JP2005099279A - Map display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a map display device which is easily used when retrieving a destination located along a road by moving a cursor and scrolling a map along the road. <P>SOLUTION: When the map display device is in a "retrieval by facility name" mode, a "retrieval by phone number' mode, or a "specific point designation" mode which is the sub-mode of a "retrieval by inputting detailed address" mode in retrieving a destination, a cursor for displaying a target point when a map is displayed is in a linear moving mode wherein the cursor linearly moves in the direction of the input of an operator. Further, the map display device is provided with a "continuous landmark designation" mode and when, in this mode, the name of a road or other continuous landmark is inputted under the sub-mode of "retrieval by the name of crossing", "retrieval by the name of road", or "retrieval by the name of other continuous landmark", the cursor is displayed on the road or on the designated other continuous landmark and is in a following moving mode wherein the cursor moves in the direction near the input of the operator along the road or the other continuous landmark. As a result, even when the operator does not know the accurate position, the destination can be retrieved along the road or the other continuous landmark serving as a mark on the map. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a map display device that displays a map on a display screen.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a map display device that receives radio waves from an artificial satellite or the like in a car navigation system, measures a position, and displays it on a display. This map display device has made it possible to reliably reach the destination even on an unknown land.
This map display device receives a radio wave from an artificial satellite or the like and calculates a current position, a map / road from a storage medium (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, IC card, hard disk, etc.) storing map data. It is composed of a reading device for reading information, a display such as a liquid crystal display device, an operation unit, and a CPU that performs route search according to control of map display and input from the operator.
A map is displayed on the display screen, and the display area automatically changes as the current position moves.

When setting the route from the current position to the destination, for example, the cursor is set to the position of the destination on the map displayed on the display. At that time, it is necessary to change the display area by moving the cursor displayed on the map or scrolling the map.
A joystick or the like is used as an input means for moving the cursor on the displayed map, or for scrolling the map to move the map display area so that the cursor position falls within the map display area.
In the conventional technology so far, regardless of the road path displayed on the display screen, the cursor is moved linearly only in the direction in which the joystick is pushed down, or the map is drawn in the direction opposite to the direction in which the joystick is pushed down. It was something to scroll. For this reason, when searching for a facility along the road on the map, it is necessary to frequently change the direction of cursor movement or the direction of scrolling the map along the road route, which is troublesome for the operator.

Also, (1) if a route from the current position to the destination has already been set, the map is scrolled along the route by pressing the front road direction scroll key and the road rear direction scroll key of the route. Function (2) When the current position point on the road is set, it is determined whether the attribute of the road is a national road or an expressway. A function of scrolling a map along a national highway or a highway by pressing is also proposed (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-128204

However, if you know the name of a continuous landmark, such as any road, railway, river, canal, coast, lake shore, etc. that faces or is near a target point, It was not possible to search the destination by moving the cursor shown or scrolling the map.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention searches for a destination using a route setting in a car navigation system or a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer) and displays a map near the destination. It is an object of the present invention to provide a map display device that makes it easier to search a destination by performing map scrolling more easily when printing a map or searching for information around a destination.

  Therefore, the present invention provides storage means for storing map information, reading means for reading map information from the storage means, a display for displaying a map based on the map information read by the reading means, and a display displayed by the display Cursor position setting means for setting an initial position of a cursor indicating a point of interest on the map screen, a movement direction input switch for an operator to input the movement direction of the cursor, and a cursor for moving the cursor according to the movement direction input switch In a map display device equipped with a moving means, the cursor position setting means designates a specific continuous landmark from among a specific place designation mode in which a specific point is designated and a continuous landmark in order to set the initial position of the cursor. A continuous landmark designation mode, and the cursor moving means is a map in the specific point designation mode. Moves the cursor on the surface linearly in the direction input from the movement direction input switch, and when in the continuous target designation mode, moves the cursor on the map screen along the designated continuous target to the movement direction input switch. It is assumed that the robot moves in a direction close to the direction input from.

By selecting the specific point designation mode or the specific continuous landmark designation mode according to the present invention, (1) a cursor indicating the point of interest on the displayed map screen is linearly displayed in an arbitrary direction input by the operator. You can move or scroll the map linearly in any direction you want to see entered by the operator, and (2) a direction close to the direction entered by the operator along the specified continuous landmark In addition, the cursor can be moved and the map can be scrolled in the direction that the operator wants to see.
As a result, the destination is not accurately known. For example, when the target road is known and the target point near the road is searched directly on the map, the map is along the target road. In order to display, the trouble of repeating the linear scrolling of the map over and over again is eliminated.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a car navigation system according to the present embodiment.
In this car navigation system, a hard disk unit 1, an input unit 2, a GPS unit 5, a RAM 6, a ROM 7, and a graphic controller 8 are connected to a CPU 4, and a video RAM (shown as VRAM in FIG. 1) is connected to the graphic controller 8. (Hereinafter referred to as VRAM) 9 and display 10 are connected.

The hard disk unit 1
(1) Map image information (hereinafter referred to as map information)
(2) Road data such as road names and intersection names (3) Name data of continuous ground targets such as railways, rivers, canals, coasts and lake shores other than roads (hereinafter referred to as the above continuous ground data including roads) (The target is referred to as “continuous landmark”, and the above-mentioned continuous ground target other than the road is referred to as “other continuous landmark”.)
(4) Detailed location data of the location (prefecture name, county name, street name, etc.)
(5) Data relating map information and point data (longitude / latitude information of the point) (6) Data relating phone number and point data (7) Data relating facility name and point data (8) Road Data that relates data to map information (9) Data that associates name data of other continuous landmarks with map information (10) Data that associates detailed location data of points with map information is stored in a readable manner.

The input unit 2 includes various operation switches such as a joystick K1, an enter key K2, and a cancel key K3, and outputs a switch signal corresponding to the operation of these switches to the CPU 4.
The joystick K1 is used when moving the cursor to select an item from the menu screen. In addition, when the cursor indicating the point of interest on the map is moved in the up, down, left, and right directions, and when the user wants to view the map in the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted, the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted is displayed. This is used when the map is scrolled in the opposite directions to the up, down, left, and right directions (hereinafter, scrolling to display a map in the desired direction is referred to as “map scrolling”).
The enter key K2 is a switch used when the cursor is moved on the menu screen to select and determine a designated item, or when the map display operation of the car navigation system is advanced to the next step. Here, the determination key K2 can be used for “next press” and “continuous press twice” to advance to the next step.
The cancel key K3 is a switch used to cancel the operation operated by the enter key K2 and return to the previous state.

The GPS unit 5 calculates the latitude / longitude of the current position based on a signal from an unillustrated artificial satellite captured via the antenna, and outputs the result. The latitude / longitude information from the GPS unit 5 is taken into the CPU 4.
The RAM 6 is used as a work memory. The ROM 7 stores programs for various functions such as various menu screens as a navigation system and map display.

The graphic controller 8 temporarily stores the map information read from the hard disk unit 1 by the instruction of the CPU 4 in the VRAM 9, reads the map information from the VRAM 9, converts it into a video signal, and outputs it to the display 10.
The display 10 performs display based on the video signal from the graphic controller 8.

The main control contents of the CPU 4 will be described in more detail.
(A) When the menu is selected, the operator inputs latitude / longitude information of the current position from the GPS unit 5, or the name of an arbitrary point / region on the map or the name of a road / intersection from the input unit 2 , Or after inputting the names of other continuous landmarks, the hard disk unit 1 is accessed, and map information around the current position or a specified point (or a specified area / road / other continuous landmark) and its surrounding map The detailed location data related to, road data, other continuous landmark name data, etc. (the data of (2) to (10) above) are read.
(B) A map display program is read from the ROM 7, and map graphics are developed on the VRAM 9 via the graphic controller 8 while using the RAM 6 as a work memory. Further, the RAM 6 temporarily stores the map information around the current position or the designated point / area / road / other continuous landmarks and the data (2) to (10) related to the surrounding map.

(C) When it is detected that the joystick K1 has been operated, a command for moving the cursor or scrolling the map is output to the graphic controller 8.
At this time, a “linear movement mode” in which the cursor is linearly moved (hereinafter referred to as “linear cursor movement”) and the map is scrolled linearly (hereinafter referred to as “linear scroll”) in the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted. Or “following movement mode” for cursor movement (hereinafter referred to as “following cursor movement”) and map scrolling (hereinafter referred to as “following scroll”) along the designated continuous index. The CPU 4 determines and controls the search mode selected by the operator for the destination search from the menu.
When the joystick K1 is operated in a state where the cursor is in a region within a predetermined distance from the edge of the display screen (hereinafter referred to as “scroll region”), a search is performed based on the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted. Scroll the map according to the mode.
(D) The detailed location data corresponding to the cursor position on the display screen of the display 10, the names of roads, intersections or other continuous landmarks, and the names of roads or other continuous landmarks connected to the points are read out from the RAM 6 and displayed. -Display on the window inserted in the display screen via the controller 8.

Next, the main function of the graphic controller 8 will be described in more detail.
(A) For example, a circle-shaped cursor is imaged at the position of interest on the currently displayed map in accordance with a command from the CPU 4 and output to the display 10.
(B) When a command for following the map and moving the cursor from the CPU 4 is received, the cursor on the designated continuous landmark is moved along the continuous landmark in a direction close to the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted and displayed.
(C) When a command for following / scrolling the map is received from the CPU 4, a map display area in which the current cursor position on the designated continuous landmark is located at the center of the screen is obtained by calculation, and is expanded in advance on the VRAM 9. The corresponding map information is read from the existing map information, converted into a video signal, and output to the display 10.
After following scrolling, the cursor is displayed at the center of the screen. This process is executed every time the following scroll command is received from the CPU 4.

(D) When receiving a command for moving the linear cursor on the map from the CPU 4, the cursor is linearly moved in the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted and displayed.
(E) When receiving a command for linear scrolling from the CPU 4, the map is scrolled linearly from the current map display area on the map in a direction opposite to the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted by a predetermined distance. Are read from the VRAM 9, converted into a video signal, and output to the display 10.
After the linear scroll, the cursor is displayed at a position where the cursor is linearly moved from the position on the map before the map scroll by a predetermined distance shorter than the map scroll distance in the tilted direction of the joystick K1. This process is executed every time a linear scroll command is received from the CPU 4.

Next, a description will be given of a flow in which a map is displayed according to the destination search menu, the operator finds or confirms the destination on the map, and the destination is set and registered.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a destination search menu.
In the destination search menu, you can search for a destination value by specifying a facility name, search for a destination value by entering a phone number, or search for a destination by entering a phone number, or search for a destination by entering a detailed address. “Detailed address input search” is a “specific point designation mode” consisting of three sub-modes, “intersection name search” is used to search for a destination along the road by specifying the name of the intersection, and the name of the road is specified. Search for destinations along roads, search for road names, specify names of other continuous landmarks such as railways, rivers, canals, coasts, lake shores, etc., and search for destinations along the continuous landmarks. There is a “continuous landmark designation mode” consisting of three sub-modes of “name search”.

When the operator selects the specific point designation mode, when the operator operates the joystick K1 after the map is displayed, the cursor moves linearly in accordance with the operation, and the “linear movement mode” in which the map linearly scrolls is set.
When the operator selects the continuous landmark designation mode, when the operator operates the joystick K1 after the map is displayed, the cursor moves along the road or other continuous landmarks according to the operation, and the map moves along the road or others. “Following movement mode” that scrolls along the continuous landmark.

Next, the flow of destination search and setting registration in each search submode will be described. This flow is basically control by the program of the CPU 4 corresponding to the operation from the input unit 2 by the operator's joystick K1 and the enter key K2.
3 to 13 show flowcharts of destination search control.
First, it is determined which destination search mode the operator has selected.
In step 101, the CPU 4 confirms that the operator has designated the destination search menu by operating the input unit 2, and opens the destination search menu screen on the display 10.
In step 102, it is determined whether or not the “facility name search” sub-mode has been selected. If selected, the process proceeds to step 201, and if not, the process proceeds to step 103.
In step 103, it is determined whether or not the “telephone number search” submode is selected. If selected, the process proceeds to step 203, and if not, the process proceeds to step 104.
In step 104, it is determined whether or not the “detailed address input search” submode is selected. If selected, the process proceeds to step 204, and if not, the process proceeds to step 105.
In step 105, it is determined whether or not the “continuous landmark designation” mode is selected. If selected, the process proceeds to step 301, and if not, the process returns to step 102.

If it is determined in step 102 that the “facility name search” sub-mode has been selected, a menu screen for selecting a region is first displayed in step 201. The operator operates the joystick K1, designates the area including the target facility from the displayed area menu list, and selects and determines the area by pressing the enter key K2 in that state.
The CPU 4 reads the map information (1) of the selected area and the data (2) to (10) from the hard disk unit 1 and temporarily stores them in the VRAM 9 and the RAM 6, respectively, and searches for the facility name.
In step 202, first, a menu screen displaying a list of facility names in the selected area is displayed. The operator selects and determines the facility by designating the target facility name with the joystick K1 and pressing the enter key K2 in that state. The CPU 4 reads the spot data from the data relating the name of the facility and the spot data, and sets an area for map display. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 205.
In addition, the selection decision by the menu in steps 201 and 202 is hierarchical, and the operator narrows down to a narrower region and type of facility through menu selection decision of several stages from the display screen, and then selects the target facility name. A menu screen is displayed and selected, and the setting of the specific point is completed.

  If it is determined in step 103 that the “telephone number search” sub-mode is selected, first, in step 203, for example, a numeric keypad and hyphen (−) selection menu window and a window for displaying the input number are displayed. Is done. The operator operates the joystick K1 and the enter key K2, selects the number displayed in the selection window, and inputs the telephone number from the area code. Based on the input telephone number, the CPU 4 searches for data relating the telephone number and the point data, and sets an area for map display. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 205.

  If it is determined in step 104 that the “detailed address input search” submode has been selected, in step 204, a menu screen for inputting a detailed address is first displayed. When the operator operates the joystick K1 and the decision key K2 and interactively selects, for example, at the prefectural level, the next is the selection of the county, city level, and the next lower level. Select and advance to the level, and finally select and enter the address and number level on the numeric keypad and hyphen (-) selection small screen. The CPU 4 searches the map area from the data relating the detailed location data of the spot and the map information, and sets the display area. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 205.

In step 205, the CPU 4 causes the graphic controller 8 to move the cursor to the designated point and display a map so that the position becomes the center position of the display screen. At this time, the cursor movement and the map scroll are in the linear movement mode.
In step 206, the operator places the cursor on the destination and presses the decision key K2 twice, for example, to decide the destination. The CPU 4 registers the point on the map as a destination, and displays “Destination registration complete” on the window.

When the operator moves the cursor to the destination, the cursor moves linearly in the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted, and when the cursor enters the scroll area, the map corresponds to the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted. Then, a predetermined amount of line scrolls in the opposite direction to display the map. The cursor is displayed at a position moved in a direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted by a predetermined amount from the position before the map is scrolled, and the cursor starts linear movement again in accordance with the operation of the joystick K1 by the operator.
In this way, the operator can move the cursor to the destination by operating the joystick K1.

Next, a case where the continuous landmark designation mode is selected in step 105 will be described.
First, in step 301, the area selection menu screen is displayed as in step 201. The operator operates the joystick K1 to designate a region to be searched for a continuous landmark from the displayed menu list of the region, and selects the region by pressing the decision key K2 in that state. In response to this, the CPU 4 sets an area for searching for continuous landmark names.
In step 302, first of all, in the sub-modes “intersection name search”, “road name search”, and “other continuous target name search” for selecting and inputting a continuous target on the map by placing the cursor on the map. A menu screen for selecting whether to select is displayed. When the operator selects and decides which one, the CPU 4 checks which sub-mode is selected. When the cursor is set on the map and a continuous landmark is selected, the process proceeds to step 601. If the name of the continuous landmark is designated and input, the process proceeds to step 303.

In step 303, it is checked whether or not the “intersection name search” sub-mode has been selected. If this sub mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 401.
If the “intersection name search” submode is not selected, the process proceeds to step 304 to check whether the “road name search” submode is selected. If the “road name search” submode is selected, the process proceeds to step 421.
If the “road name search” submode is not selected, the process proceeds to step 305 to check whether the “search for other continuous landmark names” submode is selected. If this sub mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 501; otherwise, the process returns to the first step 101.

If it is detected in step 303 that the “intersection name search” sub-mode is selected, first, in step 401, the intersection names are displayed on the menu screen in the order of, for example, eyewear. When the operator selects and determines an intersection name with the joystick K1 and the determination key K2, a map display area including the intersection is set from data relating road data and map information.
In step 402, the CPU 4 positions the selected intersection in the center of the display screen and displays the map. The cursor is displayed on the intersection. After step 402, the process proceeds to step 403.
In step 403, the name of the road connected to the intersection or road name boundary is read. Here, the road name boundary is referred to as a road name boundary when the name of the road changes even in the case of a continuous single road.

In step 404, the name of the road to be connected and the direction read in step 403 are displayed as character information in the window displayed at the corner of the map display screen.
In step 405, when a road to be searched for has already been selected along with it, it is determined whether or not the road to be moved to the following cursor is changed to another road connected to this intersection (or road name boundary) position. The determination is made based on whether the operator has pressed the determination key K2 once. As the operation manual, “1) Press the enter key K2 and then specify a new road with the joystick K1 and 2) Follow the road currently specified by operating the joystick K1” are displayed in the window.
Here, since the road has not been specified yet only by designating the intersection, the operator follows the instruction of 1).

In step 406, it is determined that a road extending from the intersection in a direction close to the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted from the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted is selected. That is, only by selecting and determining the name of the intersection, it is unclear as to which of the plurality of roads connected to the intersection is along the road search. Therefore, after the determination key K2 is pressed, the road selected in the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted is determined. At this time, even if the joystick K1 is not tilted accurately in the road connection direction on the map, it is determined that a road having a connection direction close to the tilted direction has been selected.
In addition, even in the case of a road name boundary where the name of the road changes on the way even in the case of a single road, the road is still selected there. After step 406, the process proceeds to step 407.

In step 407, from the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted, the direction along the road close to that direction is determined to be the direction for searching the map by moving the cursor and scrolling the map. After step 407, the process proceeds to step 408.
In step 408, the cursor is moved in the direction determined in step 407 along the designated road.
In step 409, the detailed place name corresponding to the position of the cursor is read from the RAM 6 and displayed in the window together with the road name determined in step 406 described above.

In step 410, it is checked whether or not the joystick K1 is continuously tilted. When the operation of the joystick K1 continues, the process proceeds to step 411, and when not operated, the process proceeds to step 414.
In step 411, it is checked whether or not the same road as the name of the road selected in steps 405 and 406 continues at the road position where the cursor is currently located. If the same road continues, the process proceeds to Step 412; otherwise, the process proceeds to Step 414.
In step 412, it is checked whether the cursor has entered the scroll area. If the cursor position enters the scroll area, the process proceeds to step 413. If not, the process returns to step 408.

In step 413, the map display area is moved, that is, the map is scrolled so that the current cursor position is located at the center of the screen, and then the process returns to step 408.
Here, even if the direction of the current road and the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted are not the same, the cursor moves along the road in the direction determined in step 407.
When the process proceeds to step 414 after step 410 or step 411, the cursor movement or the map scroll is stopped. When stopping while the cursor is moving, the cursor position when the operation of the joystick K1 is stopped is displayed on the map. When the operation of the joystick K1 is stopped during the map scrolling, the map scrolling is ended and the map is displayed with the cursor positioned at the center of the display screen.
In step 415, it is checked whether the operator has pressed the enter key K2 twice in succession. If the operator presses the enter key K2 twice in a row, the process proceeds to step 417, where the following movement mode is switched to the linear movement mode. The window displays “Linear movement mode” and “Destination can be set”.

In step 418, the operator operates the joystick K1 to move the cursor to the destination, and then presses the enter key K2 twice to determine the destination. The CPU 4 registers the point on the map as a destination, and displays “Destination registration complete” on the window.
Note that the operator moves the cursor in the “linear movement mode” in the same manner as in step 206. In this step, if the enter key K2 is not pressed or is pressed only once, the “destination can be set” state continues.
If it is determined in step 415 that the enter key K2 is not pressed twice continuously, the process proceeds to step 416. In step 416, if it is an intersection or road name boundary, the process returns to step 403, and if it is not an intersection or road name boundary, the process returns to step 407.
In step 415, the operation of pressing the enter key K2 once when the cursor is not located at the intersection or the road name boundary is ignored, and the process proceeds to step 416 and returns to step 407. If it is determined in step 415 that the enter key K2 is pressed only once when the cursor is at an intersection or a road name boundary, the process proceeds to step 416, and the process returns to step 403, where the currently connected connected item is selected in step 405. It is determined that the road is changed to another road.

As described above, when the “intersection name search” submode is selected, the road in the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted from the intersection is selected, and the cursor is moved along the road in a direction close to the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted. As long as the joystick K1 is continuously operated, the following movement of the cursor continues along the road in the first determined direction, and the following movement of the cursor is continued regardless of the direction of the road bending and the direction in which the joystick is defeated. .
However, once the joystick K1 is returned to neutral and the operation is started again, the direction of searching along the road is determined again in step 407, and the cursor is followed along the road in a direction closer to the operated direction of the joystick K1. Ing move.

If it is detected in step 411 that the road name boundary, that is, the road with the selected name is interrupted there and becomes a road with another name, the cursor temporarily stops moving there, and the name of the road connected to the road boundary. And display all connection directions in the window. That is, in this state, the state returns to the state immediately after the intersection name is input. After the operator presses the enter key K2 once and defeats the joystick K1 in a direction close to the direction of the new name road to which it is connected, it is determined that the new name road has been selected and along the new name road. Move the cursor following.
On the other hand, when the joystick K1 is simply tilted in a direction close to the direction of the original road, it is determined that the original road has been selected, the cursor starts to be turned back along the original road, and the map is used as necessary. Scroll. That is, the road is not switched unless the enter key K2 is pressed.

Next, the “road name search” submode will be described. For example, the operator wants to search for “a building near the intersection of Yasukuni Street and Showa Street”.
If it is detected in step 304 that the “road name search” sub-mode has been selected, the process proceeds to step 421, and a road name selection menu is first displayed. When the operator selects a road name, a map area where the road exists is searched from data relating road data and map information.
The operator specifically performs the following operations. In step 421, the road name list included in the region such as the prefecture set in the previous step 301 is designated with the joystick K1 from the menu displaying in order of Iueo, and then selected by pressing the enter key K2. After determining or selecting a narrower region, the user selects from a list of road names in the region region stage.
Here, for example, it is assumed that an area region of “Tokyo 23 wards” is set, a road name list is displayed in step 421, and “Angoku-dori (Chuo-ku)” is selected.

In step 422, a map display start condition is set. When a road name is selected and determined in step 421 and a map area including the road is searched, first, as a menu item of the map display start condition, for example, “start point of the road”, “display selection area of the road” “Boundary”, “Intermediate point of the road in the display selection area”, and the like are displayed. The operator moves the cursor with the joystick K1 and selects and determines, for example, “starting point of the road” with the decision key K2. The CPU 4 causes the graphic controller 8 to calculate a display area with the display start point as the center of the screen.
In step 423, a map according to the display start condition is displayed. At this time, the cursor is aligned with the position of the display start condition of the selected road and displayed so as to be positioned at the center of the display screen. Further, the detailed place name and road name corresponding to the cursor position are displayed as character information in the window.
Here, as shown in FIG. 14, the cursor is positioned at “Asakusabashi Minami intersection” at the starting point of Yasukuni Street in Chuo-ku. The map is displayed with the cursor positioned at the center of the display screen.

In step 424, it is checked whether the cursor position of the display start condition is an intersection or a road name boundary. If it is not an intersection or road boundary, the process proceeds to step 407, and if it is an intersection or road boundary, the process proceeds to step 403. Thereafter, the operator operates the joystick K1 and the enter key K2, and searches by moving the cursor along the road in the same manner as in the “intersection name input search” submode.
The CPU 4 recognizes that it is in the following movement mode, and displays the selected road name on the window.
After this, for example, when the operator tilts the joystick to the left, the cursor is moved in the west direction along Yasukuni Street, and when the cursor enters the scroll area, the map is moved to the east so that the cursor is displayed in the center of the screen. Scroll in the direction.
Detailed point data such as the town name and address of the point where the cursor is located is displayed in the window. In addition, the name of the intersection and the name of the intersecting road are displayed in the window for each intersection.

  Move the cursor to the intersection where Yasukuni-dori and Showa-dori intersect, the name of the intersection "Iwamotocho intersection", the name of the road connected at the intersection and its direction are displayed in the window as "Angoku-dori-east-west, Showa-dori-north-south" The Since the intersection that is the search target of the destination that he / she was looking for is found, the cursor is placed on the “Iwamotocho intersection”, the operation of the joystick K1 is stopped, and the decision key K2 is pressed twice continuously. Thereafter, the mode is switched to the straight line movement mode, the target building near the intersection is searched, the cursor is placed on the road in front of it, and the determination key K2 is pressed twice again to set and register the destination.

Next, the flow when the “search for other continuous landmark names” sub-mode is selected in step 305 will be described.
Here, the road itself is not the search target, and other continuous landmarks such as railways, rivers, canals, coasts, lake shores, etc. are landmarks, and the actual road names are not known, but the names of railway lines and rivers are known. Use this submode when the destination is close to it. As an example of this example, a case of a railway will be described.
First, in step 305, when it is detected that the “search for other continuous landmark names” sub-mode has been selected, in step 501, a menu for selecting the type of the continuous landmark of the landmark is displayed. The operator operates the joystick K1 and the decision key K2 to select and determine the railway line from the types of continuous landmarks. In response to this, the CPU 4 searches for the name of the railway line included in the area set in step 301 from the name data of other continuous landmarks.

In step 502, first, a name list of railway lines searched in the previous step is displayed. The operator selects and determines, for example, the Keihin Tohoku Line. In response to this, the CPU 4 searches the map area where the Keihin Tohoku Line exists from the data relating the name data of other continuous landmarks with the map information.
In step 503, map display start conditions are set. As menu items for the map display start condition, for example, “the start point of the continuous landmark”, “the connection point of the continuous landmark”, “the boundary with the display selection area of the continuous landmark”, “the The “midpoint” is displayed.
Here, the “continuous landmark connection point” refers to a connection station between routes in the case of a railway, a junction in the case of a river, and an intersection in the case of a canal.
The operator moves the cursor with the joystick K1 and selects and determines “the boundary with the display selection area of the continuous landmark” here with the decision key K2. The CPU 4 causes the graphic controller 8 to calculate a display area with the display start point as the center of the screen. Here, it is assumed that the north end of the Keihin Tohoku Line at the Chiyoda Ward boundary is selected as shown in FIG.

In step 504, the map is displayed according to the display start condition. At this time, the cursor is aligned with the position of the relevant condition on the Keihin Tohoku Line and displayed so as to be positioned at the center of the display screen. Further, the detailed place name corresponding to the cursor position and the name of the other continuous landmark “Tetsudo Line: Keihin Tohoku Line” are displayed as character information in the window.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, the cursor is placed on the Keihin Tohoku line slightly north of Akihabara station. The map is displayed with the cursor positioned at the center of the display screen.

In step 505, it is checked whether or not the cursor position of the display start condition is a connection point or name boundary of a railway line (continuous landmark). If it is not a connecting point or name boundary of the railway line, the process proceeds to step 510, and if it is a connecting point or name boundary of the railway line, the process proceeds to step 506.
In step 506, the names of the other railway lines connected to the connection points or name boundaries of the railway lines (continuous landmarks) (names of continuous landmarks of the same type) are read.
In step 507, the names and directions of other railway lines (continuous landmarks) to be connected read in step 506 are displayed on the window as character information.

In step 508, when the railway line to be searched for along that line, Keihin-Tohoku Line (continuous landmark) is already selected, the railway line to which the following cursor moves is set to the position of this connection point (or railway line name boundary). Whether or not to change to another connected railway line (another continuous landmark) is determined by whether or not the operator has pressed the determination key K2 once. In the window, as the operation manual, “1) After pressing the enter key K2,“ specify a new railway line with the joystick K1 ”and“ 2) follow the currently designated railway line with the joystick K1 ”is displayed. .
If the operator depresses the enter key K2 and then tilts the joystick K1 in the direction in which the search is desired along the railway line, the process proceeds to step 509, and if the joystick K1 is simply tilted, the process proceeds to step 510.

In step 509, another direction in a direction close to the direction in which the joystick K1 extending from the connection point of the railway or the name boundary of the railway (the connection point of the continuous landmark or the name boundary of the continuous landmark) is defeated from the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted. It is determined that the railway line (continuous landmark) with the name has been selected.
Even in the case of a single railway, if the name of the railway line changes along the way, the railway line is still selected.
This is a step when searching for a railway line and changing the line at a station connected to another line.
After step 509, the process proceeds to step 510.

In step 510, from the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted, the direction along the railway line (continuous landmark) close to that direction is determined as the direction for searching the map by moving the cursor and scrolling the map. After step 510, the process proceeds to step 511.
In step 511, the cursor is moved in the direction determined in step 510 along the Keihin Tohoku line (continuous landmark). Here, it is assumed that it is moved from Akihabara toward Kanda.
In step 512, the detailed place name corresponding to the position of the cursor is read from the RAM 6, and displayed in the window together with the name of the currently selected railway line (continuous landmark).
In step 513, it is checked whether or not the joystick K1 is continuously defeated. If the operation of the joystick K1 continues, the process proceeds to step 514. If not operated, the process proceeds to step 517.

In step 514, the same route as the railway line selected in steps 508 and 509 (the same continuous landmark as the name of the selected continuous landmark) continues at the railway line (continuous landmark) position where the cursor is currently located. Check if you are doing. If the same railway line continues, the process proceeds to step 515, and if not, the process proceeds to step 517.
In step 515, it is checked whether the cursor has entered the scroll area. If the position of the cursor enters the scroll area, the process proceeds to step 516. If not, the process returns to step 511.
In step 516, after scrolling the map to move the map display area so that the cursor is positioned at the center of the screen, the process returns to step 511.
Here, even if the current direction of the railway line and the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted are not the same, the cursor is moved in the direction of the railway line determined in step 510.

If the process proceeds to step 517 after step 513 or 514, the cursor movement or the map scroll is stopped. The map display state at the time of stopping is the same as that in step 414, and instead of the road, it has only been replaced with another continuous landmark, here the railway line.
In step 518, it is checked whether the operator has pressed the enter key K2 twice in succession. If the operator presses the enter key K2 twice in a row, the process proceeds to step 520, where the following movement mode is switched to the linear movement mode, and “straight line movement mode” and “destination setting possible” are displayed on the window.
In step 521, when the operator sets the display position of the cursor to the destination and presses the enter key K2 twice again, the destination is set, “Destination registration complete” is displayed in the window, and the process is finished. To do.

If the determination key K2 has not been pressed twice in step 518, the process proceeds to step 519, where it is checked whether the stop position of the cursor is a connection point or a name boundary of the selected railway line (continuous landmark). If none of them is found, the process returns to Step 510, and if it is a connection point or name boundary, the process returns to Step 506.
If the determination key K2 is pressed only once in the case of a connection point or name boundary of a railway line (continuous landmark), the flow is specifically the same as described in step 415 above.

As described above, when the “search for other continuous landmark names” sub-mode is selected, the cursor is moved in a direction close to the direction in which the joystick K1 is tilted along the other continuous landmarks selected from the map display starting point. As long as you continue to operate the joystick K1, the cursor will continue to move in the direction along the first determined continuous target, and the cursor will continue to move regardless of the direction of the continuous target and the direction in which the joystick is tilted. It is done.
However, once the joystick K1 is returned to neutral and the operation is started again, the search direction is re-determined in step 510, and in the direction close to the operated direction of the joystick K1 along the other selected continuous landmarks. The cursor moves following.

If in step 514 it is detected that the boundary of the continuous landmark, that is, the continuous landmark of the selected name is interrupted there, becomes a continuous landmark of the same type with another name or ends, then the cursor stops moving once. The names of continuous landmarks of the same type connected to the boundary of the names of continuous landmarks are all displayed on the window along with their directions. That is, in this state, the state returns to the state immediately after the start of other continuous landmark display.
If the operator depresses the enter key K2 once and then tilts the joystick K1 in a direction close to the direction of the connected continuous name of the new name, it is determined that the continuous name of the new name has been selected, and the new name continues. Move the cursor along the landmark and scroll the map.
On the other hand, when the joystick K1 is simply operated in the direction close to the direction of the original continuous target, it is determined that the original continuous target has been selected, and the cursor starts to move along the original continuous target.

Finally, the flow of control when it is confirmed in step 302 that the operator has selected to select a continuous landmark on the map will be described.
After step 302, the process proceeds to step 601 to display a map of the area set in 301. At this time, the cursor movement and the map scroll are set to the linear movement mode.
In step 602, the cursor is moved and the map is scrolled in the linear movement mode in response to the operation of the joystick K1 by the operator.
In step 603, when the operator moves the cursor to a target road or other continuous target for the destination search, the detailed place name, road name or other continuous target name of the point is displayed in the window.

In step 604, the operator presses the enter key K2 in a state where the cursor is positioned on the road or other continuous landmarks to be following. The CPU 4 displays a map with the current cursor position on the selected road or other continuous landmark as the center of the screen. At this time, the continuous target indicated by the cursor is set as the target continuous target to be moved to follow, “following movement along xxx (continuous ground name)” is displayed on the window, and the mode is switched to the following movement mode.
In step 605, it is checked whether a road has been selected. If a road is selected, the process proceeds to step 407. If not, the process proceeds to step 510 on the assumption that another continuous landmark is selected.
The subsequent flow is the same as the control flow in the “road name search” and “other continuous landmark name search” sub-modes described above.

The hard disk unit 1 of the present embodiment constitutes the storage means of the present invention, and the joystick K1 constitutes a movement direction input switch.
Also, steps 201 to 205, steps 301 to 305, steps 401 and 402, steps 421 to 423, and steps 502 to 504 in the flowchart are the reading means of the present invention, steps 205, 402, 422, 423, 503, 504, steps. 604 is a cursor position setting means, step 206, steps 407, 408, 410-414, 418, steps 510, 511, 513-517, 521, and step 602 are cursor movement means, and steps 201-204 are Steps 301 to 305, steps 401, 421, 501 and 502, and steps 601 to 604 constitute a point indicator.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the destination is known almost accurately, “facility name search”, “phone number search”, and “detailed address input search” in “specific point designation mode”. You can select a sub mode and search for a destination on the map in the linear movement mode.
Even if you do not know the detailed place name or address, if you know the name of the road near the destination, the name of the target road, railway, river, canal, coast, lake shore, etc. In the following movement mode by the “intersection name search”, “road name search”, and “other continuous landmark name search” submodes, it is possible to search along the road or along other continuous landmarks.
Therefore, in any case, the destination can be efficiently searched on the map, and the destination registration setting can be easily performed.
In addition, since the sub-modes are provided in the “specific point designation mode” and the “continuous landmark designation mode” as described above, various searches are possible and easy to use. Furthermore, since the name input of a specific point or continuous landmark is a form of selection from a list display, it is convenient in the case of a simple input unit navigation system without a keyboard.

In particular, “road name search” is extremely convenient because the name of the road facing the location is often used for displaying overseas addresses.
Also, when selecting a point along a road with a long total length such as a national road, use the “intersection search” sub-mode, for example, “intersection of national road 246 and national road 16” as shown in FIG. By selecting, the destination can be searched more efficiently.
In addition, in the case of the railway of “Other continuous landmark name search”, when searching for a destination on the map along the route of interest, the cursor moves on the route. Easy to find station.

Further, when the cursor is moved following, if the joystick K1 is tilted in a direction close to the direction in which the road or other continuous landmark extends from the current cursor position, the CPU 4 moves in a direction close to the tilted direction along the continuous landmark. Judge and move the cursor.
Therefore, it becomes a simple device configuration that does not require an additional direction indication input key for continuous landmarks.
Furthermore, until the cursor enters the scroll area, only the cursor is moved, and when entering the scroll area, the map scrolls, and then only the cursor is moved again, so when searching for a destination on the map, characters on the screen Is easy to read, and it is easy to search for destinations along continuous landmarks.

In the above embodiment, the car navigation system has been described as an example. However, the map display device of the present invention is not limited to this, and a personal computer may be used.
In that case, use the mouse instead of the joystick K1, for example, click the command icon in the cursor movement direction and map scroll direction displayed at the top, bottom, left, and right corners of the display screen, and click, and the selection menu displayed on the screen Point to an item and click to select.

It is a figure which shows the structure of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the destination search mode. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is a flowchart of a destination search. It is explanatory drawing of an effect | action of a road name search and a railroad line search. It is a figure explaining the effect in the case of search of long roads, such as a national highway.

Explanation of symbols

1 hard disk unit 2 input unit 4 CPU
5 GPS section 6 RAM
7 ROM
8 Graphic controller 9 Video RAM
10 display

Claims (6)

Storage means for storing map information, reading means for reading map information from the storage means, a display for displaying a map based on the map information read by the reading means, and a map screen displayed by the display Cursor position setting means for setting an initial position of a cursor indicating a point of interest, a movement direction input switch for an operator to input the movement direction of the cursor, and cursor movement means for moving the cursor according to the movement direction input switch In a map display device comprising:
The cursor position setting means includes a specific point designating mode for designating a specific point and a continuous target designating mode for designating a specific continuous target from among the continuous target in order to set the initial position of the cursor;
The cursor moving means is
When in the specific point designation mode, the cursor on the map screen is moved linearly in the direction input from the movement direction input switch,
In the continuous landmark designation mode, the map display is characterized in that a cursor on the map screen is moved in a direction close to the direction input from the movement direction input switch along the designated continuous landmark. apparatus. The cursor moving means is
When in the specific point designation mode, the map is linearly scrolled in a direction opposite to the direction input from the movement direction input switch,
2. In the continuous landmark designation mode, the map is scrolled in a direction close to a direction opposite to a direction input from the movement direction input switch along the designated continuous landmark. The map display device described in 1. The continuous landmark includes a road;
The map display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the continuous landmark designation mode, a road name or an intersection name is displayed in a selectable list. The specific point designation mode is:
A sub-mode that displays a list of facility names or detailed point data, and an operator selects and determines a specific point from among them.
The map display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a sub mode in which a specific point is designated by an operator inputting a telephone number. The map according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the continuous landmark designation mode, a specific continuous landmark can be designated based on the cursor position moved by the movement direction input switch. Display device. The continuous landmark includes at least one of a railway, a river, a canal, a coast, and a lake shore in addition to a road,
The map display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein in the continuous landmark designation mode, a specific continuous landmark can be designated.

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