JPWO2007074741A1 - Navigation device, process control method, process control program, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

In the navigation device (100) including the control unit (101) that executes navigation processing using data stored in the storage device and update processing of data stored in the storage device, the reception unit (102) stores When the control unit (101) receives an instruction to start update processing of data stored in the apparatus and receives an instruction to start update processing during execution of the navigation processing, the control unit (101) changes the load applied to the navigation processing. Execute navigation processing and update processing.

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that performs navigation processing and data update processing, a processing control method, a processing control program, and a computer-readable recording medium.

  Conventionally, update of map data and programs stored in a storage device such as an HD (Hard Disk) in a navigation device is performed using update data acquired from the outside. More specifically, the update data may be read from a large-capacity storage medium such as a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory), or read from an external server by communication via a network.

  In recent years, when updating map data, the obtained map data for update is discriminated into types corresponding to the functions of the navigation device, such as for map display, for route search, and for route guidance, based on header information. Then, the navigation device performs a batch update in the case of route search data, and registers so that it can be updated as necessary in cases other than the route search data. In this way, the update method is changed according to the type of update data, and the update to the latest map data is performed without affecting the operation speed of the navigation function and minimizing the time during which the navigation function cannot be used. Has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2004-295207 A

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, an example of a problem is that an update process that is executing a navigation process cannot be performed properly because the update process places a load on the apparatus when the update process is prioritized. On the other hand, an example of the update process in which the navigation process is being performed is a problem that when the navigation process is prioritized, the load on the apparatus is applied to the navigation process, so that a quick update process is not performed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the navigation device according to the invention of claim 1 is a navigation process using data stored in a storage device and an update process of data stored in the storage device. A navigation device comprising control means for executing the update processing, comprising: accepting means for accepting an instruction to start update processing of data stored in the storage device, wherein the control means performs the update processing during the execution of the navigation processing. When a start instruction is received, the load applied to the navigation process is changed, and the navigation process and the update process are executed.

  The processing control method according to the invention of claim 7 is a processing control method in a navigation device that executes navigation processing using data stored in a storage device and update processing of data stored in the storage device. A receiving step for receiving an instruction to start an update process of data stored in the storage device, and a load applied to the navigation process when the instruction to start the update process is received during the execution of the navigation process. And a control step of executing the navigation process and the update process by changing the process.

  A process control program according to an invention of claim 8 causes a computer to execute the process control method according to claim 7.

  A computer-readable recording medium according to a ninth aspect of the invention records the processing control program according to the eighth aspect.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing of the navigation device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the process performed by the navigation device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a processing control load in the CPU according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the change of the map scale according to the vehicle speed according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the process performed by the navigation device according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Navigation apparatus 101 Control part 102 Reception part 103 Detection part

  Exemplary embodiments of a navigation device, a process control method, a process control program, and a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment)
(Functional configuration of navigation device)
The functional configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a navigation device 100 that executes navigation processing using data stored in a storage device and update processing of data stored in the storage device includes a control unit 101, a reception unit 102, and a detection unit 103. And is composed of.

  The control unit 101 controls execution of navigation processing using data stored in a storage device (not shown) and update processing of data stored in the storage device. For example, when the control unit 101 receives an instruction to start update processing by the receiving unit 102 described later during execution of navigation processing, the load applied to the navigation processing is changed and the navigation processing and update processing are executed. To do. Moreover, it is good also as changing the load applied to a navigation process according to the moving speed of the mobile body with which the navigation apparatus 100 was mounted detected by the detection part 103 mentioned later.

  Furthermore, when the receiving unit 102 receives an instruction to start the update process, the control unit 101 may control to reduce the load applied to the map drawing in the navigation process and use the reduced load for the update process. . Further, when an update processing start instruction is received, the number of map drawing updates per unit time may be reduced from the number of map drawing updates before the start instruction is received. In addition, when an update processing start instruction is received, the data amount for map drawing may be changed to a scale that can be reduced.

  Further, when executing a predetermined navigation process during the execution of the navigation process and the update process, the control unit 101 may change the load applied to the process and execute the navigation process with priority. For example, the predetermined navigation process may be a process of receiving a route guidance or a user operation, and performing the navigation process while reducing the load applied to the update process. Further, the load applied to the process may be such that the update process is stopped and the navigation process is executed.

  The accepting unit 102 accepts an instruction to start updating processing of data stored in the storage device. The acceptance of the start instruction is, for example, input of update data as a start instruction. The start instruction may be received by the user operating an operation unit (not shown).

  The detection unit 103 detects the moving speed of the moving body on which the navigation device 100 is mounted. The moving speed is detected based on, for example, an output from a vehicle speed sensor or an acceleration sensor (not shown).

(Contents of navigation device processing)
Next, the contents of processing of the navigation device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing of the navigation device according to the present embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 2, the navigation device 100 first determines whether or not the reception unit 102 has received a data update processing start instruction (step S <b> 201). Here, when the data update process start instruction is received and received (step S201: Yes), the detection unit 103 detects the moving speed of the mobile body on which the navigation device 100 is mounted (step S202). .

  Subsequently, the control unit 101 changes the load applied to the navigation process in accordance with the moving speed of the moving object detected in step S202 (step S203). The change of the load applied to the navigation process reduces, for example, the load applied to the map drawing in the navigation process. Further, the number of map drawing updates per unit time may be reduced from the number of map drawing updates before accepting the start instruction in step S201. Furthermore, it is good also as changing to the reduced scale which can reduce the data amount concerning map drawing.

  And the control part 101 performs a process based on the load changed in step S203 (step S204). For example, in step S203, the processing is executed by reducing the load applied to the map drawing in the navigation processing and using the reduced load for the update processing. More specifically, for example, by reducing the number of map drawing updates per unit time, or by reducing the amount of data required for map drawing to a reduced scale, the load applied to map drawing can be reduced, Used for update processing. Subsequently, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the data update process is completed (step S205).

  In step S205, when the data update process is not completed (step S205: No), the process returns to step S202 and is repeated. In step 205, when the data update process ends (step S205: Yes), the series of processes ends.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 2, the moving speed of the moving body is detected in step S202, and the load applied to the navigation process is changed according to the moving speed. However, the moving speed of the moving body is not detected. May be. More specifically, for example, when a data update process start instruction is accepted in step S201, the load applied to the navigation process may be changed to execute the navigation process and the update process.

  Although not described in FIG. 2, when a predetermined navigation process is executed in step S204, the load applied to the process may be changed and the navigation process may be executed with priority. The predetermined navigation process may be, for example, a route guidance process or a process of accepting an operation by a user, and the update process may be stopped and the navigation process may be executed.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the load applied to the navigation process can be changed and the data update process can be executed. Therefore, the data update process is appropriately performed even while the navigation process is being executed. be able to.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below. In the present embodiment, an example in which the present invention is implemented by a navigation device mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle (including a four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled vehicle) will be described.

(Hardware configuration of navigation device)
First, the hardware configuration of the navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 3, a navigation device 300 is mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle, and includes a CPU 301, ROM 302, RAM 303, magnetic disk drive 304, magnetic disk 305, optical disk drive 306, optical disk 307, and audio. An I / F (interface) 308, a speaker 309, an input device 310, a video I / F 311, a display 312, a communication I / F 313, a GPS unit 314, and various sensors 315 are provided. Each component 301 to 315 is connected by a bus 320.

  First, the CPU 301 governs overall control of the navigation device 300. The ROM 302 stores various programs such as a boot program, a current location calculation program, a route search program, a route guidance program, a voice generation program, a map information display program, a communication program, a database creation program, and a data analysis program. In the first embodiment, the various programs are recorded in the ROM 302. However, the various programs may be recorded in a recording medium such as a magnetic disk 305 and an optical disk 307 described later. The recorded various programs may be read when the program is started according to the control of the CPU 301. The RAM 303 is used as a work area for the CPU 301.

  Here, the current location calculation program, for example, calculates the current location of the vehicle (the current location of the navigation device 300) based on output information from a GPS unit 314 and various sensors 315 described later.

  Further, the route search program searches for an optimal route from the departure point to the destination point using, for example, map information recorded on a magnetic disk 305 described later. Here, the optimum route is the shortest (or fastest) route to the destination point or the route that best matches the conditions specified by the user. The guidance route searched by executing the route search program is output to the audio I / F 308 and the video I / F 311 via the CPU 301.

  The route guidance program includes guidance route information searched by executing the route search program, vehicle current location information calculated by executing the current location calculation program, and map information read from the magnetic disk 305. Based on the above, real-time route guidance information is generated. The route guidance information generated by executing the route guidance program is output to the audio I / F 308 and the video I / F 311 via the CPU 301.

  The sound generation program generates tone and sound information corresponding to the pattern. That is, based on the route guidance information generated by executing the route guidance program, the virtual sound source corresponding to the guidance point is set and the voice guidance information is generated, and output to the voice I / F 308 via the CPU 301.

  Also, the map information display program determines the display format of the map information displayed on the display 312 by the video I / F 311 and displays the map information on the display 312 according to the determined display format.

  Further, the CPU 301 controls execution of various programs related to the above-described navigation processing when various types of information recorded in the ROM 302 and various types of information recorded in the magnetic disk 305 described later are performed, and loads applied to the navigation processing. May be changed. More specifically, for example, when an instruction to start update processing of various types of information is received, control is performed such that the load applied to map drawing in the navigation processing is reduced and the reduced load is used for the update processing. The load can be reduced by, for example, reducing the number of map drawing updates per unit time to less than the number of map drawing updates before accepting the start instruction, or changing the scale of the map drawing to a reduced scale. Good. Moreover, it is good also as changing the load applied to a navigation process according to the vehicle speed to which a vehicle moves measured by the output value of the various sensors 315 mentioned later.

  The magnetic disk drive 304 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to the magnetic disk 305 according to control of CPU301. The magnetic disk 305 records data written under the control of the magnetic disk drive 304. As the magnetic disk 305, for example, an HD (hard disk) or an FD (flexible disk) can be used.

  As an example of various information recorded on the magnetic disk 305, map information used for route search, route guidance, and the like can be given. The map information includes background data representing features (features) such as buildings, rivers, and the ground surface, and road shape data representing the shape of the road, and can be displayed two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally on the display screen of the display 312. Drawn. When the navigation device 300 is guiding a route, the map information and the current location of the vehicle calculated by the CPU 301 are displayed in an overlapping manner.

  The road shape data further includes traffic condition data. The traffic condition data includes, for example, whether or not there is a signal or a pedestrian crossing, whether or not there is a highway doorway or junction, the length (distance) of each link, road width, direction of travel, road type (highway, Such as toll roads and general roads).

  The traffic condition data stores past traffic information obtained by statistically processing past traffic information based on seasons, days of the week, large holidays, and time. The navigation device 300 obtains information on the currently occurring traffic jam based on road traffic information received by the communication I / F 313, which will be described later, and can predict the traffic jam situation at a specified time based on the past traffic jam information. Become.

  Various information recorded on the magnetic disk 305 is updated by writing update data recorded on the optical disk 307 to be described later under the control of the CPU 301. Various information update processing is performed, for example, when a data update start request from a user is received from an input device 310 to be described later, or when an optical disk 307 in which update data is recorded is attached.

  The optical disk drive 306 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to the optical disk 307 according to control of CPU301. The optical disc 307 is a detachable recording medium from which data is read according to the control of the optical disc drive 306. As the optical disk 307, a writable recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) can be used. In addition to the optical disk 307, the removable recording medium may be an MO, a memory card, or the like.

  Examples of various information recorded on the optical disc 307 include various programs and data for updating various information recorded on the ROM 302 and the magnetic disk 305. More specifically, when the update data is map information, the contents of the file are composed of header information and a plurality of regional data. The header information includes, for example, a data type, a data version, a file size, and the number of data. Further, the data type may be a data type corresponding to each function of the navigation device 300, for example, for map display, route search, or route guidance.

  In the first embodiment, the update data is recorded on the optical disc 307. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The update data is not recorded only on the recording medium that can be attached to and detached from the navigation device 300, but may be recorded on a server or the like provided outside the navigation device 300. In this case, the navigation device 300 acquires update data via the network through the communication I / F 313, for example. The obtained update data is stored in the RAM 303 or the like and used for updating various programs and map information.

  The audio I / F 308 is connected to a speaker 309 for audio output. The audio is D / A converted in the audio I / F 308, and the audio is output from the speaker 309.

  Examples of the input device 310 include a remote controller having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, and various instructions, a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel.

  The video I / F 311 is connected to the display 312. Specifically, the video I / F 311 includes, for example, a graphic controller that controls the entire display 312, a buffer memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM) that temporarily records image information that can be displayed immediately, and a graphic controller. Based on the output image data, the display 312 is configured by a control IC or the like.

  The display 312 displays icons, cursors, menus, windows, or various data such as characters and images. As this display 312, for example, a CRT, a TFT liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like can be adopted. A plurality of displays 312 may be provided in the vehicle, for example, for the driver and for a passenger seated in the rear seat.

  The communication I / F 313 is connected to a network via wireless and functions as an interface between the navigation device 300 and the CPU 301. The communication I / F 313 is further connected to a communication network such as the Internet via wireless, and also functions as an interface between the communication network and the CPU 301.

  Communication networks include LANs, WANs, public line networks and mobile phone networks. Specifically, the communication I / F 313 includes, for example, an FM tuner, a VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) / beacon receiver, a radio navigation device, and other navigation devices. Get road traffic information such as regulations. VICS is a registered trademark.

  The GPS unit 314 receives radio waves from GPS satellites and calculates information indicating the current location of the vehicle. The output information of the GPS unit 314 is used when the current position of the vehicle is calculated by the CPU 301 together with output values of various sensors 315 described later. The information indicating the current location is information for specifying one point on the map information such as latitude / longitude and altitude.

  The various sensors 315 output information that can determine the position and behavior of the vehicle, such as a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor. The output values of the various sensors 315 are used for the calculation of the current location by the CPU 301, the measurement of the change in speed and direction, and the like.

  Of the functional configuration of the navigation device 100 according to the embodiment, the control unit 101 is based on the CPU 301, the ROM 302, and the RAM 303, the reception unit 102 is based on the optical disk drive 306 and the input device 310, and the detection unit 103 is based on various sensors 315. The function is realized by each.

(Contents of processing of navigation device 300)
Next, the contents of the process of the navigation device 300 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the process performed by the navigation device according to the first embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, first, the input device 310 determines whether or not a data update start request has been received (step S401). As for the input of the start request, for example, the user operates the input device 310 to give an instruction to start reading update data recorded on the optical disc 307. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a data update start request is received when an optical disk 307 in which update data is recorded is attached.

  If the data update start request is not accepted in step S401 (step S401: No), the process proceeds to step S406 to continue the processing. If a data update start request is accepted in step S401 (step S401: Yes), the CPU 301 suppresses the map drawing process (step S402). For example, the map drawing processing is suppressed by controlling the execution of the map information display program by the CPU 301 to reduce the number of map drawing updates per unit time from the number of map drawing updates before accepting the start instruction, To a scale that can reduce the amount of data required. Further, the load applied to the navigation process may be changed according to the vehicle speed at which the vehicle moves, which is measured by the output values of the various sensors 315. The outline will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  Then, the CPU 301 executes data update processing of various programs recorded in the ROM 302 and various information recorded in the magnetic disk 305 (step S403). In the data update process, for example, the optical disk drive 306 is controlled, the update data is read from the optical disk 307 in which the update data is recorded, and various programs and various information are updated. Further, the update data may be acquired from the external server of the navigation device 300 via the communication I / F 313.

  Subsequently, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the data update is completed by the data update process executed in step S403 (step S404). The end of the data update is, for example, whether the various programs and map information recorded in the ROM 302 and the magnetic disk 305 have been updated, or whether the update of the map information within a predetermined range around the vehicle position has been completed. It is good also as judging.

  In step S404, when the data update is not completed (step S404: No), the process returns to step S403 and the process is repeated. In step S404, when the data update is completed (step S404: Yes), the CPU 301 releases the suppression of the map drawing process performed in step S402 (step S405). And CPU301 performs a normal navigation process (step S406), returns to step S401, and continues a navigation process.

  In the description of the flowchart of FIG. 4, in step S <b> 402, the map drawing process is suppressed and the data update process is performed. More specifically, for example, the CPU 301 may suppress execution of a program related to navigation processing such as a route search program, a route guidance program, and a voice generation program. Further, in step S405, the map drawing process is canceled and the normal navigation process is performed. However, the navigation process may be performed without releasing the suppression, and the map drawing process is necessary. Alternatively, the suppression may be released.

  Next, a processing control load in the CPU 301 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a processing control load in the CPU according to the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 5, the processing control load in the normal state 501 in the CPU 301 includes a navigation basic process 502 and a map drawing process 503 at a process control load factor 520 of 0% to 100%. The navigation basic process 502 is, for example, route guidance by the various programs described above, detection of the vehicle position, and the like. Further, the map drawing process 503 shows a plurality of loads for one map drawing, and displays map information of a plurality of frame images on the display 312 according to the movement of the vehicle.

  Further, the processing control load of the data update state 511 in the CPU 301 includes a navigation basic process 512, a map drawing process 513, and a data update process 514 at a process control load factor 520 of 0% to 100%. . The navigation basic process 512 is, for example, route guidance by the various programs described above, detection of the vehicle position, and the like. The map drawing process 513 indicates a plurality of loads for one map drawing, and the number of times is smaller than that of the map drawing process 503 in the normal state 501 according to the control of the CPU 301. The data update process 514 is, for example, a process for reading / writing update data, expanding a compressed file, checking a file, and the like.

  Here, in the data update state 511, since the normal navigation process and the data update process are operated in a coordinated manner, the number of map drawing processes 503 with a high processing control load factor 520 of the CPU 301 in the normal state 501 is suppressed. Then, the suppressed load on the map drawing process 503 is used in the data update process 514 to perform the process together with the suppressed map drawing process 513.

  In the description of FIG. 5, the number of map drawing processes 503 is reduced to be the map drawing process 513, but the configuration may be configured to reduce the processing load per time. More specifically, for example, the scale is changed to a scale that can reduce the amount of data required for map drawing.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 5, when the number of map drawing processes 503 is suppressed, an error in the vehicle position displayed on the display 312 may increase depending on the amount of movement of the vehicle position. In other words, if the number of map drawing times is small, the vehicle position update interval is extended, and the vehicle position accuracy may appear poor. The first embodiment may have a function of changing the map scale in the map drawing process 513 according to the vehicle speed at which the vehicle moves, which is measured by the output values of the various sensors 315.

  Next, the change of the map scale according to the vehicle speed according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the change of the map scale according to the vehicle speed according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, a graph 600 showing the relationship between the vehicle speed and the map scale has a map scale on the horizontal axis 602 and a vehicle speed on the vertical axis 601. The map scale indicates the scale of the map displayed on the display 312 and is, for example, the distance on the map per unit length on the display 312. The vehicle speed is a moving speed of the vehicle measured from output values of various sensors 315.

  The graph 600 includes a map scale unusable area 604 and a map scale unusable area 605 associated with the map scale and the vehicle speed, and the map scale unusable area 604 and the map scale use. The possible area 605 is divided by a boundary 603. The map scale unusable area 604 is an area that is not practical because the vehicle position update interval is long with respect to the vehicle speed in the map scale unusable area 604, for example. On the other hand, the map scale usable area 605 is an area in which the own vehicle position update interval is appropriate even if the vehicle speed is in the map scale usable area 605.

  More specifically, for example, when accelerating at a map scale of 50 m, a map scale unusable area 604 is obtained when the speed is higher than the point 606 on the boundary 603. Therefore, the map scale is changed to 100 m in the direction of arrow 608. In addition, in the map scale 100m, when it becomes the speed of the point 607 or more on the boundary 603, it is good also as changing a map scale further. Similarly, when the vehicle speed is decelerated, the map scale may be changed from 100 m to 50 m. Further, a map scale that can be displayed may be displayed together with the map according to the vehicle speed.

  In the description of FIG. 6, the map scale is changed according to the vehicle speed. However, a configuration in which map drawing below a predetermined specific scale is not performed, or a city map drawing is not performed. In addition, when performing map drawing at a specific scale or less, the map drawing suppression process may be temporarily canceled, or the map drawing suppression process may be resumed by automatically returning to the specific scale due to a timeout or the like. Furthermore, when performing map drawing below a specific scale, it is good also as notifying a user that the own vehicle position update interval becomes long. The notification to the user may be made by voice or display, and in that case, the estimated end time of the data update process may be notified together.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when updating the map information and various programs, the load applied to the map drawing process in the navigation process is suppressed, and the data using the suppressed load is used. Since the update process can be performed, the navigation process and the update process can be coordinated.

  Moreover, since the scale of map drawing can be changed according to the moving speed of the vehicle, the display of the vehicle position in the navigation process can be optimized even if the vehicle position update interval becomes long.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, when the navigation apparatus 300 described in the first embodiment is used and the predetermined navigation process is performed even during the data update process, the navigation process is preferentially executed. I will explain. Here, the priority of the navigation process may be configured to include the case where the update process is temporarily stopped and the navigation process is performed by reducing the load of the update process. The hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in FIG.

(Contents of processing of navigation device 300)
The content of the process of the navigation apparatus 300 concerning the present Example 2 is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the process performed by the navigation device according to the second embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 7, first, the input device 310 determines whether or not a data update start request has been accepted (step S701). As for the input of the start request, for example, the user operates the input device 310 to give an instruction to start reading update data recorded on the optical disc 307. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a data update start request is received when an optical disk 307 in which update data is recorded is attached.

  In step S701, when a data update start request is not accepted (step S701: No), the process proceeds to step S709 to continue the processing. If a data update start request is received in step S701 (step S701: Yes), the CPU 301 suppresses the map drawing process (step S702). For example, as described above with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the map drawing process is suppressed by controlling the execution of the map information display program by the CPU 301 to determine the number of updates of map drawing per unit time before accepting the start instruction. The scale is reduced to less than the number of updates of drawing, or the scale is reduced to reduce the amount of data required for map drawing. Moreover, it is good also as changing the load applied to a navigation process according to the vehicle speed to which a vehicle moves measured by the output value of various sensors 315. FIG.

  Then, the CPU 301 executes data update processing of various programs recorded in the ROM 302 and various information recorded in the magnetic disk 305 (step S703). In the data update process, for example, the optical disk drive 306 is controlled, the update data is read from the optical disk 307 in which the update data is recorded, and various programs and various information are updated. Further, the update data may be acquired from the external server of the navigation device 300 via the communication I / F 313.

  Next, it is determined whether or not an input of a user operation related to navigation processing has been received by the input device 310 (step S704). The user operation related to the navigation process may be, for example, an input of a destination point or a request for detailed map display. Further, in step S704, it is configured to determine whether or not an input of a user operation has been accepted, but it may be configured to determine whether or not execution of a predetermined navigation process has been accepted. The predetermined navigation processing may be route guidance, voice guidance, or the like, and is navigation processing that is performed with priority over data update processing.

  In step S704, when the input of a user operation is received (step S704: Yes), the suppression of the map drawing process performed in step S702 is temporarily cancelled (step S705). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the input of the user operation has been completed by the input device 310 (step S706).

  In step S706, when the input of the user operation is completed (step S706: Yes), the process returns to step S702 and the process is repeated. In step S706, if the user operation does not end (step S706: No), the process returns to step S705 to continue temporarily canceling the suppression of the map drawing process. In other words, from step S704 to step S706, the suppression of the map drawing process is temporarily canceled until the input of the user operation is completed. When the input of the user operation is completed, the process returns to step S702 to suppress the map drawing process. Will be resumed.

  If no user operation input is received in step S704 (step S704: No), the CPU 301 determines whether the data update is completed by the data update process executed in step S703. (Step S707). The end of the data update is, for example, whether the various programs and map information recorded in the ROM 302 and the magnetic disk 305 have been updated, or whether the update of the map information within a predetermined range around the vehicle position has been completed. It is good also as judging.

  In step S707, when the data update is not completed (step S707: No), the process returns to step S703 and the process is repeated. In step S707, when the data update is completed (step S707: Yes), the CPU 301 releases the suppression of the map drawing process performed in step S702 (step S708). Then, the CPU 301 executes normal navigation processing (step S709), returns to step S401, and continues navigation processing.

  In the description of the flowchart of FIG. 7, in step S702, the map drawing process is suppressed and the data update process is performed. However, a configuration for suppressing the navigation process may be used. More specifically, for example, the CPU 301 may suppress execution of a program related to navigation processing such as a route search program, a route guidance program, and a voice generation program.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the load applied to the map drawing process in the navigation process is suppressed, and the user operation and the predetermined navigation process are performed even when the map information and various programs are updated. In this case, it is possible to cancel the load suppression and execute the navigation process. Therefore, since the update process is executed by selectively changing the load of the navigation process, the execution of the navigation process can be optimized.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the load applied to the navigation process can be changed and the data update process can be executed, the data update process can be appropriately performed even while the navigation process is being executed. it can.

  In addition, when updating map information and various programs, the load on the map drawing process in the navigation process can be suppressed, and the data update process can be performed using the suppressed load. The update process can be coordinated.

  In addition, since the map drawing scale can be changed according to the moving speed of the vehicle, the display of the vehicle position in the navigation process can be optimized even if the vehicle position update interval becomes long. .

  The processing control method described in the present embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that performs navigation processing and data update processing, a processing control method, a processing control program, and a computer-readable recording medium.

  Conventionally, update of map data and programs stored in a storage device such as an HD (Hard Disk) in a navigation device is performed using update data acquired from the outside. More specifically, the update data may be read from a large-capacity storage medium such as a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory), or read from an external server by communication via a network.

  In recent years, when updating map data, the obtained map data for update is discriminated into types corresponding to the functions of the navigation device, such as for map display, for route search, and for route guidance, based on header information. Then, the navigation device performs a batch update in the case of route search data, and registers so that it can be updated as necessary in cases other than the route search data. In this way, the update method is changed according to the type of update data, and the update to the latest map data is performed without affecting the operation speed of the navigation function and minimizing the time during which the navigation function cannot be used. Has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2004-295207 A

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, an example of a problem is that an update process that is executing a navigation process cannot be performed properly because the update process places a load on the apparatus when the update process is prioritized. On the other hand, an example of the update process in which the navigation process is being performed is a problem that when the navigation process is prioritized, the load on the apparatus is applied to the navigation process, so that a quick update process is not performed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the navigation device according to the invention of claim 1 is a navigation process using data stored in a storage device and an update process of data stored in the storage device. A navigation device comprising control means for executing the update processing, comprising: accepting means for accepting an instruction to start update processing of data stored in the storage device, wherein the control means performs the update processing during the execution of the navigation processing. When the start instruction is received, the number of map drawing updates per unit time in the navigation process is reduced from the number of map drawing updates before the start instruction is received, thereby reducing the load on the navigation process. The reduced load is used for the update process.

  A navigation device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a navigation device comprising a control means for executing navigation processing using data stored in a storage device and updating processing of data stored in the storage device. And receiving means for receiving an instruction to start updating the data stored in the storage device, and the control means receives the instruction to start the update process during the execution of the navigation process. The load applied to the navigation process is reduced by changing the scale of data for map drawing in the process to a scale that can be reduced, and the reduced load is used for the update process.

  The processing control method according to the invention of claim 5 is a processing control method in a navigation device that executes navigation processing using data stored in a storage device and update processing of data stored in the storage device. An accepting step for accepting an instruction to start an update process of data stored in the storage device, and a unit time in the navigation process when the instruction to start the update process is accepted during the execution of the navigation process. A control step of reducing the load applied to the navigation process by reducing the update number of map drawing of the map drawing from the update number of the map drawing before receiving the start instruction, and using the reduced load for the update process It is characterized by including these.

  The processing control method according to the invention of claim 6 is a processing control method in a navigation device that executes navigation processing using data stored in a storage device and update processing of data stored in the storage device. A reception step of receiving an instruction to start updating the data stored in the storage device, and a map drawing in the navigation process when the instruction to start the update process is received during the execution of the navigation process. And a control step for reducing the load applied to the navigation process by changing the data amount to a scale that can be reduced, and using the reduced load for the update process.

  A processing control program according to a seventh aspect of the invention causes a computer to execute the processing control method according to the fifth or sixth aspect.

  A computer-readable recording medium according to an eighth aspect of the invention records the processing control program according to the seventh aspect.

  Exemplary embodiments of a navigation device, a process control method, a process control program, and a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment)
(Functional configuration of navigation device)
The functional configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a navigation device 100 that executes navigation processing using data stored in a storage device and update processing of data stored in the storage device includes a control unit 101, a reception unit 102, and a detection unit 103. And is composed of.

  The control unit 101 controls execution of navigation processing using data stored in a storage device (not shown) and update processing of data stored in the storage device. For example, when the control unit 101 receives an instruction to start update processing by the receiving unit 102 described later during execution of navigation processing, the load applied to the navigation processing is changed and the navigation processing and update processing are executed. To do. Moreover, it is good also as changing the load applied to a navigation process according to the moving speed of the mobile body with which the navigation apparatus 100 was mounted detected by the detection part 103 mentioned later.

  Furthermore, when the receiving unit 102 receives an instruction to start the update process, the control unit 101 may control to reduce the load applied to the map drawing in the navigation process and use the reduced load for the update process. . Further, when an update processing start instruction is received, the number of map drawing updates per unit time may be reduced from the number of map drawing updates before the start instruction is received. In addition, when an update processing start instruction is received, the data amount for map drawing may be changed to a scale that can be reduced.

  Further, when executing a predetermined navigation process during the execution of the navigation process and the update process, the control unit 101 may change the load applied to the process and execute the navigation process with priority. For example, the predetermined navigation process may be a process of receiving a route guidance or a user operation, and performing the navigation process while reducing the load applied to the update process. Further, the load applied to the process may be such that the update process is stopped and the navigation process is executed.

  The accepting unit 102 accepts an instruction to start updating processing of data stored in the storage device. The acceptance of the start instruction is, for example, input of update data as a start instruction. The start instruction may be received by the user operating an operation unit (not shown).

  The detection unit 103 detects the moving speed of the moving body on which the navigation device 100 is mounted. The moving speed is detected based on, for example, an output from a vehicle speed sensor or an acceleration sensor (not shown).

(Contents of navigation device processing)
Next, the contents of processing of the navigation device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing of the navigation device according to the present embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 2, the navigation device 100 first determines whether or not the reception unit 102 has received a data update processing start instruction (step S <b> 201). Here, when the data update process start instruction is received and received (step S201: Yes), the detection unit 103 detects the moving speed of the mobile body on which the navigation device 100 is mounted (step S202). .

  Subsequently, the control unit 101 changes the load applied to the navigation process in accordance with the moving speed of the moving object detected in step S202 (step S203). The change of the load applied to the navigation process reduces, for example, the load applied to the map drawing in the navigation process. Further, the number of map drawing updates per unit time may be reduced from the number of map drawing updates before accepting the start instruction in step S201. Furthermore, it is good also as changing to the reduced scale which can reduce the data amount concerning map drawing.

  And the control part 101 performs a process based on the load changed in step S203 (step S204). For example, in step S203, the processing is executed by reducing the load applied to the map drawing in the navigation processing and using the reduced load for the update processing. More specifically, for example, by reducing the number of map drawing updates per unit time, or by reducing the amount of data required for map drawing to a reduced scale, the load applied to map drawing can be reduced, Used for update processing. Subsequently, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the data update process is completed (step S205).

  In step S205, when the data update process is not completed (step S205: No), the process returns to step S202 and is repeated. In step 205, when the data update process ends (step S205: Yes), the series of processes ends.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 2, the moving speed of the moving body is detected in step S202, and the load applied to the navigation process is changed according to the moving speed. However, the moving speed of the moving body is not detected. May be. More specifically, for example, when a data update process start instruction is accepted in step S201, the load applied to the navigation process may be changed to execute the navigation process and the update process.

  Although not described in FIG. 2, when a predetermined navigation process is executed in step S204, the load applied to the process may be changed and the navigation process may be executed with priority. The predetermined navigation process may be, for example, a route guidance process or a process of accepting an operation by a user, and the update process may be stopped and the navigation process may be executed.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the load applied to the navigation process can be changed and the data update process can be executed. Therefore, the data update process is appropriately performed even while the navigation process is being executed. be able to.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below. In the present embodiment, an example in which the present invention is implemented by a navigation device mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle (including a four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled vehicle) will be described.

(Hardware configuration of navigation device)
First, the hardware configuration of the navigation apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 3, a navigation device 300 is mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle, and includes a CPU 301, ROM 302, RAM 303, magnetic disk drive 304, magnetic disk 305, optical disk drive 306, optical disk 307, and audio. An I / F (interface) 308, a speaker 309, an input device 310, a video I / F 311, a display 312, a communication I / F 313, a GPS unit 314, and various sensors 315 are provided. Each component 301 to 315 is connected by a bus 320.

  First, the CPU 301 governs overall control of the navigation device 300. The ROM 302 stores various programs such as a boot program, a current location calculation program, a route search program, a route guidance program, a voice generation program, a map information display program, a communication program, a database creation program, and a data analysis program. In the first embodiment, the various programs are recorded in the ROM 302. However, the various programs may be recorded in a recording medium such as a magnetic disk 305 and an optical disk 307 described later. The recorded various programs may be read when the program is started according to the control of the CPU 301. The RAM 303 is used as a work area for the CPU 301.

  Here, the current location calculation program, for example, calculates the current location of the vehicle (the current location of the navigation device 300) based on output information from a GPS unit 314 and various sensors 315 described later.

  Further, the route search program searches for an optimal route from the departure point to the destination point using, for example, map information recorded on a magnetic disk 305 described later. Here, the optimum route is the shortest (or fastest) route to the destination point or the route that best matches the conditions specified by the user. The guidance route searched by executing the route search program is output to the audio I / F 308 and the video I / F 311 via the CPU 301.

  The route guidance program includes guidance route information searched by executing the route search program, vehicle current location information calculated by executing the current location calculation program, and map information read from the magnetic disk 305. Based on the above, real-time route guidance information is generated. The route guidance information generated by executing the route guidance program is output to the audio I / F 308 and the video I / F 311 via the CPU 301.

  The sound generation program generates tone and sound information corresponding to the pattern. That is, based on the route guidance information generated by executing the route guidance program, the virtual sound source corresponding to the guidance point is set and the voice guidance information is generated, and output to the voice I / F 308 via the CPU 301.

  Also, the map information display program determines the display format of the map information displayed on the display 312 by the video I / F 311 and displays the map information on the display 312 according to the determined display format.

  Further, the CPU 301 controls execution of various programs related to the above-described navigation processing when various types of information recorded in the ROM 302 and various types of information recorded in the magnetic disk 305 described later are performed, and loads applied to the navigation processing. May be changed. More specifically, for example, when an instruction to start update processing of various types of information is received, control is performed such that the load applied to map drawing in the navigation processing is reduced and the reduced load is used for the update processing. The load can be reduced by, for example, reducing the number of map drawing updates per unit time to less than the number of map drawing updates before accepting the start instruction, or changing the scale of the map drawing to a reduced scale. Good. Moreover, it is good also as changing the load applied to a navigation process according to the vehicle speed to which a vehicle moves measured by the output value of the various sensors 315 mentioned later.

  The magnetic disk drive 304 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to the magnetic disk 305 according to control of CPU301. The magnetic disk 305 records data written under the control of the magnetic disk drive 304. As the magnetic disk 305, for example, an HD (hard disk) or an FD (flexible disk) can be used.

  As an example of various information recorded on the magnetic disk 305, map information used for route search, route guidance, and the like can be given. The map information includes background data representing features (features) such as buildings, rivers, and the ground surface, and road shape data representing the shape of the road, and can be displayed two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally on the display screen of the display 312. Drawn. When the navigation device 300 is guiding a route, the map information and the current location of the vehicle calculated by the CPU 301 are displayed in an overlapping manner.

  The road shape data further includes traffic condition data. The traffic condition data includes, for example, whether or not there is a signal or a pedestrian crossing, whether or not there is a highway doorway or junction, the length (distance) of each link, road width, direction of travel, road type (highway, Such as toll roads and general roads).

  The traffic condition data stores past traffic information obtained by statistically processing past traffic information based on seasons, days of the week, large holidays, and time. The navigation device 300 obtains information on the currently occurring traffic jam based on road traffic information received by the communication I / F 313, which will be described later, and can predict the traffic jam situation at a specified time based on the past traffic jam information. Become.

  Various information recorded on the magnetic disk 305 is updated by writing update data recorded on the optical disk 307 to be described later under the control of the CPU 301. Various information update processing is performed, for example, when a data update start request from a user is received from an input device 310 to be described later, or when an optical disk 307 in which update data is recorded is attached.

  The optical disk drive 306 controls the reading / writing of the data with respect to the optical disk 307 according to control of CPU301. The optical disc 307 is a detachable recording medium from which data is read according to the control of the optical disc drive 306. As the optical disk 307, a writable recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) can be used. In addition to the optical disk 307, the removable recording medium may be an MO, a memory card, or the like.

  Examples of various information recorded on the optical disc 307 include various programs and data for updating various information recorded on the ROM 302 and the magnetic disk 305. More specifically, when the update data is map information, the contents of the file are composed of header information and a plurality of regional data. The header information includes, for example, a data type, a data version, a file size, and the number of data. Further, the data type may be a data type corresponding to each function of the navigation device 300, for example, for map display, route search, or route guidance.

  In the first embodiment, the update data is recorded on the optical disc 307. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The update data is not recorded only on the recording medium that can be attached to and detached from the navigation device 300, but may be recorded on a server or the like provided outside the navigation device 300. In this case, the navigation device 300 acquires update data via the network through the communication I / F 313, for example. The obtained update data is stored in the RAM 303 or the like and used for updating various programs and map information.

  The audio I / F 308 is connected to a speaker 309 for audio output. The audio is D / A converted in the audio I / F 308, and the audio is output from the speaker 309.

  Examples of the input device 310 include a remote controller having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, and various instructions, a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel.

  The video I / F 311 is connected to the display 312. Specifically, the video I / F 311 includes, for example, a graphic controller that controls the entire display 312, a buffer memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM) that temporarily records image information that can be displayed immediately, and a graphic controller. Based on the output image data, the display 312 is configured by a control IC or the like.

  The display 312 displays icons, cursors, menus, windows, or various data such as characters and images. As this display 312, for example, a CRT, a TFT liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like can be adopted. A plurality of displays 312 may be provided in the vehicle, for example, for the driver and for a passenger seated in the rear seat.

  The communication I / F 313 is connected to a network via wireless and functions as an interface between the navigation device 300 and the CPU 301. The communication I / F 313 is further connected to a communication network such as the Internet via wireless, and also functions as an interface between the communication network and the CPU 301.

  Communication networks include LANs, WANs, public line networks and mobile phone networks. Specifically, the communication I / F 313 includes, for example, an FM tuner, a VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) / beacon receiver, a radio navigation device, and other navigation devices. Get road traffic information such as regulations. VICS is a registered trademark.

  The GPS unit 314 receives radio waves from GPS satellites and calculates information indicating the current location of the vehicle. The output information of the GPS unit 314 is used when the current position of the vehicle is calculated by the CPU 301 together with output values of various sensors 315 described later. The information indicating the current location is information for specifying one point on the map information such as latitude / longitude and altitude.

  The various sensors 315 output information that can determine the position and behavior of the vehicle, such as a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor. The output values of the various sensors 315 are used for the calculation of the current location by the CPU 301, the measurement of the change in speed and direction, and the like.

  Of the functional configuration of the navigation device 100 according to the embodiment, the control unit 101 is based on the CPU 301, the ROM 302, and the RAM 303, the reception unit 102 is based on the optical disk drive 306 and the input device 310, and the detection unit 103 is based on various sensors 315. The function is realized by each.

(Contents of processing of navigation device 300)
Next, the contents of the process of the navigation device 300 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the process performed by the navigation device according to the first embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, first, the input device 310 determines whether or not a data update start request has been received (step S401). As for the input of the start request, for example, the user operates the input device 310 to give an instruction to start reading update data recorded on the optical disc 307. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a data update start request is received when an optical disk 307 in which update data is recorded is attached.

  If the data update start request is not accepted in step S401 (step S401: No), the process proceeds to step S406 to continue the processing. If a data update start request is accepted in step S401 (step S401: Yes), the CPU 301 suppresses the map drawing process (step S402). For example, the map drawing processing is suppressed by controlling the execution of the map information display program by the CPU 301 to reduce the number of map drawing updates per unit time from the number of map drawing updates before accepting the start instruction, To a scale that can reduce the amount of data required. Further, the load applied to the navigation process may be changed according to the vehicle speed at which the vehicle moves, which is measured by the output values of the various sensors 315. The outline will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  Then, the CPU 301 executes data update processing of various programs recorded in the ROM 302 and various information recorded in the magnetic disk 305 (step S403). In the data update process, for example, the optical disk drive 306 is controlled, the update data is read from the optical disk 307 in which the update data is recorded, and various programs and various information are updated. Further, the update data may be acquired from the external server of the navigation device 300 via the communication I / F 313.

  Subsequently, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the data update is completed by the data update process executed in step S403 (step S404). The end of the data update is, for example, whether the various programs and map information recorded in the ROM 302 and the magnetic disk 305 have been updated, or whether the update of the map information within a predetermined range around the vehicle position has been completed. It is good also as judging.

  In step S404, when the data update is not completed (step S404: No), the process returns to step S403 and the process is repeated. In step S404, when the data update is completed (step S404: Yes), the CPU 301 releases the suppression of the map drawing process performed in step S402 (step S405). And CPU301 performs a normal navigation process (step S406), returns to step S401, and continues a navigation process.

  In the description of the flowchart of FIG. 4, in step S <b> 402, the map drawing process is suppressed and the data update process is performed. More specifically, for example, the CPU 301 may suppress execution of a program related to navigation processing such as a route search program, a route guidance program, and a voice generation program. Further, in step S405, the map drawing process is canceled and the normal navigation process is performed. However, the navigation process may be performed without releasing the suppression, and the map drawing process is necessary. Alternatively, the suppression may be released.

  Next, a processing control load in the CPU 301 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a processing control load in the CPU according to the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 5, the processing control load in the normal state 501 in the CPU 301 includes a navigation basic process 502 and a map drawing process 503 at a process control load factor 520 of 0% to 100%. The navigation basic process 502 is, for example, route guidance by the various programs described above, detection of the vehicle position, and the like. Further, the map drawing process 503 shows a plurality of loads for one map drawing, and displays map information of a plurality of frame images on the display 312 according to the movement of the vehicle.

  Further, the processing control load of the data update state 511 in the CPU 301 includes a navigation basic process 512, a map drawing process 513, and a data update process 514 at a process control load factor 520 of 0% to 100%. . The navigation basic process 512 is, for example, route guidance by the various programs described above, detection of the vehicle position, and the like. The map drawing process 513 indicates a plurality of loads for one map drawing, and the number of times is smaller than that of the map drawing process 503 in the normal state 501 according to the control of the CPU 301. The data update process 514 is, for example, a process for reading / writing update data, expanding a compressed file, checking a file, and the like.

  Here, in the data update state 511, since the normal navigation process and the data update process are operated in a coordinated manner, the number of map drawing processes 503 with a high processing control load factor 520 of the CPU 301 in the normal state 501 is suppressed. Then, the suppressed load on the map drawing process 503 is used in the data update process 514 to perform the process together with the suppressed map drawing process 513.

  In the description of FIG. 5, the number of map drawing processes 503 is reduced to be the map drawing process 513, but the configuration may be configured to reduce the processing load per time. More specifically, for example, the scale is changed to a scale that can reduce the amount of data required for map drawing.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 5, when the number of map drawing processes 503 is suppressed, an error in the vehicle position displayed on the display 312 may increase depending on the amount of movement of the vehicle position. In other words, if the number of map drawing times is small, the vehicle position update interval is extended, and the vehicle position accuracy may appear poor. The first embodiment may have a function of changing the map scale in the map drawing process 513 according to the vehicle speed at which the vehicle moves, which is measured by the output values of the various sensors 315.

  Next, the change of the map scale according to the vehicle speed according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the change of the map scale according to the vehicle speed according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, a graph 600 showing the relationship between the vehicle speed and the map scale has a map scale on the horizontal axis 602 and a vehicle speed on the vertical axis 601. The map scale indicates the scale of the map displayed on the display 312 and is, for example, the distance on the map per unit length on the display 312. The vehicle speed is a moving speed of the vehicle measured from output values of various sensors 315.

  The graph 600 includes a map scale unusable area 604 and a map scale unusable area 605 associated with the map scale and the vehicle speed, and the map scale unusable area 604 and the map scale use. The possible area 605 is divided by a boundary 603. The map scale unusable area 604 is an area that is not practical because the vehicle position update interval is long with respect to the vehicle speed in the map scale unusable area 604, for example. On the other hand, the map scale usable area 605 is an area in which the own vehicle position update interval is appropriate even if the vehicle speed is in the map scale usable area 605.

  More specifically, for example, when accelerating at a map scale of 50 m, a map scale unusable area 604 is obtained when the speed is higher than the point 606 on the boundary 603. Therefore, the map scale is changed to 100 m in the direction of arrow 608. In addition, in the map scale 100m, when it becomes the speed of the point 607 or more on the boundary 603, it is good also as changing a map scale further. Similarly, when the vehicle speed is decelerated, the map scale may be changed from 100 m to 50 m. Further, a map scale that can be displayed may be displayed together with the map according to the vehicle speed.

  In the description of FIG. 6, the map scale is changed according to the vehicle speed. However, a configuration in which map drawing below a predetermined specific scale is not performed, or a city map drawing is not performed. In addition, when performing map drawing at a specific scale or less, the map drawing suppression process may be temporarily canceled, or the map drawing suppression process may be resumed by automatically returning to the specific scale due to a timeout or the like. Furthermore, when performing map drawing below a specific scale, it is good also as notifying a user that the own vehicle position update interval becomes long. The notification to the user may be made by voice or display, and in that case, the estimated end time of the data update process may be notified together.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when updating the map information and various programs, the load applied to the map drawing process in the navigation process is suppressed, and the data using the suppressed load is used. Since the update process can be performed, the navigation process and the update process can be coordinated.

  Moreover, since the scale of map drawing can be changed according to the moving speed of the vehicle, the display of the vehicle position in the navigation process can be optimized even if the vehicle position update interval becomes long.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, when the navigation apparatus 300 described in the first embodiment is used and the predetermined navigation process is performed even during the data update process, the navigation process is preferentially executed. I will explain. Here, the priority of the navigation process may be configured to include the case where the update process is temporarily stopped and the navigation process is performed by reducing the load of the update process. The hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in FIG.

(Contents of processing of navigation device 300)
The content of the process of the navigation apparatus 300 concerning the present Example 2 is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the process performed by the navigation device according to the second embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 7, first, the input device 310 determines whether or not a data update start request has been accepted (step S701). As for the input of the start request, for example, the user operates the input device 310 to give an instruction to start reading update data recorded on the optical disc 307. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a data update start request is received when an optical disk 307 in which update data is recorded is attached.

  In step S701, when a data update start request is not accepted (step S701: No), the process proceeds to step S709 to continue the processing. If a data update start request is received in step S701 (step S701: Yes), the CPU 301 suppresses the map drawing process (step S702). For example, as described above with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the map drawing process is suppressed by controlling the execution of the map information display program by the CPU 301 to determine the number of updates of map drawing per unit time before accepting the start instruction. The scale is reduced to less than the number of updates of drawing, or the scale is reduced to reduce the amount of data required for map drawing. Moreover, it is good also as changing the load applied to a navigation process according to the vehicle speed to which a vehicle moves measured by the output value of various sensors 315. FIG.

  Then, the CPU 301 executes data update processing of various programs recorded in the ROM 302 and various information recorded in the magnetic disk 305 (step S703). In the data update process, for example, the optical disk drive 306 is controlled, the update data is read from the optical disk 307 in which the update data is recorded, and various programs and various information are updated. Further, the update data may be acquired from the external server of the navigation device 300 via the communication I / F 313.

  Next, it is determined whether or not an input of a user operation related to navigation processing has been received by the input device 310 (step S704). The user operation related to the navigation process may be, for example, an input of a destination point or a request for detailed map display. Further, in step S704, it is configured to determine whether or not an input of a user operation has been accepted, but it may be configured to determine whether or not execution of a predetermined navigation process has been accepted. The predetermined navigation processing may be route guidance, voice guidance, or the like, and is navigation processing that is performed with priority over data update processing.

  In step S704, when the input of a user operation is received (step S704: Yes), the suppression of the map drawing process performed in step S702 is temporarily cancelled (step S705). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the input of the user operation has been completed by the input device 310 (step S706).

  In step S706, when the input of the user operation is completed (step S706: Yes), the process returns to step S702 and the process is repeated. In step S706, if the user operation does not end (step S706: No), the process returns to step S705 to continue temporarily canceling the suppression of the map drawing process. In other words, from step S704 to step S706, the suppression of the map drawing process is temporarily canceled until the input of the user operation is completed. When the input of the user operation is completed, the process returns to step S702 to suppress the map drawing process. Will be resumed.

  If no user operation input is received in step S704 (step S704: No), the CPU 301 determines whether the data update is completed by the data update process executed in step S703. (Step S707). The end of the data update is, for example, whether the various programs and map information recorded in the ROM 302 and the magnetic disk 305 have been updated, or whether the update of the map information within a predetermined range around the vehicle position has been completed. It is good also as judging.

  In step S707, when the data update is not completed (step S707: No), the process returns to step S703 and the process is repeated. In step S707, when the data update is completed (step S707: Yes), the CPU 301 releases the suppression of the map drawing process performed in step S702 (step S708). Then, the CPU 301 executes normal navigation processing (step S709), returns to step S401, and continues navigation processing.

  In the description of the flowchart of FIG. 7, in step S702, the map drawing process is suppressed and the data update process is performed. However, a configuration for suppressing the navigation process may be used. More specifically, for example, the CPU 301 may suppress execution of a program related to navigation processing such as a route search program, a route guidance program, and a voice generation program.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the load applied to the map drawing process in the navigation process is suppressed, and the user operation and the predetermined navigation process are performed even when the map information and various programs are updated. In this case, it is possible to cancel the load suppression and execute the navigation process. Therefore, since the update process is executed by selectively changing the load of the navigation process, the execution of the navigation process can be optimized.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the load applied to the navigation process can be changed and the data update process can be executed, the data update process can be appropriately performed even while the navigation process is being executed. it can.

  In addition, when updating map information and various programs, the load on the map drawing process in the navigation process can be suppressed, and the data update process can be performed using the suppressed load. The update process can be coordinated.

  In addition, since the map drawing scale can be changed according to the moving speed of the vehicle, the display of the vehicle position in the navigation process can be optimized even if the vehicle position update interval becomes long. .

  The processing control method described in the present embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a functional structure of the navigation apparatus concerning this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the process of the navigation apparatus concerning this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the navigation apparatus concerning the present Example 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the process of the navigation apparatus concerning the present Example 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the load of the process control in CPU concerning the present Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing shown about the change of the map scale according to the vehicle speed concerning the present Example 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the process of the navigation apparatus concerning the present Example 2.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Navigation apparatus 101 Control part 102 Reception part 103 Detection part

Claims (9)

A navigation device comprising control means for executing navigation processing using data stored in a storage device and updating processing of data stored in the storage device,
Comprising a receiving means for receiving an instruction to start updating the data stored in the storage device;
When the control unit receives an instruction to start the update process during the execution of the navigation process, the control unit changes the load applied to the navigation process and executes the navigation process and the update process. Navigation device. Comprising a detecting means for detecting a moving speed of a moving body equipped with the navigation device;
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes a load applied to the navigation processing according to the moving speed.   The said control means reduces the load applied to the map drawing in the said navigation process, and uses the reduced load part for the said update process, when the start instruction | indication of the said update process is received. Navigation device.   The control means, when receiving an instruction to start the update process, reduces the number of updates of the map drawing per unit time from the number of updates of the map drawing before receiving the start instruction. Item 4. The navigation device according to Item 3.   The navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit changes the data amount for the map drawing to a reduced scale when receiving an instruction to start the update process.   The control means, when executing a predetermined navigation process during the execution of the navigation process and the update process, changes the load applied to the process and prioritizes the navigation process. The navigation device according to any one of 1 to 5. A processing control method in a navigation device for executing navigation processing using data stored in a storage device and updating processing of data stored in the storage device,
An accepting step of accepting an instruction to start update processing of data stored in the storage device;
A control step of executing the navigation process and the update process by changing a load applied to the navigation process when an instruction to start the update process is received during the execution of the navigation process;
A process control method characterized by comprising:   A processing control program for causing a computer to execute the processing control method according to claim 7.   9. A computer-readable recording medium on which the processing control program according to claim 8 is recorded.

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