link identification number "ID
The node numbers “N1” and “N2” are associated with “1”, and the node number “N” is assigned to the link identification number “ID2”.
2 ”and“ N3 ”are associated with each other. Furthermore, the node number “N1” includes “tollgate” which is the name 66 of the facility associated with the point, “E road” which is the name 67 of the road passing through the point, as the point data of the node N1. "A town" which is the place name 53 of the point is associated with the place. The node number “N2” includes “Michi-no-eki”, which is the name 66 of the facility associated with the point, and “E”, which is the name of the road passing through the point, as the point data of the node N2.
"Road" is associated with "B town" which is the place name 53 of the point.

As described above, in the point data list, the point data of the nodes at both ends are stored in association with each link identification number of each road link, that is, each link number of each road link. Therefore, when reading out the point data of the nodes at both ends of a certain road link from this point data list, if the link number of the road link is known even if the node number of the node is not known in advance,
The point data list can be searched using the link number, and the point data can be read.

The storage medium 2 of the map data storage device 3
6, each link identification number and a detailed address indicating the head position of the area storing the point data associated with the link identification number in the storage medium 26 are associated with the location data list. An address table associated one-to-one may be provided in advance. Since this address table stores only the link identification number and the detailed address, the total data amount is smaller than the total data amount of the point data list. Therefore, when trying to read the point data of a certain node, first, referring to the address table, grasp the detailed address associated with the link identification number,
Data is retrieved and read from the detailed address in the storage medium 26 in the direction in which the address increases. As a result, point data of a desired node can be obtained in a very short time.

The point data of all the nodes may be arranged in a list format in the order of the node numbers to form an intersection list. Table 1 shows the memory configuration of the intersection list. The detailed addresses x1 to xn are addresses indicating the head position of the area in the storage medium 26 where the point data of each of the nodes N1 to Nn is stored.

[0048]

[Table 1]

Since the above-mentioned intersection list has a very large data amount, it takes time to directly search the intersection list when reading out point data of a certain node. For this purpose, a node table is provided in the storage medium 26 in association with this intersection list. The node table has a one-to-one correspondence between the number of each node and the detailed address indicating the head position where the point data of the node of the number is stored in the storage medium 26. The configuration of the node table is the same as the address table described above. Table 2 shows a specific example of the node table.

[0050]

[Table 2]

The node table is formed in a tabular form as described above. Since this node table stores only the node number and the detailed address, the total data amount is extremely smaller than the total data amount of the intersection list. Therefore, when trying to read out the point data of a certain node, first, the detailed address of the point data is grasped by referring to the node table, and from the detailed address of the storage medium 26, the address is increased. Read data sequentially. As a result, point data of a desired node can be obtained in a very short time.

Hereinafter, the simple map display processing of the navigation device 1 will be described. Before performing the simple map display process, a recommended route to be displayed on the simple map is determined. For this purpose, the occupant instructs the execution of the route search process and causes the route search device 6 to perform the route search process. Further, even if this recommended route is not determined by the route search device 6, for example,
The determination may be made by referring to the road map displayed on the output device 9 and sequentially specifying road links through which the vehicle should pass.

In the route search process, first, the occupant of the vehicle is first input from the input device 5 with the positions to be the starting point, the destination point, and the relay point. For this position, for example, the values of the latitude and longitude of each point may be directly input, or a road map may be displayed on the display screen of the output device 9 to specify a point on the road map. . Next, the departure point, destination point,
And a relay point are set on the road map. As these three points, for example, any node on the road map that matches the position input from the input device 5 or a point on any road link that matches the position is selected. When the position input from the input device 5 does not match with all nodes and all road links on the road map, the position matches with a node close to the position or a point on the road link by a so-called map matching process. And a point on the node or road link that matches the position after the correction is set as the three points.

Further, the search section 6b performs a route search process with reference to the above three points and the map data stored in the map data storage means 3. First, the starting point is set as the first search starting point. Next, a search process described below is performed based on the search start point. In the search process, first, all nodes connected to the search start point via a road link are searched. Next, the sum of the route costs of the road links constituting the route between each searched node and the first search starting point set in the first search process is calculated.
The route cost is a value determined in advance for each road link in proportion to the route length of the road link and the elapsed time for a vehicle to pass through the road link. 3 is stored.

Finally, a path having the minimum sum is selected from these paths. It is determined whether or not the node at the end opposite to the first search start point in the selected route is the destination point. Otherwise, the node at the opposite end is set as the next search start point, and the search process is repeated with this search start point as a reference. If the node at the opposite end is the destination point, the route selected as having the minimum sum of the route costs in this search processing is determined as the recommended route. This processing of the search unit 6c is performed, for example,
This can be realized by the so-called Dijkstra method.

The recommended route determined by such a procedure is as follows:
Among all the routes from the departure point to the destination point, this is the route with the smallest sum of the route costs. Such a route may be, for example, of all routes from the starting point to the destination,
The route in which the time required for the vehicle to travel from the starting point to the destination after traveling on the route is the shortest route, or the route length of the route is the shortest route.

The above-described search processing may be repeated with the first search starting point as the destination point until the node at the opposite end becomes the starting point. Furthermore, if the departure point and the destination point are points on the road link, the nodes at both ends of the road link passing through the departure point or the destination point are used as the initial search starting points, and the node at the opposite end is the destination point or It may be repeated until a node at one end of the road link passing through the starting point is reached. Furthermore, when a relay point is set in addition to the start point and the destination point, a recommended route between the start point and the relay point, a recommended route between the relay points, and a route between the relay point and the destination point are set. The recommended route may be individually searched and determined by the above-described method, and the determined recommended routes may be sequentially connected to determine the recommended route from the starting point to the destination via the relay point.

The recommended route determined in this way is stored in the search result storage section 6c. Specifically, the search result storage unit 6c stores the link identification numbers of the road links constituting the recommended route in the order in which the vehicle passes through the recommended route from the starting point to the destination, for example, in a list. It is stored sequentially in the form. Table 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific memory configuration of the search result storage unit 6c. This recommended route is
It is assumed that the route passes through the road links L1 to L4 in this order. When the link identification numbers of all the road links constituting the recommended route are stored in the search result storage unit 6c, the route search processing ends.

[0059]

[Table 3]

After the route search processing is completed, the guidance data creating device 7 creates the guide data by referring to the recommended route stored in the search result storage section 6c. The output device 9 displays the recommended route over the road map. For example, a line segment representing a road link constituting a recommended route on a road map is made thicker than line segments representing other road links.
Also, the color of the line segment representing the road link that constitutes the recommended route is
Make the color different from the line segment representing other road links. At this stage, for example, when the operator operates the input device 5 in a predetermined manner to instruct the simple map display process,
A simple map is displayed on the output device 9.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a simple map 51 visually displayed on the output device 9. In the simplified map, among all the nodes on the recommended route, the place names of the nodes at both ends of the road link are arranged in the order of passage on the recommended route. When the number of nodes for which the place names are to be displayed is large, only a part of the simplified map 51 is displayed on the display screen of the output device 9. Are scrolled so that the point data of the nodes is sequentially displayed on the display screen. This scroll movement may be instructed by the occupant operating the input device 5. For example, in the simple map 51 of FIG. 5, only three nodes N1 to N3 among the nodes for which the place names are to be displayed are displayed on the display screen, and the simple map 51 is scrolled in a direction indicated by an arrow 52. Shall be. Therefore, in the simple map 51, the node displayed on the lower side is closer to the starting point of the recommended route than the node displayed on the upper side, and the node displayed on the upper side is smaller in the recommended route than the node displayed on the lower side. Close to destination.

For example, in the simple map 51, the place names 53a to 53c of each of the nodes N1 to N3 are surrounded by a horizontally long rectangle and are sequentially arranged at intervals. Further, a band 54 having a smaller width than the rectangle is connected between the rectangles.
In addition, in each place name 53a-53c, as guidance data,
Arrows 54a-5 representing the direction after passing through the node
4c is added. For example, an arrow 54a indicates that the node goes straight. The arrow 54b indicates that the node makes a right turn at the node, and the arrow 54c indicates that the node is a three-way road and advances diagonally to the left front as viewed from the traveling direction.

Further, adjacent to each rectangle, between the node and the node closest to the start point of the recommended route among the nodes for which the place names are to be displayed, The path lengths 56a to 56c are described.
For example, regarding the node N2, adjacent to the rectangle including the place name 53b, the path length 56b between the nodes N1 and N2 is:
Described as "5 km." In this way, by displaying the recommended route as the simplified map 51, the occupant of the vehicle can easily know information including the place name of the node passing on the recommended route and the traveling direction of the vehicle at the node. it can. This simplified map may be displayed together with the road map on the display screen.

On the simplified map 51, the current position of the vehicle is also displayed. For example, the vehicle position is obtained by dividing each of the bands 54 into a predetermined number of blocks,
Among the rectangles including the place names 53a to 53c and the blocks, the color of the portion including the current position of the vehicle is changed from the color of the portion not including the current position of the vehicle. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the current position of the vehicle is at a position near the node N1 on the route between the nodes N1 and N2. At this time,
The color of the lower portion 57 of the rectangular band 54 including the place names 53a and 53b is changed. In FIG. 5, this is indicated by hatching. Further, in this display, instead of changing the color, a character prepared for representing the position of the own vehicle, for example, a predetermined figure may be superimposed and displayed.

Thus, based on the transition of the positional relationship between the node on the recommended route and the position of the vehicle, the simple map 51
The occupant of the vehicle can know where the vehicle is currently on the recommended route. Since this simplified map has a smaller amount of information displayed on the display screen than the road map, the occupant can simply look at the simplified map 51 to determine where the vehicle is on the recommended route. This makes it easier to grasp than when the map and the position of the vehicle are displayed in an overlapping manner.

Further, on the display screen of the output device 9, along with the simplified map 51, a bar graph 59 for indicating where the vehicle is on the recommended route is displayed. This bar graph 59 represents, for example, the ratio of the path length from the departure position to the current vehicle position of the vehicle with respect to the entire path length of the recommended route,
Make it different from the color of the rest. In the example of FIG. 5, the left end portion is set as the starting position, and then the right end portion is set as the destination position. Thereby, the simple map 51
Even when only a part of the recommended route is displayed on the display screen, the occupant of the vehicle can roughly know where the vehicle is in the entire recommended route.

Further, when additional data is included in the point data of each node, the additional data can be displayed in an area 58 adjacent to the place name. Specifically, data of a plurality of items stored as additional data of the node Nc is represented by characters, and these data are displayed side by side in a list format. The data displayed in the area 58 includes, for example, the name of the area after passing through the node N3, the name of the road passing after passing through the node Nc, the presence / absence of facilities provided along with the node N3, and the name. In FIG. 5, the name of the area "D area", the name of the road "E road", and the name of the facility "Michinoeki" are listed by characters.

Also, of the data of all items stored as additional data, for example, only the data of the item designated in advance by the operator may be displayed in area 58. Furthermore, the additional data may not be displayed only when the display of the simple map 51 is instructed, but may be displayed only when the operator performs an operation for calling the additional data. This operation is realized, for example, by operating a key of the input device 5 in a state where a cursor is placed on a rectangle including a place name of a desired node. By displaying the additional data in such a procedure, the simple map 51 is displayed.
Since only additional information is indicated, no additional data is displayed, so that the display contents of the simple map 51 are simplified and can be easily viewed. Further, the additional data can be displayed simply by operating the rectangle including the place name on the simple map 51 as described above, so that the additional data can be easily called.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the simple map display processing. When the start of the simple map display process is instructed by the occupant of the vehicle, the process proceeds from step a1 to step a2. In step a2, first, the map creation device 8 acquires the link identification numbers of all the road links constituting the recommended route from the search result storage unit 6c. continue,
In step a3, the map creation device 8 determines whether or not the processing in steps a3 to a6 has been performed for all the road links constituting the recommended route. When there are still unprocessed road links, one of these road links
One as a road link to be processed, and
The process proceeds from step 3 to step a4.

In step a4, the map creation device 8 calculates the point data of the nodes at both ends of the road link to be processed.
Obtained from the map data storage device 3. For example, when an intersection list and a node table are prepared in the map data storage device 3, the map creating device 8 first determines the node numbers of the nodes at both ends of the road link to be processed. Since the node numbers are stored in a table that aggregates information on road links, for example, the node numbers of the nodes at both ends are acquired with reference to the table, and the node numbers are stored in the memory 25. Next, the detailed address associated with the node number is acquired from the node table, the map data storage device 3 is searched from the position of the detailed address, and the point data of the node of the node number is retrieved from the map data storage device 3. Read. When the point data is read in such a procedure, the reading process is complicated because there are many tables and lists to be referred to. However, since these tables and lists are also provided in the conventional navigation device, the point data is newly added. There is no need to prepare a list.

When the above-mentioned point data list and address table are stored in the map data storage device 3, the map creating device 8 first refers to the address table to identify the link of the road link to be processed. Get the detailed address associated with the number. Next, the map data storage device 3 is searched from the position of the detailed address,
The point data of the node is read from the map data storage device 3.

As described above, when the point data list is used, the number of tables and lists referred to for reading the point data is smaller than that when the intersection list is used, so that the reading process can be simplified. . Also,
Since it is not necessary to acquire the node numbers of the nodes at both ends of the road link before reading the point data, the reading process can be further simplified. Step a4 is executed for another road link connected to the road link to be processed.
When the processing of to a6 has been completed, the point data of the node corresponding to the connection point of the road links may be already read out of the nodes at both ends of the road link to be processed. In this case, of the nodes at both ends of the road link to be processed, only the point data of the node at the end opposite to the node corresponding to the connection point may be read out in the above-described procedure.

Next, in Step a5, Step a4
It is determined whether or not the point data of the nodes at both ends of the road link to be processed can be obtained by the processing of (1). This is for the following reason. In step a4, all the point data of the node corresponding to the so-called ID change point is acquired. However, the ID change point is not necessarily a branch point of the road. There can be. If the node is such a point, it may not have a place name and additional data. In this case, in the point data table, only the node number of the node is associated with the link identification number of the road link, and the point data is not stored and is blank. Does not allow point data to be obtained. When the point data cannot be obtained, the process returns from step a5 to step a3, selects a road link that has not been processed yet, and repeats the processing of steps a3 to a6. When the point data can be obtained, the process proceeds from step a5 to step 6.

At step a6, the map creating device 8 stores the point data acquired at step a4 in the memory 25. Further, the map creating device 8 creates simple map data using the point data stored in the memory 25 and the guide data from the guide data creating device 7. For example, the place names of the point data are arranged in the order of passing on the recommended route, and the additional data of the point data is added so as to be displayed in association with the place names. This additional data
For example, the area name, the road name, and the name of the facility associated with the node are arranged in a list, and are added so as to be displayed adjacent to the place name. Further, the direction to which the vehicle should travel at the node of each place is grasped from the guidance data, and an arrow indicating the direction is added to the place name. Further, a path length of a section between adjacent nodes on the simplified map is calculated and added to the simplified map data.

Further, in addition to these data, when the node is a parking area, the name of a facility installed in the area may be further added. Further, when the node corresponds to a tollgate on a toll road, the toll to be paid at the tollgate may be calculated and added from the distance between the entrance to the toll road and the node. in this way,
By further adding information on the vicinity of the node and data on the traveling state of the vehicle at the node to the simple map, the occupant of the vehicle can recognize in advance what to do when passing through the node. It is convenient because you can do it. The determination result of whether or not to add the additional data and the content of the additional data may be set by the operator. As a result, route guidance according to the intention of the occupant of the vehicle can be performed.

When the simple map data is created as described above,
The process returns from step a6 to step a3. Step a3 ~
The process of a6 is sequentially changed and repeated so that the road link to be processed covers all the road links constituting the recommended route. As a result, it is possible to acquire the point data of the nodes at both ends of all the road links constituting the recommended route, and create simple map data from the point data. When the above processing is completed for all road links, the process proceeds from step a3 to step a7.

At step a 7, the map creating device 8 gives the simple map data stored in the memory 25 to the output device 9 to display the simple map 51. After the simple map 51 is displayed, the simple map display process ends in step a8.

As described above, in the navigation device 1 of the present embodiment, the point data of the nodes at both ends of all the road links constituting the recommended route are displayed on the simplified map. Thus, for example, even when the number of road junctions included in the recommended route is small, it is possible to prevent the amount of information represented on the simplified map from decreasing. In addition, by providing a point data table in advance, the reading process for reading the point data of the nodes at both ends of the road link can be simplified.

The simplified map display device of the present embodiment is an example of the simplified map display device of the present invention, and can be implemented in other various forms if the main operations are the same. In particular, the detailed configuration of each device is not limited thereto and may be realized by another configuration as long as the same operation result is obtained. Further, these simplified map display devices may be realized by storing software for performing the above-described simplified map display processing in a storage medium readable by a computer, and installing the software in the computer. The storage medium includes a CD-ROM and a floppy disk.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention, the simplified map display device creates a simplified map by arranging the identification data of the nodes at both ends of each road link constituting the route.
This way, even when the number of intersections on the route is small,
According to the present invention, it is possible to create a simple map representing a route in detail, and the simple map display device directly adds identification data of nodes representing points at both ends of each road link to a link number of the road link. Using the data storage means stored in association with each other, a simple map is created in which identification data of nodes at both ends of each road link constituting the route are arranged.
As a result, the process of reading the identification data of the nodes can be simplified, so that the entire process of creating a simple map is simplified, and the processing time is shorter than the processing time of the conventional process of creating a simple map. Can be.

Still further, according to the present invention, additional data relating to the point represented by the node is displayed on the simplified map in association with the identification data. This makes it possible to provide route guidance that is easy for the occupant to understand. The additional data is stored in the data storage means in association with the link number of the road link and the identification data of the node. Therefore, since the processing time for obtaining the additional data can be shortened, the entire process of creating a simple map when displaying additional data is simplified, and the processing time is reduced by the conventional simple map in the above-described case. Can be shortened than the processing time of the creation processing.

Further, according to the present invention, guidance data for guiding the traveling state of the vehicle is displayed on the simplified map in association with the identification data. Thereby, usability of the simple map displayed by the simple map display device can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, the link number of the road link and the identification data and the additional data of the nodes at both ends of the road link are stored in the data storage medium in direct association with each other. In the route guidance apparatus using this data storage medium, the process of reading the identification data and the additional data can be simplified, and the processing time of the entire route guidance process can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic structure of a navigation device 1 including a simplified map display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific electrical structure of the navigation device 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a road map.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a point data list.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram specifically showing a simple map 51.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a simple map display process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 navigation device 3 map data storage device 4 own vehicle position search device 5 input device 6 route search device 7 guidance data creation device 8 map creation device 9 output device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A data storage means for storing identification data for individually identifying nodes corresponding to a plurality of nodes representing points on a road map, and a plurality of road links sequentially connected. Route setting means for setting a route on which the vehicle travels, extracting means for responding to the output of the route setting means, and extracting nodes at both ends of a road link constituting the route; and extracting the nodes extracted by the extracting means. A simple map display device comprising: a creating unit that reads identification data from a data storage unit and arranges the simplified map by arranging the data in a route order on a route; and a display unit that displays the simplified map created by the creating unit. 2. A link number for identifying a plurality of road links, which are line segments for approximating a road, and identification data for identifying nodes at both ends of the road link are stored in association with each other. Data storage means, a route setting means configured by sequentially connecting a plurality of road links to set a route on which a vehicle travels, and a link number of each road link constituting the route set by the route setting means. A simple map display, comprising: a creating means for reading the identification data obtained from the data storage means and arranging the simplified map by arranging them in the order of passage on the route; and a display means for displaying the simple map created by the creating means. apparatus. 3. The data storage means further stores additional data representing information related to a point represented by each node in association with a link number of a road link having the node as an end and identification data of the node. The creating means reads identification data and additional data associated with the link number of each road link constituting the route set by the route setting means from the data storage means, and stores the read identification data on the route. 3. The simplified map display device according to claim 2, wherein a simplified map is created by arranging the additional data of each node read out in association with the identification data of the node. 4. In response to an output of the route setting means, for each node at both ends of each road link constituting a route, guide data relating to a running state of a vehicle at a point represented by the node is created. Further comprising guidance data creation means, wherein the creation means reads identification data associated with a link number of each road link constituting the route set by the route setting means from the data storage means, and reads the read identification data. 3. The simple map is created by arranging the guide data of each node in the route order on the route and arranging the guide data of each node created by the guide data creating means in association with the identification data of the node. Simple map display device. 5. The data storage means includes: a link number for identifying a plurality of road links which are line segments for approximating a road; and identification data for identifying nodes at both ends of the road link. The simple map display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the simple map display device stores, in association with each other, additional data representing information related to a point represented by each node at both ends.