JP2013161466A - Point designation system in three-dimensional map - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the three-dimensional coordinate of a designated point to be unambiguously specified in a three-dimensional map displayed by using a preliminarily drawn two-dimensional map.SOLUTION: Feature data as a two-dimensional image in which features such as roads and buildings are three-dimensionally displayed is preliminarily prepared, and a hree-dimensional map is displayed on the basis of the data. The feature data is generated not by perspective projection but by a method for projecting a real feature CST2 to a projection plane PL2 by parallel lines laid along a projection direction PRJ or parallel projection. Furthermore, frame data representing shapes individually by buildings and the like is prepared. When a position is designated on the three-dimensional map, a point in accordance with intention of a user can be designated by displaying the frame data of a building or the like corresponding to the position while switching the frame data according to the operation of the user.

Description

  The present invention relates to a point designation system for a user to designate a point on a three-dimensional map that represents a feature three-dimensionally.

  There is a technology that uses a three-dimensional map in which features such as buildings and roads are three-dimensionally displayed for route guidance. A three-dimensional map is usually displayed by a method of rendering by perspective projection using a three-dimensional model representing a three-dimensional shape such as a building. Since the three-dimensional map displays a state close to the scenery that the user visually recognizes, using this for route guidance has an advantage that it is easy to intuitively grasp the current position and the route to be traveled.

On the other hand, the method of displaying a three-dimensional map by perspective projection using a three-dimensional model has a problem that the calculation load is high. As a technique for solving such problems, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying a three-dimensional map by parallel projection.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a three-dimensional map by parallel projection. As shown in FIG. 1A, in the parallel projection, a projection result PI is obtained at the intersection of a predetermined parallel line PRJ passing through each point of the actual feature CST and the projection plane PL.
FIG. 1B is an example of a map drawn by parallel projection. For example, the sides of buildings BLD1, BLD2, and BLD3 are formed of parallel lines. In the parallel projection, unlike the perspective projection, it is not necessary to define the “viewpoint” as long as the parallel line PRJ corresponding to the projection direction is defined. Therefore, there is no need to render according to the user's viewpoint when displaying the 3D map, and the 3D map can be obtained with a light computational load simply by preparing 2D image data obtained by parallel projection in advance. There is an advantage that can be displayed.

JP 2011-186960 A JP 2006-317503 A

However, since there are multiple points corresponding to each point on the map in the 3D map, when using the 3D map for route guidance, if you try to specify the starting point and destination in the 3D map, There exists a subject that the point which the user specified on the map cannot be specified uniquely.
A description will be given by taking the three-dimensional map shown in FIG. In this map, roads RD and buildings BLD4 and BLD5 are three-dimensionally displayed. If the user designates a point Pa in the 3D map, it is not possible to uniquely identify whether the user has designated the building BLD4 or the point on the road RD from this state alone. . Further, if another point Pb is designated, similarly, it cannot be specified whether the user has designated the building BLD4, the building BLD5, or the point on the road RD.
As described above, in the three-dimensional map, there is a problem that the point specified by the user cannot be uniquely specified based on the point specified in the map.

As a method for solving such a problem, Patent Document 2 says that, when an operation for designating a specific point such as a destination is performed during display of a three-dimensional map, the display is switched to a two-dimensional map. Disclose technology. This is because, on a two-dimensional map, a point designated by the user can be uniquely specified based on a point on the map.
However, this method is not a technique for designating a point on a three-dimensional map. If switching to a two-dimensional map is performed to designate a point such as a destination, the advantage of the three-dimensional map that it is easy to grasp the point is lost.

  When rendering a three-dimensional map using a two-dimensional image prepared in advance as in Patent Document 1, instead of rendering when displaying a map, there is a further problem. In the two-dimensional image prepared in advance, the correspondence between each point in the image and the actual feature cannot be specified. For example, in the 3D map shown in FIG. 1C, when the user designates the point Pa or the point Pb, the designated points Pa and Pb and the buildings BLD4 and BLD5 It is also impossible to specify the relationship. As a result, even if the user intends to specify the buildings BLD4 and BLD5, it is very difficult for the navigation device or the like to recognize it in accordance with the user's intention.

The above-described problem is not limited to a three-dimensional map drawn by parallel projection, but is a common problem when displaying a three-dimensional map using a two-dimensional image prepared in advance by some projection method.
The present invention solves such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to specify a point in accordance with the user's intention in a three-dimensional map prepared in advance as a two-dimensional image.

The present invention
A point designation system for inputting designation of a specific point on the basis of a user instruction in a three-dimensional map representing a feature in three dimensions,
Feature data as two-dimensional display data obtained by projecting all of the features onto a plane by a predetermined projection method, and all or part of the features when each of the features is projected onto the plane by the projection method A map database for storing frame data for displaying an object frame representing a shape or presence;
A display control unit that reads the feature data and displays a three-dimensional map;
A command input unit for inputting coordinate values of points designated by the user in the three-dimensional map;
Specify the frame data according to the specified coordinate value, display the object frame based on the frame data, and specify a point corresponding to the frame data as a point specified by the user It can comprise as a point designation system provided with a section.

In the present invention, since the feature data is stored as two-dimensional display data in the map database, it is possible to display a three-dimensional map with a light load without performing rendering at the time of display. However, since this feature data is obtained by projecting all of the features on a plane, features that are shielded by other features at the time of projection are not included. In addition, when a part is shielded, the feature data includes only a part that can be visually recognized without being shielded. Since the feature data is only planar image data, the perspective relationship between the features cannot be specified.
Therefore, the present invention displays frame data corresponding to the point designated by the user. Since the frame data is data representing the shape of the feature, any feature can be displayed even if the point specified by the user is blocked by another feature or the like by displaying it. It can be easily known whether the point is recognized as a point corresponding to.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to designate a spot as intended by the user while using a three-dimensional map that reduces the load during display.

  In the present invention, the feature data may be prepared as two-dimensional display data, and data generated by various projection methods including a perspective projection method can be used. The feature data may be provided in any format of raster data and polygon data. However, although it depends on the resolution, the advantage is that polygon data can usually provide a high-quality map because the overall data volume can be reduced and the image does not become rough when enlarged and displayed. There is.

The object frame represents the shape of the whole or a part of the feature, and the shape is arbitrary, but the user can recognize the feature on which the object frame is displayed on the 3D map. Preferably there is. For example, the object frame may have a general shape such as a shape using all or part of the contour of the feature, or an ellipse including the contour of the feature.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an object frame. FIG. 2A shows the feature OBJ1 that is partially hidden behind the feature OBJ2. As the object frame, for example, the outline F1 of the entire feature OBJ1 can be used. In the present invention, by preparing the frame data capable of displaying the object frame separately from the feature data as described above, the contour F1 can be displayed when the user designates the spot. . FIG. 2 shows an example of an object frame. The object frame can be prepared in various shapes as described above.
The point corresponding to the frame data can also be specified by various methods. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, a method of designating the center of gravity position CG in the shape of the ground surface of the feature OBJ1 may be taken. In addition to the center of gravity CG, any representative point set within the shape of the ground surface may be used. Furthermore, you may use the point which protruded the shape in the ground surface of terrestrial feature OBJ1.

In the point designation system of the present invention,
The projection method may be parallel projection from an oblique direction inclined by a predetermined projection angle with respect to the vertical direction.
In perspective projection, since it is necessary to determine a viewpoint as a reference for projection, it is necessary to prepare feature data for each viewpoint. On the other hand, in parallel projection, since it is not necessary to determine the viewpoint, a single feature data can be used in common regardless of how the map display range is designated. Therefore, the volume of the feature data can be suppressed by using parallel projection. In addition, parallel projection has a characteristic that the scale in the left-right direction and the depth direction is maintained, and thus has an advantage that the function as a map is not impaired.

In the point designation system of the present invention,
The designated point specifying unit switches the point designated by the user between the plurality of points according to a user operation when there are a plurality of points corresponding to the coordinate values, and displays the object frame. It is good also as what switches.
By doing so, the user can easily grasp which point is designated by the display mode. The display mode can be switched by various methods. For example, the object frame of the specified feature may be displayed and the other object frames may be hidden. In the example of FIG. 2, the object frame F1 is displayed when the feature OBJ1 is specified, and the object frame F1 is not displayed when the feature OBJ2 is specified. As another aspect, an object frame corresponding to a specified feature may be displayed in a blinking manner, and other object frames may be displayed in a non-flashing manner. As yet another aspect, the display color of the object frame may be changed between the designated feature and other features.

In the point designation system of the present invention,
The object frame includes a visible frame representing a visible shape drawn on the three-dimensional map of the features, and an invisible frame representing a shape of a portion shielded by other features,
The designated point specifying unit may display the object frame by using a side where a coordinate value designated by a user enters between the visible frame and the invisible frame.
In the example of FIG. 2, among the features OBJ1, the portion F3 shielded by the feature OBJ2 hits the invisible frame, and the other portion F2 hits the visible frame. Thus, by providing an invisible frame and a visible frame and using both separately, there is an advantage that it becomes easy to grasp the perspective relationship of the feature. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, if the invisible frame F3 is displayed for the point designated by the user, the user can easily grasp that the feature OBJ1 exists behind the feature OBJ2. Become.

In the point designation system of the present invention,
The frame data further includes data having a plane frame representing the shape on the ground surface of the feature,
The command input unit inputs a coordinate value representing a point on the ground surface based on the designation of the user,
The specified point specifying unit specifies the plane frame including the coordinate value, displays the plane frame, and specifies a point specified by the user based on a feature corresponding to the plane frame. Also good.
The flat frame representing the shape on the ground surface corresponds to, for example, a frame F4 shown in FIG. By preparing a plane frame in this way, when a user inputs a coordinate value on the ground surface, it is possible to specify which feature is specified based on the plane frame. For input of coordinate values on the ground surface, for example, a method of inputting a point in a planar map instead of a three-dimensional map is provided with an input mode of “designating a point on the ground surface” in the three-dimensional map. In this input mode, a method of inputting any point can be taken. For feature data, even if the coordinates of the ground surface are input, the correspondence between the coordinate value and the feature cannot be specified. However, by preparing a plane frame in this way, the correspondence with the feature can be obtained. It becomes possible to specify the relationship.

In the present invention, each of the above-described features does not necessarily have to be provided. You may make it provide only one part and may apply in combination suitably.
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described aspect as the point designation system, and can be configured in various aspects.

For example, the present invention may be configured not only as a point designation system but also as a frame data generation system that generates frame data used in such a point designation system.
That is, a frame data generation system for generating frame data used in the point designation system of the present invention,
A 3D map database storing a 3D model representing the 3D shape of the feature;
The frame for displaying the object frame based on the projected shape by projecting a feature on which the frame data is to be generated in the 3D map database onto the plane by the predetermined projection method. It is good also as a frame data generation system provided with the frame data generation part which produces | generates data.
The various features described above can also be applied to the configuration as the frame data generation system.
By doing so, the frame data can be easily generated. The frame data can also be prepared in various formats such as polygon data, vector data, and raster data.

In addition, the present invention may be configured as a point specifying method for specifying a point by a computer, or may be configured as a data generation method for generating frame data used in such a point specifying system. You may comprise as a computer program for making a computer perform such a point designation | designated and data generation.
Moreover, you may comprise as a computer-readable recording medium which recorded such a computer program. Recording media include flexible disks, CD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks, IC cards, ROM cartridges, punch cards, printed matter printed with codes such as bar codes, computer internal storage devices (memory such as RAM and ROM), and Various media that can be read by a computer, such as an external storage device, can be used.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the three-dimensional map by perspective projection. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates an object frame. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a point designation | designated system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of feature data. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of feature data. It is explanatory drawing which shows the projection direction of parallel projection. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of frame data. It is a flowchart of a feature data generation process. It is a flowchart of a whole frame data generation process. It is a flowchart of a visible frame data generation process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a production | generation of visible frame data. It is a flowchart of an invisible frame data generation process. It is a flowchart of a plane frame data generation process. It is a flowchart of a map display process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the influence by undulation. It is explanatory drawing which shows the coordinate transformation method in consideration of the undulation. It is a flowchart of a coordinate transformation process. It is a flowchart of a route guidance process. It is a flowchart of a starting point / destination designation process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display mode switching of an object frame. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of an object frame. It is a flowchart of the starting point / destination designation process as a modification.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. Device Configuration B. Feature data structure
B1. Parallel projection data
B2. Multiple projection orientations C.I. Frame data D. Feature data generation processing E. Map display processing Route guidance processing
F1. Overall processing
F2. Coordinate transformation
F3. Current position display processing

A. Device configuration:
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the route guidance system in the embodiment. Based on the map data provided from the server 200 via the network NE2 or the like, a configuration example is shown in which a map is displayed on the navigation device 300 and route guidance is performed. As a terminal for displaying a map, a personal computer, a portable terminal, or the like may be used. Further, the route guidance system may be configured as a system that operates in a stand-alone manner, in addition to a system that includes a terminal such as the navigation device 300 and the server 200.
Among the systems shown in the figure, the navigation device 300 and the server 200 also function as a point designation system for a user to designate a point such as a destination in a three-dimensional map that represents a feature three-dimensionally. .
In the figure, a data generation device 100 that generates three-dimensional map data is also shown.

The navigation device 300 includes various functional blocks that operate under the main control unit 304. In the present embodiment, the main control unit 304 and each functional block are configured by installing software that realizes the respective functions, but part or all of them may be configured by hardware.
The transmission / reception unit 301 communicates with the server 200 via the network NE2. In the present embodiment, transmission / reception of map data and commands for displaying a three-dimensional map is mainly performed.
The command input unit 302 inputs an instruction through a user operation or the like. As an instruction in the present embodiment, a display range of a three-dimensional map, designation of enlargement / reduction, setting of a starting point and a destination when performing route guidance, and the like are listed.
The command input unit 302 is provided with a specified point specifying unit 302A that specifies which point in the three-dimensional space the user has specified based on the point specified by the user in the map displayed on the navigation device 300. ing.
The GPS input unit 303 obtains coordinate values of latitude and longitude based on a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal. In the route guidance, the traveling direction is calculated based on changes in latitude and longitude.
The map information storage unit 305 is a buffer that temporarily stores map data provided from the server 200. When a map to be displayed moves from moment to moment as in route guidance, the map information storage unit 305 receives map data in an insufficient range from the server 200 and displays the map. The entire map data may be stored in advance.
The map matching conversion unit 307 displays the searched route and the current position on the road on the parallel projected three-dimensional map without any deviation when performing route guidance. Necessary coordinate transformations are applied to it. A method of coordinate conversion will be described later.
The display control unit 306 displays a three-dimensional map on the display 300 d of the navigation device 300 based on the data provided from the map information storage unit 305 and the map matching conversion unit 307.

The server 200 includes functional blocks shown in the figure. In the present embodiment, these functional blocks are configured by installing software that realizes the respective functions, but a part or all of the functional blocks may be configured by hardware.
The map database 210 is a database for displaying a three-dimensional map. In this embodiment, map data including feature data 211, character data 212, network data 213, and frame data 214 is stored. The feature data 211 is data for three-dimensionally displaying features such as roads and buildings, and is two-dimensional polygon data obtained by parallel projection of a three-dimensional model of the feature. The character data 212 is data such as characters and names of features to be displayed on the map. The network data 213 is data representing a road as a collection of nodes and links. A node is data corresponding to an intersection of roads or an end point of a road. A link is a line segment connecting nodes, and is data corresponding to a road. In the present embodiment, the positions of nodes and links constituting the network data 213 are determined by three-dimensional data of latitude and longitude and height. The frame data 214 is image data for individually drawing the contour shape of each feature in the three-dimensional map. The frame data 214 can be provided in the form of raster data, vector data, polygon data, or the like.
The transmission / reception unit 201 transmits / receives data to / from the navigation device 300 via the network NE2. In the present embodiment, transmission / reception of map data and commands for displaying a three-dimensional map is mainly performed. The transmission / reception unit 201 also communicates with the data generation device 100 via the network NE1. In the present embodiment, the generated map data is mainly exchanged.
The database management unit 202 controls reading and writing of data from the map database 210.
The route search unit 203 performs route search using the network data 213 in the map database 210. A Dijkstra method or the like can be used for the route search.

The data generation device 100 includes functional blocks shown in the figure. In this embodiment, these functional blocks are configured by installing software that realizes the respective functions in a personal computer, but a part or all of the functional blocks may be configured by hardware.
The transmission / reception unit 105 exchanges data with the server 200 via the network NE1.
The command input unit 101 inputs an operator instruction via a keyboard or the like. In the present embodiment, designation of an area for generating map data, parallel projection parameters, designation of conditions for generating frame data, and the like are included.
The 3D map database 110 is a database that stores 3D map data composed of a three-dimensional model used for generating map data and network data. Electronic features representing a three-dimensional shape are stored for features such as roads and buildings. Conventionally, as the 3D map data, a 3D model provided for displaying a 3D map by perspective projection can be used. The network data can be shared with the network data 213 stored in the server 200.
The parallel projection unit 102 performs display by parallel projection using the 3D map data in the 3D map database 110 to generate feature data as a two-dimensional image. The displayed projection map is stored in the parallel projection data 103 and is stored in the feature data 211 of the map database 210 of the server 200 via the transmission / reception unit 105.
The frame data generation unit 106 performs parallel projection of features individually using the parallel projection unit 102 and generates frame data 214. When the feature data 211 is generated, parallel projection is performed on the entire feature stored in the 3D map data. However, when generating the frame data 214, only a specific feature is targeted. Parallel projection is performed. In this embodiment, the frame data 214 is divided into a visible frame and an invisible frame as will be described later, and the frame data generation unit 106 selects these various frames based on the result of parallel projection of features. The process to generate is also performed. Details of this processing will be described later.

B. Feature data structure:
B1. Parallel projection data:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the feature data. A state is shown in which two-dimensional image data D1 and D2 are obtained from the three-dimensional data D3 by parallel projection. The three-dimensional data D3 is data representing the shape of the building M3 on the plane P3 with three-dimensional coordinates of x, y, and z.
When the building M3 is projected in parallel on the plane P1 in the vertical direction (arrow A1 direction in the figure), the building M3 becomes two-dimensional image data D1 expressed two-dimensionally like a rectangle M1. This corresponds to conventional two-dimensional map data.
On the other hand, in this embodiment, parallel projection is performed on a plane P2 in an oblique direction (in the direction of arrow A2 in the figure) inclined by a predetermined projection angle with respect to the vertical direction. As a result, on the two-dimensional image data D2, a building is displayed three-dimensionally like a building M2. Although the building M2 is expressed three-dimensionally, the two-dimensional image data D2 is only projected two-dimensional display data. In the present embodiment, polygon data for displaying the building M2 is defined by a point sequence such as coordinate values (u1, v1) and (u2, v2) in the uv coordinates in the projection plane. Individual polygon data may be used for the side wall and roof portion of the building M2, or the whole may be used as one polygon data. The window W may be prepared as a texture to be pasted on the wall of the building, that is, raster data, or the window may be prepared as individual polygon data.
The feature data of the present embodiment is constituted by two-dimensional data obtained by projecting each feature by oblique parallel projection in this way. The frame data is also two-dimensional image data generated by the same parallel projection.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the feature data. The data structure will be described using one building BL01 as an example.
On the left side of the figure, the positional relationship of this building BL01 is shown two-dimensionally. The map data is maintained by being divided into meshes M01 and M02. The rectangle in the mesh M01 in which the lower left latitude and longitude are represented by P01 (LAT01, LON01) is the building BL01. The latitude and longitude of the building BL01 is represented by coordinates G (LATb, L0Nb). Here, the case where the building BL01 does not protrude from the mesh M01 is illustrated.

When the building BL01 existing at this position is projected in parallel (arrow CH01), the building BL01 is displayed three-dimensionally as shown by the meshes M03 and M04. In the present embodiment, the lower left latitude / longitude P02 (LAT02, LON02) of the mesh M03 matches P01 of the mesh M01. In the present embodiment, the meshes M03 and M04 are defined so that the latitude and longitude of each vertex coincide with the latitude and longitude of the vertexes of the meshes M01 and M02 on the plane. However, the meshes M03 and M04 on the projection plane can be set independently of the meshes M01 and M02 on the plane.
As a result of the parallel projection, the building BL01 is drawn not only by the portion BL03 in the mesh M03 but also by the portion BL04 in the mesh M04. In the present embodiment, as indicated by arrows CH03 and CH04, among the polygons displaying one building BL01, the part BL03 belonging to the mesh M03 and the part BL04 belonging to the mesh M04 are separated, and each is obtained as separate polygon data. to manage.

The structure of each polygon data is illustrated on the right side of the figure. The data for each polygon stores a name, position, shape, type, character, attribute, and the like.
In this example, the name BL01 of the building was used as the name. Since a common name is assigned to the part BL03 belonging to the mesh M03 and the part BL04 belonging to M04, it is possible to determine that both are polygons for the same building. A name unique to the polygon can also be used as the name. In this case, it is preferable to separately prepare information for associating polygons for the same building.

  The position is the latitude and longitude coordinates (LATb, L0Nb) where the building BL01 exists. The shape is data defining a sequence of points forming a polygon with relative two-dimensional coordinates uv defined in each mesh. Data such as Pb1 (u1, v1) and Pb2 (u2, v2) of the shape data for the part BL03 are values representing the positions of the vertices Pb1 and Pb2 by uv coordinates in the mesh M03. Data such as Pb3 (u3, v3) and Pb4 (u4, v4) of the shape data for the portion BL04 are values representing the positions of the vertices Pb3 and Pb4 in uv coordinates in the mesh M04.

The type stores the type of the feature represented by the polygon. The character is data indicating the name of the feature, but in this embodiment, since the character data is prepared separately from the feature data, the feature data includes data indicating the storage location of the character data (in the figure). LINK) is stored. As data representing the storage destination, a path, address, URL (Uniform Resource Locator), etc. for character data for the building BL01 can be used.
The attribute is additional information for the feature. For example, the height, number of floors for buildings, and the type of lane width, national road, etc. for roads can be used. You may make it store the frame data mentioned later as an attribute.

  In the present embodiment, the feature data is not subjected to parallel projection of the actual building as it is, but is parallel projected after multiplying a coefficient larger than 1 only in the height direction. Users often look up at buildings from below. Therefore, if parallel projection is performed as viewed from above, the height sensation of the building obtained from the projection may not match the height sensation when actually looking up. On the other hand, as described above, if parallel projection is performed on a virtual building that is enlarged only in the height direction, the uncomfortable feeling of height can be alleviated. The coefficient multiplied in the height direction can be arbitrarily set in consideration of visual effects.

B2. Multiple projection orientations:
The parallel projection parameters are a projection angle and a projection direction. The projection angle is a parameter that represents how much the image is projected from the vertical direction. The projection azimuth is a parameter that indicates which azimuth to incline. The feature data can be prepared for a single projection direction, but in this embodiment, it is prepared for a plurality of directions.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the projection direction of parallel projection. As shown in the drawing, in this embodiment, the azimuth is shifted by 45 degrees with respect to one area AR, and parallel projection is performed for each of the eight azimuths from azimuth 1 to azimuth 8, thereby generating feature data. For example, in azimuth 1, a projection projected in parallel when viewed from the north side is obtained, and in azimuth 5, a projection projected in parallel when viewed from the south is obtained. Even a building that had a blind spot in direction 1 will be displayed in a reverse direction with no blind spot in direction 5. If feature data is prepared in multiple directions, even if a blind spot occurs in this way, the geographic location of the blind spot can be confirmed on a map of another orientation. It is possible to alleviate the trouble caused by the occurrence.
In this embodiment, feature data of 8 directions is prepared, but it may be 4 directions, or 16 directions or more. According to the result of the study by the present inventor, if feature data is prepared in 16 directions and the projection maps of each direction are sequentially switched, it is as if the area AR is viewed while circling around the area AR. It has been found that such a display can be realized without a sense of incongruity. From this point of view, it can be said that it is preferable to prepare the feature data for 16 directions.
Frame data is also prepared for the same orientation as the feature data.

C. Frame data:
Hereinafter, the frame data in the present embodiment will be exemplified. In this embodiment, image data for displaying an object frame for each feature is prepared as the frame data. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the frame data.
The map database 210 divides a map into meshes of a predetermined size, and stores and manages data in units of meshes. This mesh may be referred to as a parcel. As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of frame data are prepared for each feature existing in each parcel, and are managed in units of parcels.

The frame data for each feature includes key information, plane frame data, visible frame data, and invisible frame data.
The key information is an ID for specifying the feature to which the frame data is attached.
The plane frame data is data for drawing a plane shape on the ground surface of each feature in the three-dimensional map as in the frame F4 shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the plane frame data includes plane frame coordinates and plane representative point coordinates. The plane frame coordinates are a coordinate sequence of the vertices of the polygon corresponding to the plane frame. The plane representative point coordinates are coordinate values in a representative point three-dimensional space used for representing the position of the feature. The plane representative point coordinates can be arbitrarily set, but in this embodiment, the latitude and longitude of the center of gravity of the plane frame are used.

  The visible frame data and the invisible frame data are prepared for each direction corresponding to the direction (see FIG. 6) for which the feature data is prepared. The visible frame data is data for drawing the shape of a portion that can be viewed from a specific line-of-sight direction like the frame F2 shown in FIG. The invisible frame data is data for drawing the shape of a portion that cannot be viewed from a specific line-of-sight direction like the frame F3 shown in FIG. The visible frame data and the invisible frame data can be a coordinate sequence of vertices of polygons that draw these frames. As the frame data, in addition to the visible frame data and the invisible frame data, data for drawing the entire frame, that is, the frame F1 shown in FIG. 2A may be prepared.

D. Feature data generation processing:
Processing for generating feature data as two-dimensional image data will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the feature data generation process. This is a process executed by the parallel projection unit 102 (see FIG. 3) of the data generation apparatus 100, and is a process executed by the CPU of the data generation apparatus 100 in terms of hardware.
When the process is started, the data generation apparatus 100 inputs a target mesh for generating data and parallel projection parameters, that is, a projection direction and a projection angle (steps S100 and S101). These conditions may be input by the user or may be set in advance.

The data generation device 100 reads 3D map data from the target mesh specified in step S100 and a mesh in a predetermined range around the target mesh (step S102).
Data is also read from the periphery of the target mesh, as shown in meshes M03 and M04 in FIG. 5, when generating feature data by parallel projection, the mesh to be processed is included in the mesh. This is because a part of a feature that does not exist may be projected. By reading data also from the periphery of the target mesh and projecting them in parallel, it is possible to obtain feature data including features existing in other meshes.

  When the data reading is thus completed, the data generation device 100 performs parallel projection based on the parallel projection parameters to generate a two-dimensional image (step S103). Then, an area corresponding to the target mesh is cut out from the polygon data generated by the parallel projection (step S104), and the parallel projection data is stored in the database (step S105).

E. Frame data generation processing:
A process for generating frame data as two-dimensional image data will be described. In the present embodiment, first, the data of the entire frame and the data of the visible frame are generated for each feature, and the data of the invisible frame is generated based on these data. Also, plane frame data is generated independently of these processes. These processes are processes performed in units of features.
Hereinafter, the contents of the data generation process will be described in the order of the entire frame, visible frame, invisible frame, and plane frame. Each processing is executed by the frame data generation unit 106 (see FIG. 3) of the data generation device 100, and is executed by the CPU of the data generation device 100 in terms of hardware.

E1. Whole frame data generation processing:
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the entire frame data generation process.
When starting the processing, the data generation device 100 reads shape data of the feature to be processed from the 3D map database (step S110).
The shape data is projected in parallel for each projection direction (step S111). The parallel projection results are shown in the figure. At this point, the shape data becomes two-dimensional image data drawn three-dimensionally.
The data generation device 100 paints this parallel projection result with a single color (step S112). The result of painting is illustrated in the figure. In this state, the parallel projection data is in a state like a so-called solid image.
The data generation device 100 extracts the outline F that is the outermost shell of the filled shape, and calculates the center-of-gravity position CG (step S113). The contour F thus extracted becomes the entire frame. The calculation of the center of gravity position CG may be omitted.

E2. Visible frame data generation processing:
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the visible frame data generation process.
When starting the processing, the data generation device 100 reads shape data of the object to be processed and the surrounding features from the 3D map database (step S120). An object means three-dimensional shape data representing a feature.
Then, the data generation device paints the surface of each object with a different color (step S121). A filled example is shown in the figure. In this example, the surfaces of the four features O3D1 to O3D4 are filled with different colors. However, the painting in this way is a process for facilitating the extraction of the shape corresponding to the visible frame as will be described later, and therefore it is not always necessary to paint all the objects with different colors. An object to be processed may be painted with a specific color, and all other objects may be painted with the same color as long as they are different colors.
When the filling is completed, the data generation device 100 projects these objects in parallel for each projection direction (step S122).
The data generation device 100 extracts an area having the same color as the color of the object to be processed from the image obtained by parallel projection (step S123). An example of extraction is shown in the figure. Shown in the upper left is the result of parallel projection. Solid images O2D1 to O2D4 are obtained by performing parallel projection on the objects O3D1 to O3D4 shown in step S121. If only the region corresponding to the color of the object O3D4 is extracted from this, the visible frame P4 can be obtained as shown by the arrow O2D4. If only the region corresponding to the color of the object O3D3 is extracted, the visible frame P3 can be obtained as shown by the arrow O2D3.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an example of generating frame data. FIG. 11A shows a state in which the feature data is projected in parallel. FIG. 11B shows a state in which the frame data generation process has been performed. FIG. 11B shows the entire frame of all the features, but the frame data generation processing is performed in units of features.
It can be seen that the features B1 and B2 in FIG. 11A are contours B1a and B2a in FIG. 11B, respectively. In the case of the feature B1, since there is no portion hidden by other features, the contour B1a is the entire frame and at the same time a visible frame. In the case of the feature B2, the lower right part is partially shielded by the other feature B3. This can also be confirmed from FIG. 11 (b) because the outline B2a of the feature B2 and the outline B3a of the feature B3 partially overlap. Therefore, for the feature B2, the visible frame has a shape obtained by removing the overlapping portion with the feature B3 from the entire frame. The shape of the visible frame is obtained by the process described with reference to FIG.

E3. Invisible frame data generation processing:
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of invisible frame data generation processing.
When the process is started, the data generation device 100 reads the entire frame data of the target feature (step S130). The whole frame FA is illustrated in the figure.
Next, the data generation device 100 reads the visible frame data of the target feature (step S131). In the figure, the visible frame FV is illustrated as being filled.
Then, the data generation device 100 sets the invisible frame data by superimposing the entire frame and the visible frame (step S132). As shown in the drawing, the invisible frame can be set by superimposing the visible frame FA on the entire frame FV and extracting a portion FUV not included in the visible frame FA from the entire frame FV. To set the invisible frame, for example, fill the entire frame FV and the visible frame FA with a predetermined color, overwrite the entire frame FV with the visible frame FA in an opaque state, and then extract an area corresponding to the color of the entire frame FV. You can take a method.

E4. Plane frame data generation processing:
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of plane frame data generation processing.
When the process is started, the data generation device 100 reads the planar shape of the target object from the 3D map data (step S140). As shown in the drawing, the shape BP of the ground surface is read for the object OBJ. If polygons corresponding to the shape BP of the ground surface are stored in the 3D map data, the data may be read. If such polygons do not exist, the vertex of the ground surface shape BP is obtained from the 3D map data. Coordinates corresponding to may be input.
The data generation device 100 performs parallel projection of the read bottom surface shape for each projection direction shown in FIG. 6 (step S141). Since the 3D map data has 3D data including the undulations of the ground surface, the shape changes before and after parallel projection even if the shape is on the ground surface. The shape thus obtained becomes the plane frame data. The data generation device 100 calculates the position of the center of gravity of the obtained plane frame data as a representative point (step S142).

F. Map display processing:
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the map display process. In the present embodiment, the processing is executed by the main control unit 304 and the display control unit 306 of the navigation device 300, and is the processing executed by the CPU of the navigation device 300 in terms of hardware.

In this process, first, the CPU inputs designation of the display position, orientation, and range (step S350). The user may specify these with a keyboard or the like, or the current position obtained by GPS may be used as the display position.
CPU extracts the map information corresponding to designation | designated from the map information already acquired in the conventional map display process and hold | maintained in the navigation apparatus 300 (step S351). The map information is a general term for various data necessary for displaying a map such as feature data, character data, network data, frame data, and the like.
The state of extraction is shown in the figure. Of the map information ME delimited by the mesh, the hatched portion is the map information already held in the navigation device 300. An area IA represents a range corresponding to designation from the user. In this example, a portion that overlaps the area IA in the held map information, that is, a portion excluding the meshes ME3 and ME4 is extracted.
The meshes ME3 and ME4 that do not overlap with the area IA may be deleted as unnecessary information, or may be left as long as the memory of the navigation device 300 allows.

  If the extracted map information is insufficient to display a map (step S352), the CPU acquires the map information of the insufficient part from the server 200 (step S353). In the above-described example, since the meshes ME1 and ME2 are insufficient to display the area IA, these pieces of map information are acquired.

When the map information is thus acquired, the CPU displays the feature (step S354). In the present embodiment, the feature data is only two-dimensional polygon data that has already been projected in parallel, and therefore a three-dimensional map can be displayed by displaying polygons according to the acquired feature data.
Conventionally, a processing called rendering is performed using a three-dimensional model to create a perspective projection map and a three-dimensional map is displayed. Thus, the processing load required for rendering is very large. In this embodiment, There is a great advantage that a three-dimensional map can be displayed with a very light load.

G. Coordinate transformation:
When displaying the current position, etc. on the map at the time of route guidance, or when specifying the three-dimensional coordinates corresponding to the point specified by the user on the map, as shown below, Coordinate conversion that takes into account
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the influence of undulation.
A plane A2D in the figure represents the ground surface in the two-dimensional map, and a plane A3D represents the ground surface in the three-dimensional map. As shown on the right side, the network data 213 and the 3D map database 110 used for generating the feature data in this embodiment are data having three-dimensional information corresponding to the plane A3D. The range corresponding to the mesh M2D in the two-dimensional plane A2D corresponds to the undulating mesh M3D.
A plane Ap shows a projection view by parallel projection. Since the projection is performed in the direction indicated by the arrow Vpj, the range corresponding to the mesh M2D in the two-dimensional plane A2D is the mesh MP2 at a slightly shifted position.
A plane Ag shown at the bottom is a latitude / longitude coordinate plane obtained by GPS.

For example, consider a case where the current position is given by three-dimensional position coordinates such as a point P3D (x, y, z). This coordinate corresponds to the position Cpg (latitude, longitude) two-dimensionally, and corresponds to the point P2D (X, Y) in the mesh M2D on the plane A2D on which the two-dimensional map is displayed.
If the point P3D is projected in parallel, it is displayed at the point Pp2 in the mesh Mp2 on the surface Ap. On the other hand, assuming that the two-dimensional element (X, Y) of the three-dimensional coordinates of the point P3D is a coordinate value subjected to parallel projection, it is different from the original mesh Mp2 in the plane Ap. It will be displayed at the point Pp1 in the mesh Mp1. An error Vc from the original point Pp2 occurs.
Thus, in this embodiment, the display in the state in which the point P3D is projected in parallel is realized by performing coordinate conversion corresponding to the movement by the error Vc on the point P3D in the surface Ap.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a coordinate conversion method considering undulation. A vector corresponding to the error Vc shown in FIG. 15 is obtained, and coordinate conversion is performed using this as a correction amount. In this sense, hereinafter, the error Vc is also referred to as a correction vector Vc.
An arrow Vpj in the figure indicates the direction of parallel projection. The point P3D is assumed to be projected onto the point Pp2 by this parallel projection.
Since the result of projection using only the X and Y coordinates of the point P3D is the point Pp1, the error Vc is a vector from the point Pp1 to the point Pp2, and is equal to the vector Vc in the drawing.

The correction vector Vc can be obtained by an affine transformation matrix that combines rotation and translation.
A transformation matrix corresponding to the vector Vc0 that translates in the −X direction is obtained while maintaining the height of the point P3D. If the projection angle Ap is used, the magnitude of the vector Vc0 is represented by the product of the height z of the point P3D and tan (Ap), and thus the vector Vc0 (Vc0x, Vc0y, Vc0z) is represented as follows. .
Vc0x = −z × tan (Ap);
Vc0y = 0;
Vc0z = 0;

The correction vector Vc only needs to be rotated by the projection direction (−Ay) about the vector Vc0 about the z axis. Therefore, the correction vector Vc (Vcx, Vcy, Vcz) is expressed as follows.
Vcx = −z × tan (Ap) × cos (Ay);
Vcy = z × tan (Ap) × sin (Ay);
Vcz = 0;
Therefore, the point Pp2 can be obtained by applying the correction vector Vc described above to the point Pp1 obtained by projecting P3D vertically. Since the correction vector Vc is substantially a two-dimensional vector (Vcx, Vcy), it can be corrected within the projection plane of parallel projection.

The correction vector Vc described above defines the y-axis as the north, the x-axis as the east, and the z-axis as the height direction. This is the value when In accordance with the definitions of x, y, z, and projection direction, it is necessary to use a suitable conversion formula.
If a constraint condition on the ground surface or the like is provided by the inverse transformation of the coordinate transformation described above, the two-dimensional coordinates after parallel projection can be converted into a three-dimensional coordinate value.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the coordinate conversion process. If it is during route guidance, the map matching conversion unit 307 (see FIG. 3) of the navigation device 300 executes.
When the process is started, the navigation apparatus 300 inputs parallel projection parameters Ap (projection angle) and Ay (projection direction) (step S301). Then, a coordinate transformation matrix is generated based on the parallel projection parameters (step S302). The contents of the matrix are as described in FIG.

  Next, the navigation device 300 inputs target data to be subjected to coordinate conversion (step S303), and performs the coordinate conversion shown in FIG. 16 (step S304).

F. Route guidance process:
F1. Overall processing:
FIG. 18 is a flowchart of route guidance processing. The process of the navigation device 300 is shown on the left side, and the process of the server 200 is shown on the right side. These are processes executed by the various functional blocks shown in FIG. 3 in cooperation, and are executed by the CPU of the navigation device 300 and the server 200 in terms of hardware.

First, the user of the navigation device 300 designates a starting point and a destination for route search (step S200). As the departure place, a current position acquired by GPS may be used. The destination can be set by various methods such as a feature name, an address, and a coordinate value of latitude and longitude. The navigation device 300 transmits these designation results to the server 200.
The setting of the departure point and the destination can also be performed by the user specifying one point on the screen of the three-dimensional map. The processing for designating by this method will be described later.

When the designation of the departure point and destination is input (step S280), the server 200 performs a route search using the network data 213 (see FIG. 3) (step S281). For the route search, for example, the Dijkstra method or the like can be used. The server 200 outputs the search result, that is, network data to be a route to the navigation device 300 (step S282).
The route search process is not necessarily performed by the server 200, and network data may be stored in the navigation device 300 so that the route search process can be performed stand-alone.

When the navigation apparatus 300 receives the search result (step S290), the navigation apparatus 300 performs route guidance according to the following procedure.
First, the navigation device 300 inputs the current position and traveling direction of the user (step S291). The current position can be specified by GPS. The traveling direction can be obtained based on a change from the previous position to the current position.
Next, the navigation apparatus 300 performs display range determination processing (step S292). This process is a process for determining the display range of the map based on the current position and the traveling direction, and can be performed by the following procedure.
The navigation device 300 first determines the orientation of the map based on the traveling direction. In this embodiment, since feature data is prepared for eight directions, the direction to be used is selected according to the traveling direction. Each azimuth may be assigned an angle region of 45 degrees, as indicated by a broken line, and the navigation apparatus 300 may select one including the traveling direction from these eight angle regions. The angle region can be determined according to the number of directions in which the feature data is prepared. If feature data of 16 directions is prepared, it may be 22.5 degrees, and 90 degrees may be used in the case of 4 directions.

Next, the navigation apparatus 300 performs a coordinate conversion process of the search result and the current position (step S300). The processing contents are as described with reference to FIGS.
When the above processing is completed, the navigation device 300 executes map display processing according to the designated display range (step S350). The contents of this process are the same as those shown in FIG.
Next, the navigation device 300 displays the current position (step S360). In addition to the current position, a route obtained by route search may be displayed. The route may be indicated by a color, line, or the like different from that of the road, or an arrow or the like may be displayed in a direction to travel or a corner.
The navigation device 300 performs route guidance by repeatedly executing the processing from step S220 onward until the user arrives at the destination (step S361).

F3. Departure / Destination Designation Processing:
FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a departure / destination designation process. This is a process executed by the specified point identification portion 302A of the navigation device 300, and is a process executed by the CPU of the navigation device 300 in terms of hardware.
The origin and destination can be specified by various methods such as feature names, addresses, and latitude and longitude coordinate values. Here, the user designates a point on the 3D map screen. It shows only the processing contents for the case.

When the process is started, the navigation apparatus 300 acquires the coordinate value on the screen of the point designated by the user on the screen on which the three-dimensional map is displayed (step S201).
The navigation device 300 refers to the frame data and extracts an object including the coordinate value acquired in step S201 (step S202). The number of objects to be extracted is not limited to one, and two or more objects may be extracted. It can be said that the point designated by the user represents either an extracted object or a point on the ground surface.

The navigation device 300 sets priorities for confirming the user's intention with respect to a plurality of points that may be designated by the user, that is, the extracted objects and the ground surface (step S203). The priority can be set arbitrarily, but in this embodiment, the priority is set according to the order of visible frame → invisible frame → ground surface. When there are a plurality of objects corresponding to the invisible frame, the priority order among them can be arbitrarily set.
An example of setting the priority order is shown in the figure. Consider a case where a point Pb is specified when there are objects BLD4, BLD5 and a road RD. Since the point Pb is included in the visible frame of the object BLD4 and included in the invisible frame of the object BLD5, the point Pb may point to these objects. Furthermore, it may point to a point on the road RD behind these objects. Therefore, in this example, the navigation apparatus 300 sets priorities among the three types of the objects BLD4, BLD5, and the ground surface.
As described above, in this embodiment, the priority order is set in the order of the visible frame, the invisible frame, and the ground surface. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the priority order is set in the order of the objects BLD4, BLD5, and the ground surface.

The navigation device 300 displays the selection status according to the priority order set in this way (step S204). The selection status display is a display for allowing the user to recognize which one of the points that may have been designated by the user is selected. As the selection status display, for example, a method of displaying an object frame such as a selected object can be employed. An example of the selection status display will be shown later.
In this situation, when the user performs a predetermined switching operation (step S205), the navigation device 300 sequentially switches the selection status display according to the priority order (step S204). In the example shown in step S203, when the user performs a switching operation while the object frame of the object BLD4 is displayed, the object frame of the object BLD5 is displayed.
Thus, when the user performs a determination operation when the feature or the like intended by the user is selected (step S205), the navigation device 300 sets the coordinate value of the selected point according to the result. Setting is made (step S206). The determination operation can be arbitrarily set by providing a determination button or performing a so-called double click.
As a method for setting the coordinate value of the selected point, for example, when a feature is selected, the center of gravity of the plane frame data is set, and when the ground surface is selected, the coordinate value of the specified point is set. You can take a method.
What is obtained by the process of step S206 is a coordinate value on the screen designated by the user. Therefore, the navigation apparatus 300 performs coordinate conversion on the selected point to obtain position coordinates in the three-dimensional space (step S207). Coordinate conversion between the coordinate value on the screen and the position coordinate in the three-dimensional space can be performed by the method described with reference to FIGS.

F4. Selection status display:
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of switching the display mode of the object frame. FIG. 20A shows a state in which the feature F is selected. In the three-dimensional map, when the user designates a point P, the point corresponds to the feature F and the point of the road behind it. As a display for indicating that the point P corresponds to the feature F, the object frame of the feature F is displayed in FIG. When the user's switching operation causes the point P to correspond to a point on the road instead of the feature F, the object frame display of the feature F is erased. If no object frame is displayed, it means that the ground surface is in a selected state. By switching between display and non-display of the object frame in this way, the user can easily visually recognize which point the point P points to.

Various methods can be considered as a method of switching which point the point P points to. For example, every time the user clicks on the point P, a change may be made between the feature F and a point on the ground surface. Instead of clicking, it may be dragged or swiped in the direction of arrow a.
Further, as another aspect of the selection status display and switching operation, a menu may be displayed as shown in FIG. Also in this aspect, the selection status can be sequentially switched by the user clicking or dragging. The point intended by the user may be directly selectable from the menu.

F5. Variations of the departure / destination designation process:
A starting point / destination specifying method as a modification will be described. Here, an example is shown in which a starting point and a destination are designated by cooperation between a two-dimensional map and a three-dimensional map.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of an object frame. A three-dimensional map V3D is shown on the upper side, and a two-dimensional map V2D is shown on the lower side. First, it is assumed that the user designates the point PP2 on the two-dimensional map. Since the two-dimensional map is only image data, the feature cannot be immediately identified from the point PP2.
Therefore, in the modification, the coordinates of the point PP2 are converted to obtain the coordinates in the three-dimensional map V3D. Coordinate conversion can be performed by the method shown in FIGS. It is assumed that a point PP3a in the three-dimensional map V3D is obtained by coordinate conversion of the point PP2. Since the plane frame FP2 is set for each feature in the three-dimensional map V3D, the feature corresponding to the point PP3a can be specified by searching the plane frame FP2 where the point PP3a exists.

  As another aspect, when a point is specified on the three-dimensional map V3D, a feature corresponding to the point may be confirmed on the two-dimensional map V2D. For example, assume that the user designates a point PP3b in the visible frame FP3 on the three-dimensional map V3D. Since the point PP3b exists in the visible frame FP3, the object can be specified, and the coordinates of the plane frame FP2 and the representative point PP3a corresponding to the object can be specified. If the representative point PP3a is coordinate-transformed, the point PP2 on the two-dimensional map V2D can be specified, and the feature corresponding to the point designated by the user can be specified on the two-dimensional map V2D.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a departure / destination designation process as a modified example. Of the processes described with reference to FIG. 21, a process for specifying a feature based on a point specified by the two-dimensional map V2D is shown.
When the process is started, the navigation device 300 displays the two-dimensional map V2D (step S210). And the navigation apparatus 300 acquires the coordinate value of the point which the user designated on the screen of a two-dimensional map (step S211).
The navigation device 300 performs coordinate conversion on the coordinate values obtained in this way to obtain the coordinate values on the three-dimensional map screen (step S212). Then, the plane frame data to which the coordinate value belongs is searched and the object is specified (step S213).
When the feature is specified, the navigation apparatus 300 switches from the two-dimensional map display to the three-dimensional map display, and highlights the specified feature (step S214). As the highlighting, for example, as shown in FIG. 21, a method of displaying an object frame together with a feature can be used. If the user performs an operation for determination (step S215), the navigation apparatus 300 adopts a point corresponding to the identified feature and ends this process. When the operation for determination is not performed, the navigation device 300 performs the processing after step S210 in order to input a new point.

G. Effects and variations:
According to the point designation system of the present embodiment described above, a point designated by the user on the screen is displayed while displaying a three-dimensional map with a light load using feature data as a two-dimensional image prepared in advance. It becomes possible to specify.
The point designation system does not necessarily have all the functions of the above-described embodiments, and only a part may be realized. Moreover, you may provide an additional function in the content mentioned above.
Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, a part configured in hardware in the embodiment can be configured in software and vice versa.

  The present invention can be used for designating a point in a three-dimensional map that represents a feature three-dimensionally.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Data generation apparatus 101 ... Command input part 102 ... Parallel projection part 103 ... Parallel projection data 110 ... 3D map database 105 ... Transmission / reception part 106 ... Frame data generation part 200 ... Server 201 ... Transmission / reception part 202 ... Database management part 203 ... Path | route Search unit 210 ... Map database 211 ... feature data 212 ... character data 213 ... network data 214 ... frame data 300 ... navigation device 301 ... transmission / reception unit 302 ... command input unit 302A ... designated point specifying unit 303 ... GPS input unit 304 ... main Control unit 305 ... Map information storage unit 306 ... Display control unit 307 ... Map matching conversion unit

Claims (8)

A point designation system for inputting designation of a specific point on the basis of a user instruction in a three-dimensional map representing a feature in three dimensions,
Feature data as two-dimensional display data obtained by projecting all of the features onto a plane by a predetermined projection method, and all or part of the features when each of the features is projected onto the plane by the projection method A map database for storing frame data for displaying an object frame representing a shape or presence;
A display control unit that reads the feature data and displays a three-dimensional map;
A command input unit for inputting coordinate values of points designated by the user in the three-dimensional map;
Specify the frame data according to the specified coordinate value, display the object frame based on the frame data, and specify a point corresponding to the frame data as a point specified by the user A point designation system comprising a department. The point designation system according to claim 1,
The projection method is a point designation system that is parallel projection from an oblique direction inclined by a predetermined projection angle with respect to a vertical direction. The point designation system according to claim 1 or 2,
The designated point specifying unit switches the point designated by the user between the plurality of points according to a user operation when there are a plurality of points corresponding to the coordinate values, and displays the object frame. Point designation system for switching. The point designation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The object frame includes a visible frame representing a visible shape drawn on the three-dimensional map of the features, and an invisible frame representing a shape of a portion shielded by other features,
The specified point specifying unit is a point specifying system that displays the object frame using a side where a coordinate value specified by a user enters between the visible frame and the invisible frame. The point designation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The frame data further includes data having a plane frame representing the shape on the ground surface of the feature,
The command input unit inputs a coordinate value representing a point on the ground surface based on the designation of the user,
The specified point specifying unit specifies the plane frame including the coordinate value, displays the plane frame, and specifies a point specified by the user based on a feature corresponding to the plane frame system. A frame data generation system for generating frame data used in the point designation system according to claim 1,
A 3D map database storing a 3D model representing the 3D shape of the feature;
The frame for displaying the object frame based on the projected shape by projecting a feature on which the frame data is to be generated in the 3D map database onto the plane by the predetermined projection method. A frame data generation system comprising a frame data generation unit for generating data. A point designation method for inputting designation of a specific point on the basis of a user instruction in a three-dimensional map representing a feature three-dimensionally by a computer,
The computer includes feature data as two-dimensional display data obtained by projecting all of the features onto a plane by a predetermined projection method, and an entire case where each of the features is projected onto the plane by the projection method. Or a map database for storing frame data for displaying an object frame representing a part of shape or presence,
Reading the feature data and displaying a three-dimensional map;
Inputting coordinate values of points designated by the user in the three-dimensional map;
Identifying the frame data according to the designated coordinate value, displaying the object frame based on the frame data, and identifying a point corresponding to the frame data as a point designated by the user; A point designation method to prepare. A computer program for inputting designation of a specific point on the basis of a user's instruction in a three-dimensional map in which features are three-dimensionally expressed by a computer,
The computer includes feature data as two-dimensional display data obtained by projecting all of the features onto a plane by a predetermined projection method, and an entire case where each of the features is projected onto the plane by the projection method. Or a map database for storing frame data for displaying an object frame representing a part of shape or presence,
In the computer,
A function of reading the feature data and displaying a three-dimensional map;
A function of inputting coordinate values of points designated by the user in the three-dimensional map;
A function of specifying the frame data corresponding to the specified coordinate value, displaying the object frame based on the frame data, and specifying a point corresponding to the frame data as a point specified by the user; Computer program for realizing.