JPH1183506A - Map display device, information selecting/reporting method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize a required information even if it is out of a map area being displayed. SOLUTION: A CD block 6 comprising a map CD-ROM5 where map information stored, a graphic controller 17 for developing/displaying the map information read out of the map CD-ROM5 at a monitor block 18, a RAM8 where a traffic information related to such map information as received through an FM antenna 10, an FM multiplex receiver 11, and an FM multiplex data process/tuning control part 12 is stored, and a CPU4 wherein, when the traffic information stored in the RAM8 is related to a position outside the area displayed at the monitor block 18, the direction of auxiliary information related to the displayed area is detected and, according to the detected direction, the traffic information stored in the RAM8 is reported by display and in voice, are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a map display device, an information selection notifying method, and a recording medium used, for example, mounted on an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, GPS (Global Po
2. Description of the Related Art Navigation devices for automobiles using a positioning system have been widely used. In this type of navigation device, the latitude information and the longitude information of the current position are calculated based on signals from a plurality of artificial satellites received by a GPS antenna, and the road around the current position read from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM is calculated. Map data including information and place name information is developed and displayed on a monitor display.

Recently, in this type of navigation apparatus, a VICS (Vehicle) for providing traffic information and the like has been proposed.
e Information and Comuni
The Cation System (Road Traffic Information and Communication System) service has been launched in some areas. This service provides traffic information such as traffic congestion, accidents, regulations, and the like attached to map data.

[0004]

However, the above V
A navigation device that supports ICS.
When the traffic information obtained in S is displayed along with the map data attached to the map data, naturally, only the traffic information of the relevant VICS within the area of the map being displayed at that time is selected.

[0005] Therefore, in order to obtain traffic information of the surrounding and traveling directions related to the outside of the map area displayed at that time, it is necessary to frequently move or enlarge the displayed map area by manual operation. The operation is not only complicated but also undesirable from the viewpoint of driving safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to appropriately recognize necessary information even if it is information outside the area of a currently displayed map. It is an object of the present invention to provide a map display device, an information selection notifying method, and a recording medium that are possible.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Map storage means for storing map information, map display means for reading and developing and displaying the map information stored in the map storage means, information storage means for storing incidental information related to the map information, and information storage means Direction detecting means for detecting the direction of the supplementary information with respect to the displayed area when the supplementary information stored in step (b) is related to a position outside the area displayed by the map display means; And a notifying means for notifying the direction detected by the detecting means.

With such a configuration, even if the supplementary information is outside the area of the map currently displayed, the supplementary information can be recognized by a display or a voice guide message corresponding to the direction. Therefore, surrounding information can be obtained without frequently performing a manual operation for moving or enlarging the area displayed on the map.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the supplementary information stored in the information storage means is related to a position outside the area displayed by the map display means. In this case, the apparatus further comprises distance detecting means for detecting a distance to the position of the incidental information, and the notifying means notifies the direction detected by the direction detecting means and the distance detected by the distance detecting means. And

With this configuration, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, not only the direction corresponding to the additional information related to the position outside the display area but also the distance can be recognized at the same time. , And the surrounding information can be obtained in more detail.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the notifying means further notifies the additional information stored in the information storage means.

With such a configuration, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily recognize the type of the supplementary information, and to deal with the problem earlier.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a receiving means for receiving additional information related to the map information, and the information storage means is provided with the additional information received by the receiving means. Is stored.

With this configuration, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to receive additional information with high immediateness and to perform notification according to the received additional information. Situation can be recognized more accurately.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the supplementary information stored in the information storage means is related to a position outside the area displayed by the map display means. In this case, the apparatus further comprises distance detecting means for detecting a distance to a position of the incidental information, and the notifying means notifies when the distance detected by the distance detecting means is within a predetermined distance range. I do.

With this configuration, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, since only the additional information within a predetermined distance range is selected and notified, unnecessary notification of the additional information is avoided. , It is possible to recognize only necessary supplementary information together with the distance to its own position in the map area displayed at that time, and it is possible to accurately grasp only useful information and its positional relationship. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the supplementary information stored in the information storage means is related to a position outside the area displayed by the map display means. In this case, the information processing apparatus further includes an area determination unit that determines whether an area to which the position of the incidental information belongs is located in a predetermined direction in an adjacent area around the displayed area. When the area determination detecting means determines that the area is located in an area in a predetermined direction in the adjacent area, a notification is made.

With such a configuration, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the supplementary information is necessary from the area where the supplementary information is located. Therefore, only useful information can be accurately grasped together with its positional relationship.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the map storage means stores a plurality of pieces of map information having different scales, and the notifying means further comprises: It is characterized in that the propriety of the notification is controlled according to the scale of the map information read from the storage means and expanded and displayed.

With such a configuration, in addition to the operation of the invention described in the above-mentioned claim 6, for example, when a wide-area map including the entire region is displayed, information such as fine regulation is not notified. By notifying only when it is necessary according to the scale of the map information, it is possible to avoid unnecessary information notification.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the traveling direction detecting means for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle itself, and the supplementary information is provided for the traveling direction detected by the traveling direction detecting means. Range detecting means for detecting whether or not the information is within the direction range, wherein the notifying means notifies when the incidental information is detected to be within a predetermined direction range with respect to the traveling direction by the range detecting means. It is characterized by doing.

According to this structure, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, only the additional information that is within a predetermined direction range with respect to the actual traveling direction is notified. Can be selected and understood.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a setting means for inputting and setting the type of the additional information, and the notifying means is provided with the additional information input and set by the setting means. It is characterized by performing notification.

With this configuration, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, if the user specifies the type of the desired additional information, other types of the additional information are not notified. , Only the additional information of the required type can be selectively recognized.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information selecting and notifying method applied to a map display device for reading out map information from a storage medium storing map information and expanding and displaying the map information. When the supplementary information stored in the information storage process is related to a position outside the map display area, the direction of the supplementary information with respect to the displayed area is changed. It has a direction detecting process for detecting and a notifying process for notifying the direction detected in the direction detecting process.

According to this method, even if the supplementary information is outside the area of the map currently displayed, the supplementary information can be recognized by the display or the voice guide message corresponding to the direction. Therefore, surrounding information can be obtained without performing a manual operation for moving or enlarging the area displayed on the map.

The invention according to claim 11 is a recording medium storing a program for a map display device for developing and displaying map information, wherein the map display device stores the map stored in information storage means. When the supplementary information related to the information is related to a position outside the map display area, a program for detecting a direction of the supplementary information with respect to the displayed area and notifying the detected direction. Is recorded.

With such recorded contents, even if the supplementary information is outside the area of the map displayed at that time,
Since the supplementary information can be recognized by a display or a voice guide message corresponding to the direction, it is possible to acquire surrounding information without performing a manual operation for moving or enlarging the area displayed on the map. it can.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a car navigation system using GPS and FM data multiplex broadcasting will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the circuit configuration of the entire apparatus,
As an S receiving function, a GPS antenna 1 installed on the roof of the vehicle body and a plurality of G antennas
C / of L1 band (1.57542 GHz) from PS satellite
A GPS block 2 for demodulating and decoding the A-code data by a despreading LSI to determine the latitude, longitude, height, time, and the like of the current location.

The GPS block 2 is connected to a graphic block 3. The graphic block 3 stores an FM antenna 10, a key block 15 having various input keys, and map data including road information and place name information. A CD block 6 on which a map CD-ROM 5, which is a recorded recording medium, is mounted, for example, a monitor block 18 having a display device composed of a color LCD panel and its driving circuit, and a D / D for converting guide audio data into analog. The A conversion units 20 are respectively connected.

The graphic block 3 is provided with a CPU 4 for controlling the entire apparatus based on an operation program read from the ROM 7 and various data stored in the RAM 8.

In the graphic block 3, an FM radio wave received by the FM antenna 10 is demodulated to obtain an FM demodulated signal of a desired broadcasting station, and an FM demodulator decodes data multiplexed on the obtained FM demodulated signal. Multiplex receiver 11,
FM multiplex data processing / tuning control unit 12 for performing data processing and tuning control in FM multiplex receiver 11, mainly GPS block 2, key block 15, CD block 6, FM multiplex data processing / tuning control unit 12, CPU peripheral circuit gate array (G / A) for controlling input / output of data between voice ROM 19 storing voice data for voice synthesis and CPU 4
9, and the graphic controller 17 is the ROM
7, a RAM 8, a CPU 4 and a bus connected together.
AM 16 is connected.

The map CD-ROM 5 stores a plurality of map data having different scale levels, for example, nine levels of map data. Of the map data, the upper three levels of map data having a large scale are intended for a wide area, and the scale data is small. The lower three levels of map data are set as detailed data, the middle three levels are set as intermediate data, and a recognition code is added to the middle three level map data at each intersection of each road. Although the details will be described later, it is assumed that the level 3 data of the VICS traffic information can be linked and displayed.

When traveling on a road, the CPU 4 controls the G
When the latitude and longitude data of the current position, that is, position data is sent from the PS block 2 together with other data indicating the height, time, and the like, an arbitrary scale around the current position is transmitted by the position data via the CPU peripheral circuit G / A9. Is called from the CD block 6 and the graphic controller 1 to which the video RAM 16 is connected as display data.
7 while the traffic information based on the VICS of the FM data multiplex broadcast is sent via the FM multiplex receiver 11 and the FM multiplex data processing / tuning control unit 12 as well. Map scale is VIC
If the traffic information is within the scale range corresponding to S, the transmitted traffic information is developed and sent to the graphic controller 17 to be linked to the display data in the video RAM 16.

In the graphic controller 17, the CP
The map data linked from the traffic information sent from U4 is developed on the video RAM 16 to create display data for each screen, and the created display data is sent to the monitor block 18 so that the traffic information and the map are displayed. Display.

Also, voice data necessary for a guide message in a state set in advance by the position data of the current position and the map data near the current position, for example, in a state in which the vehicle is approaching a turning point in the set guidance route, is stored in the voice ROM 19.
Are read out in combination from those stored in the D / A converter 20 and sent out to the D / A converter 20. After the audio data analogized by the D / A converter 20 is appropriately amplified by the amplifier 21, the speaker By the loudspeaker output by the unit 22, a guide message by voice of the navigation operation is issued to the user of the apparatus together with the display on the monitor block 18.

The ROM 7 stores FMICS traffic information data in addition to the operation program of the CPU 4.
It is assumed that the frequencies of broadcast stations in various places that are provided as data multiplexed with broadcast radio waves and the position information of the area to be serviced are registered and set in advance.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. Here, the FM antenna 10, the FM multiplex receiver 1
1, and FM multiplex data processing / tuning control unit 12
And a navigation operation for receiving traffic information by VICS multiplexed on FM data multiplex broadcast radio waves via the Internet and displaying the received traffic information linked to map information.

The traffic information received here includes type data indicating whether the traffic information is traffic jam, accident, regulation, parking lot, etc., position data indicating a link position with map information, and It is assumed that information content data indicating specific contents attached to the data is configured as a set.

FIG. 2 mainly shows the contents of the control processing by the CPU 4. At the beginning of the operation, the FM antenna 1
0, waits for reception of traffic information by the VICS multiplexed on the radio wave of the FM data multiplex broadcast via the FM multiplex receiver 11 and the FM multiplex data processing / tuning control unit 12 (step A1), and judges that the traffic information has been received. At this point, the received traffic information is temporarily stored in the RAM 8 (step A2).

Next, after confirming the type data of the stored traffic information (step A3), the position on the map where the traffic information exists is confirmed by the position data (step A).
4).

Then, it is determined whether or not the confirmed position on the map is within the currently displayed map area (step A5). If it is determined that the position is within the currently displayed map area, it is determined in advance. According to the display setting, a predetermined symbol based on the received traffic information is displayed in red, for example, if the type of the traffic information is a traffic jam, the road between two corresponding intersections is displayed in red according to the position data. For example, a symbol of a plurality of vehicles is displayed along a corresponding position on the map (step A12).

After the display in the displayed map area corresponding to the received traffic information is performed, the process returns to step A1 to receive the next traffic information. Also, as a result of checking the position data of the traffic information received in step A5, if it is determined that the position of the traffic information on the map is not within the map area being displayed at that time, then the GP
The distance from the current position of the vehicle sent via the S antenna 1 and the GPS block 2 to the position data of the point where the received traffic information exists is measured (step A6).
In this case, the distance to be obtained may be a straight line distance between two points, or may be a distance of the shortest route using the route guidance function.

Whether the obtained distance is within a predetermined distance, that is, the received traffic information is out of the map area displayed at that time, (Step A)
7).

Here, when it is determined that the obtained distance is out of the predetermined distance, the next traffic information is received on the assumption that the traffic information hardly affects the driving of the own vehicle. The process returns to step A1.

If the distance obtained in step A7 is within a predetermined distance, and it is determined that the traffic information may affect the traveling of the vehicle, then the traffic is determined. The direction of the information from the current position of the vehicle is detected (step A8).

Whether the detected direction of the traffic information is within a predetermined direction range with respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle obtained from the time-series change of the current position of the own vehicle. That is, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility of being located on the traveling direction side of the own vehicle and affecting the traveling of the own vehicle (step A9).

Here, when it is determined that the direction of the traffic information is out of the predetermined direction range with respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle, the traffic information also affects the traveling of the own vehicle. With little likelihood of
The process returns to step A1 to receive the next traffic information.

If it is determined in step A9 that the direction of the traffic information is within a predetermined direction range with respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle, one of the means for informing is as follows.
The graphic controller 17 determines the symbol to be displayed based on the type, direction, and distance of the traffic information, overwrites the display data of the map developed on the video RAM 16, and displays the map data together with the map data on the monitor block 18 (step). A10).

FIG. 3 illustrates a display screen DS on the monitor block 18 at this time. In the figure,
(A) to (h) show map areas adjacent to each other around the area of the display screen DS.
C is a vehicle position mark indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle by an arrow, D
R is an azimuth mark indicating the azimuth of the map, RS is a display scale indicating the length on the map corresponding to the scale of the map being displayed, and the traveling direction of the own vehicle is substantially above the display screen DS. The "heading-up" function and the "front wide" function of displaying the vehicle position mark SC slightly below the center of the display screen DS are executed.

Here, the received traffic information corresponds to, for example, a position O corresponding to areas (b) and (c) outside the display screen DS.
When it is measured that the distance from the current position of the vehicle to the above-mentioned position OT is “4 km” as shown in FIG. Distance DT and traffic congestion mark DL
The direction / distance / type is symbolically displayed for easy understanding.

While the display as in step A10 is performed, as another means of notification, the audio RO
The audio data based on the predetermined phrase is selected and read out from M19, these are sequentially converted into analog data by the D / A converter 20, then amplified by the amplifier 21, and output as voice guidance messages from the speaker unit 22 ( Step A11).

In FIG. 3, the voice guide message VM uttered and output at this time is represented by a balloon graphic and characters. In this case, according to the above symbol display, there is a traffic jam in the northeast direction 4 km. Output a simple sound.

At this point, when the notification based on the symbol display on the screen and the sound generation is performed, it is determined that a series of processing has been completed, and the process returns to step A1 to receive the next traffic information.

The above steps A8 and A9
In, the direction of the traffic information from the current position of the own vehicle is detected, and it is confirmed that the detected direction of the traffic information is within a predetermined direction range with respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle. However, instead of this, it is determined whether or not the position data of the received traffic information is at a position corresponding to the areas (a) to (c) in FIG. 3, that is, the map area adjacent to the display area at that time. If it is determined whether or not the vehicle is located in the traveling direction of the own vehicle depending on whether or not the vehicle is located ahead of the traveling direction, there is a possibility that the traveling of the own vehicle may be affected. Since the determination can be made by a simple map coordinate comparison process without calculating the direction from the current position of the car or the like, the process can be further speeded up.

The above steps A6 and A7
In, the distance from the current position of the vehicle to the position data of the received traffic information is determined to confirm that the distance is within a predetermined distance. Instead, first, the position data of the received traffic information is The traveling of the own vehicle is influenced by whether or not the vehicle is located at a position corresponding to the areas (a) to (h) in FIG. And then determine whether the scale of the map displayed at that time is a detailed one that is equal to or smaller than a predetermined scale, and The notification may be performed only when.

By doing so, the position of the received traffic information can be determined by simple map coordinate comparison processing as described above, and the processing can be further speeded up.
By performing the notification only when necessary according to the scale of the map information, it is possible to avoid the useless notification of the information.

FIG. 2 shows the navigation operation when receiving traffic information by VICS multiplexed on the radio wave of FM data multiplex broadcasting and displaying the received traffic information linked to map information. However, as shown in step A2, the received traffic information is sequentially stored in the RAM 8 irrespective of whether it is used immediately or not.
Similar processing is performed for the traffic information stored and stored in AM8.

FIG. 4 shows the contents of the operation processing when the traffic information stored in the RAM 8 is read out and notified as described above. Then, it is determined whether or not there is any one having position data in the currently displayed map area (step B1).

If it is determined that any of the stored traffic information has position data in the displayed map area, the type data of the corresponding traffic information is determined. The position data and the information content data are read from the RAM 8 and, according to a predetermined display setting, a predetermined symbol based on the received traffic information, for example, corresponds to the position data if the type of the traffic information is congested. The road between the two intersections is displayed in red, and the symbols of a plurality of cars are displayed along the road at corresponding positions on the map (step B2).

After displaying the stored traffic information having the position data in the map area being displayed, first, regarding the traffic information outside the displayed map area, the current position of the own vehicle is first obtained. From the location data of the point where the traffic information exists (step B)
3). In this case, the distance to be obtained may be a straight line distance between two points, or may be a distance of the shortest route using the route guidance function.

Whether or not the obtained distance is within a predetermined distance, that is, although the stored traffic information is out of the map area displayed at that time, It is determined whether or not there is a position close to a certain degree that may affect the traveling of the own vehicle (step B4).

Here, when it is determined that all the obtained distances are outside the predetermined distance, it is determined that there is almost no possibility that the traveling of the own vehicle is affected, and the process returns to the step B1.

If there is a distance within the predetermined distance determined in step B4 and it is determined that the traffic information may affect the traveling of the own vehicle, Next, the direction of the traffic information from the current position of the own vehicle is detected (step B5).

Then, among the directions of the detected traffic information,
With respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle obtained from the time-series change of the current position of the own vehicle, whether or not there is an object within a predetermined direction range, that is, Then, it is determined whether or not there is traffic information that may affect the traveling of the own vehicle (step B6).

Here, if it is determined that the direction of all traffic information is out of the predetermined direction range with respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle, the traveling of the own vehicle may be affected as well. Assuming that there is almost no property, the above step B1
Return to

If it is determined in step B6 that there is traffic information within a predetermined direction range with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle, the traffic information may affect the traveling of the vehicle. As one means of notification, the graphic controller 17 determines a symbol to be displayed based on the type, direction, and distance of the traffic information and overwrites the display data of the map developed on the video RAM 16 to monitor. In step 18 the map data is displayed together with the map data (step B7).
Return to

Although not shown in the processing in FIG. 4, when the traffic information stored in the RAM 8 is first displayed as being located in a predetermined area outside the map area, other means of notification are used. As the voice ROM 1 according to the setting.
9, audio data based on a predetermined phrase is selected and read out, and these are sequentially converted into analog data by a D / A converter 20 and then amplified by an amplifier 21 to be amplified by a speaker unit 22.
As a voice guide message, the voice is output as shown in FIG. 3 as the voice guide message VM.

As described above, when the stored traffic information is within the displayed map area, the stored traffic information is located at a position in the map and outside the displayed map area within a predetermined distance from the own vehicle position. When the vehicle is within a predetermined direction range from the traveling direction of the own vehicle, the distance and the direction are combined, and the symbols are sequentially displayed according to the respective types. Even if the relative positional relationship between the position and the position data of the traffic information stored in the RAM 8 changes, it is possible to cope with the change and make an appropriate notification at any time.

When notifying the stored traffic information as described above, data indicating the reception time at the time of receiving the traffic information shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the RAM 8 in advance in accordance with the traffic information. When the information is read and notified in the process of FIG. 4, the time when the traffic information is received may also be notified at the same time.

In this case, the traffic information stored in the RAM 8 may be automatically deleted if the value indicating the reception time has passed for a certain period of time and the value as information has been reduced.

Further, the predetermined distance to be compared with the distance obtained in step B4, and the direction of the position data of the traffic information from the current position of the vehicle detected in step B6 and the traveling direction of the vehicle are compared and determined. The user may be allowed to arbitrarily input and set any of the predetermined direction ranges.

Further, the type data of the traffic information to be notified by a predetermined key operation of the key block 15 is specified, and the current position of the vehicle detected from the current position of the vehicle detected in step B6 with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle. After it is determined that the direction of the position data of the traffic information is within the predetermined direction range, it is determined whether or not the type data of the traffic information matches the identified type data. Notification processing may be performed. Thus, the user can select and recognize only the desired type of traffic information.

Although the method described in the above embodiment has been described as being fixedly stored in the ROM 7 as an operation program to be executed by the navigation device, the present invention is not limited to this.
May be stored as an operating system in a part of the map CD-ROM 5 attached to the ROM, and may be written in an electrically rewritable memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory instead of the ROM 7, and then operated. The medium on which the operation program is recorded is not limited to the CD-ROM, but may be written on another recording medium, for example, a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (DVD, data MD, etc.), a semiconductor memory, or the like. It can be applied to various devices, or can be applied to various devices by transmitting it via a communication medium.In addition to navigation devices mounted on automobiles, data of personal computers etc. can be installed by installing these various devices. It is also possible to apply to a processing device.
In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof.

[0075]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the supplementary information is outside the area of the currently displayed map,
Since the supplementary information can be recognized by a display or a voice guide message corresponding to the direction, it is possible to obtain surrounding information without frequently performing manual operations for moving or enlarging the area displayed on the map. it can.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to simultaneously recognize not only the direction corresponding to the additional information related to the position outside the display area but also the distance. Therefore, the surrounding information can be obtained in more detail.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the present invention, the type of the incidental information can be easily recognized, and a quicker action can be taken.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to receive additional information with high immediateness and to perform notification according to the received additional information. , It is possible to recognize the surrounding situation more accurately.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, only the additional information within a predetermined distance range is selected and notified, so that unnecessary additional information is notified. , It is possible to recognize only necessary supplementary information together with the distance from the self-position in the map area displayed at that time, and to accurately grasp only useful information and its positional relationship. Can be.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, it is easily determined from the area where the additional information is located whether the additional information is necessary. Therefore, only useful information can be accurately grasped together with its positional relationship.

According to the invention described in claim 7, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 6, for example, when displaying a wide-area map that includes the entire region, information such as fine regulation is notified. By notifying only when it is necessary according to the scale ratio of the map information, such as when there is no information, it is possible to avoid unnecessary information notification.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, only the additional information within a predetermined direction range with respect to the actual traveling direction is notified, so that the useful additional information is provided. Only information can be selected and grasped.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, if a user specifies a type of desired additional information, other types of additional information are notified. Therefore, it is possible to selectively recognize only additional information of a required type.

According to the tenth aspect, even if the supplementary information is outside the area of the map being displayed at that time, the supplementary information can be recognized by a display or a voice guide message corresponding to the direction. Therefore, the surrounding information can be acquired without performing a manual operation for moving or enlarging the area displayed on the map.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, even if the supplementary information is outside the area of the map displayed at that time, the supplementary information can be recognized by a display or a voice guide message corresponding to the direction. Therefore, the surrounding information can be acquired without performing a manual operation for moving or enlarging the area displayed on the map.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view exemplifying a notification state at the time of operation according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... GPS antenna 2 ... GPS block 3 ... Graphic block 4 ... CPU 5 ... Map CD-ROM 6 ... CD block 7 ... ROM 8 ... RAM 9 ... CPU peripheral circuit gate array (G / A) 10 ... FM antenna 11 ... FM Multiplex receiver 12 ... FM multiplex data processing / tuning control unit 15 ... Key block 16 ... Video RAM 17 ... Graphic controller 18 ... Monitor block 19 ... Sound ROM 20 ... D / A conversion unit 21 ... Amplifier 22 ... Speaker unit

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. Map storage means for storing map information, map display means for reading and expanding and displaying the map information stored in the map storage means, and information storage means for storing incidental information related to the map information. When the supplementary information stored in the information storage means is related to a position outside the area displayed by the map display means, a direction detection for detecting the direction of the supplementary information with respect to the displayed area. And a notifying means for notifying the direction detected by the direction detecting means. 2. A distance for detecting a distance to a position of the supplementary information when the supplementary information stored in the information storage means is related to a position outside the area displayed by the map display means. 2. The map display device according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit, wherein the notifying unit notifies the direction detected by the direction detecting unit and the distance detected by the distance detecting unit. 3. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein said notifying means further notifies additional information stored in said information storage means. 4. The map display according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving means for receiving additional information related to the map information, wherein said information storage means stores the additional information received by said receiving means. means. 5. A distance for detecting a distance to a position of the supplementary information when the supplementary information stored in the information storage means is related to a position outside the area displayed by the map display means. 2. The map display device according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit, wherein the notifying unit notifies when the distance detected by the distance detecting unit is within a predetermined distance range. 6. When the supplementary information stored in the information storage means is related to a position outside the area displayed by the map display means, the area to which the position of the supplementary information belongs is displayed. Area determining means for determining whether or not the area is located in a predetermined direction in an adjacent area centered on the area. 2. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein a notification is issued when it is determined that the map is present. 7. The map storage means stores a plurality of pieces of map information having different scales, and the notifying means further comprises a map information readout from the map storage means which is expanded and displayed by the map display means. 7. The map display device according to claim 6, wherein whether or not notification is possible is controlled in accordance with the information. 8. A traveling direction detecting means for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle, and a range detecting means for detecting whether the supplementary information is within a predetermined direction range with respect to the traveling direction detected by the traveling direction detecting means. The map display device according to claim 1, further comprising: notifying when the range detecting means detects that the supplementary information is within a predetermined direction range with respect to the traveling direction. 9. The map according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for inputting and setting a type of said additional information, wherein said notifying means notifies the additional information input and set by said setting means. Display device. 10. An information selection notifying method applied to a map display device for reading map information from a storage medium storing map information and expanding and displaying the map information, the information storage processing for storing supplementary information related to the map information. A direction detecting process for detecting a direction of the supplementary information with respect to the displayed area when the supplementary information stored in the information storage process is related to a position outside the map display area; And a notifying process for notifying the direction detected in the direction detecting process. 11. A recording medium recording a program for a map display device for expanding and displaying map information,
When the supplementary information related to the map information stored in the information storage means is related to a position outside the map display area, the supplementary information for the area to be displayed is displayed. A recording medium on which a program for detecting a direction of information and notifying the detected direction is recorded.