JP3098519B2 - Map display device and point search method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation system for displaying a map on a display device and guiding a vehicle to a destination. 2. Description of the Related Art Recently, vehicle navigation for recording map information on a CD-ROM or the like, reading the map information, displaying the map information on a display device together with the current location of the vehicle, and guiding the vehicle to a predetermined destination. Equipment is being researched and developed. The setting of a destination in such a conventional device is performed by an operator searching for a destination while looking at a map displayed on a display device, and setting a cursor at that position. [0003] However, when the destination is set while looking at the map as described above,
If the user does not know the location of the destination, the user must search for the location name while checking each location name displayed on the display device, which is time-consuming. In addition, since the screen of the display device cannot be made so large especially when it is mounted on a vehicle, it is difficult for a vehicle navigation device to display too many place names on a map. Therefore, it is difficult to use the vehicle navigation system when the location name is known but the location is not known. Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, a first invention is to provide an administrative area as an area on a map.
Area selection means for selecting an area, type selection means for selecting the type of facility as a type , list display means for displaying points selected from the selected area and type in a list format, and display And a point selecting means for selecting a desired point from the list. In the above arrangement, the area selection means includes an area selection menu display control means for displaying an area selection menu, selects a desired area from the area selection menu, and the type selection means Comprising a type selection menu display control means for displaying a type selection menu,
It is configured to select a desired type from the type selection menu. Further, the apparatus further comprises a map display control means for displaying a map showing the selected desired point. Further, the map display control means is configured to show the position of the desired point on the displayed map. [0010] The point is a facility point. On the other hand, in order to solve the above problems, a second invention is to select an administrative area as an area on a map and a type of facility as a type ,
The method includes a display step of displaying a list indicating points selected from the selected area and type, and a point selecting step of selecting a desired point from the displayed list. [0012] In the above configuration, the selection step includes displaying an area selection menu and selecting a desired area from the displayed area selection menu, and displaying a type selection menu. And a type selection step of selecting a desired type from the displayed type selection menu. Further, the method further includes a map display control step of displaying a map showing the selected desired point. Further, in the map display control step, the position of the desired point is displayed on the displayed map. [0015] The point is a facility point. Next, according to the operation of the first invention, the area selecting means selects an administrative area as an area on the map. On the other hand, the type selection means is provided for the type of facility.
Select the type . Further, the list display means displays points selected from the selected area and type in a list format. Then, the point selecting means selects a desired point from the displayed list. Therefore, the area and the type on the map are selected, and the points selected from the selected area and the type are displayed in a list to select the desired point. Can be selected. In the above arrangement, the area selecting means includes an area selecting menu display controlling means, and a desired area is selected from the area selecting menu, while the type selecting means includes a type selecting menu display controlling means. Since a desired type is selected from the type selection menu, it is possible to more easily select an area and a type and select a desired point. Further, since the map display control means displays the map indicating the selected desired point, it is possible to easily display the map indicating the desired point. Furthermore, since the map display control means indicates the position of the desired point on the displayed map, the position of the desired point on the map can be easily grasped. Further, since the point is a facility point, it is possible to easily select a desired facility and grasp the position on the map. On the other hand, according to the operation of the second invention, in the selecting step, the administrative area is selected as the area on the map and the type of facility is selected as the type. Further, in the display step, a list indicating a point selected from the selected area and type is displayed. Then, in a point selecting step, a desired point is selected from the displayed list. Therefore, the area and the type on the map are selected, and the points selected from the selected area and the type are displayed in a list to select the desired point. You can choose. In addition, an area selection menu is displayed in the area selection step in the selection step, a desired area is selected from the displayed area selection menu, and a type selection menu is displayed in the type selection step in the selection step. Since a desired type is selected from the displayed type selection menu, it is possible to more easily select an area and a type and select a desired point. Further, in the map display control step, a map indicating the selected desired point is displayed, so that a map indicating the desired point can be easily displayed. Further, in the map display control step, the position of the desired point is indicated on the displayed map, so that the position of the desired point on the map can be easily grasped. Further, since the point is a facility point, it is possible to easily select a desired facility and grasp the position on the map. Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CD-ROM (including its drive device) as a recording medium or a storage medium, on which digitized map information is recorded. Data from the CD-ROM 1 is stored in a memory (RAM) 5 via an interface 2, an address bus 3, a data bus 4, and the like. Reference numeral 6 denotes an information processor (CPU) which performs various kinds of image data processing and controls peripheral devices in response to commands input via a keyboard 12 and an interface 13 thereof. Reference numeral 7 denotes an azimuth sensor that detects the azimuth of the vehicle from geomagnetism or the like, and 8 denotes a speed sensor that detects the speed of the vehicle. 9 is GPS (Global Pos
itioningSystem) device that detects the current position of the vehicle from latitude, longitude information and the like. Reference numeral 10 denotes a navigation processor (CPU) which corrects data of the azimuth sensor 7, the speed sensor 8, etc., calculates the movement amount of the vehicle from the data, and when the GPS device 9 cannot detect the latitude and longitude information. For example, the current position is calculated from the input data. Alternatively, the current location entered and set
The correction processing is performed according to the information from the S device 9. The processor 10 and the processor 6 can mutually transmit and receive data. Reference numeral 11 denotes a ROM for storing programs of the processors 6 and 10 and other necessary information, and reference numeral 14 denotes a control logic for supplying a necessary timing signal to each circuit, means, device and the like. A graphic display controller (GDC) 15 reads necessary data from the memory 5 and draws predetermined images on the memories (VRAM) 16 and 17. Reference numeral 18 denotes a parallel / serial (P / S) conversion circuit that selects data from one of the memories 16 and 17 and converts the data from a parallel signal to a serial signal. Reference numeral 19 denotes a color palette register as a color conversion circuit.
The 3-bit color signal in the video signal supplied from the / S conversion circuit 18 is converted into a 5-bit color signal specified in advance. The video signal converted from the color signal is stored in a memory (VRAM).
20 and from the memory 20 to the memory (VRAM) 21
And the video signal stored in the memory 21 is converted from a digital signal to an analog signal by the D / A conversion circuits 26, 27 and 28 of the three primary colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B). Then, it is displayed on a display device 29 such as a CRT. Although not shown, a touch sensor made of a transparent electrode or the like is provided on the front surface of the screen of the display device 29. Reference numeral 24 denotes a synchronizing signal generation circuit which generates a horizontal synchronizing signal (HSYNC), a vertical synchronizing signal (VSYNC), and a dot clock (DCK) which are synchronized with each other. Are output to the address counters 23, 25, etc., which set the same.
An offset register 22 sets an offset position of a portion to be transferred to the memory 20 in the images stored in the memories 16 and 17. Reference numerals 30 to 37 denote buffers inserted at predetermined positions. FIG. 2 shows the structure of the keyboard 12. As shown in FIG.
Is arranged on the outer periphery. Reference numeral 51 denotes a navigation (NAVI) key operated when executing a navigation operation, and reference numeral 52 denotes a help (!) Key operated when outputting an operation explanation image to the display device 29. Reference numeral 53 denotes a GUIDE key which is operated when symbols such as a parking lot, a hotel, and a gas station are displayed on a map. A destination (DEST) key 54 is operated to set a destination. A set (SET) key 55 is operated when registering an item designated by a cursor displayed on the display device 29 or a position on a map.
Reference numeral 56 denotes a cancel (CANCEL) key, and when operated on a limited predetermined screen, the screen returns to the previous screen. 57 is a reduction key and 58 is an enlargement key, which are operated when reducing or enlarging the map displayed on the display device 29, respectively. Reference numeral 59 denotes a scroll key, and keys 59a to 59d are operated to move the cursor up, down, left and right, respectively. 60 is a text (TE
XT) key, which is operated when displaying information related to the running of the vehicle. The program when each of the above keys is operated is managed by the processor 6. On the other hand, a CD key 61 operated when operating a compact disc player, a TV key 62 operated when receiving a television broadcast, an AM or FM
AM and FM keys 63 that are operated when receiving a broadcast, and a sound select (SOUNDS) that is operated when selecting an equalization characteristic of a reproduced sound from predetermined characteristics.
EL) key 64, a muting key 65 for instantly muting the reproduced sound, a volume 66 for adjusting the volume of the reproduced sound, and an air conditioner (A) operated when operating the air conditioner.
/ C) key 67 is provided, and a predetermined operation is executed by a CPU (not shown). The operation will now be described. First, the basic operation when the navigation key 51 is operated will be described. The processor 10 calculates and detects the current position of the vehicle from information of the direction sensor 7, the speed sensor 8, the GPS device 9, and the like. In response to this information, the processor 6 reads a map including the current location from the CD-ROM 1 and stores the map in the memory 5. CD-
The ROM 1 stores maps of a plurality of scales, and the memory 5 stores maps of the respective scales including the current location. The processor 6 controls the controller 15 to cause the memory 16 or 17 to write data of a predetermined scale out of the map stored in the memory 5. One of the memories 16 and 17 is on the front side (the side where data is transferred to the memory 20) and the other is on the back side (the side where data is not transferred to the memory 20 and new data is written by the controller 15). I have. The front side and the back side are alternately switched, and writing by the controller 15 is always performed on the back side that does not send data to the memory 20. The processor 6 further controls the controller 15 to draw a vehicle mark on the front side of the memories 16 and 17 in accordance with the current position signal from the processor 10. The memories 16 and 17 are controlled by the controller 15.
In the map drawn in the above, data within a predetermined range centered on the own vehicle mark is converted from parallel data to serial data by a parallel / serial conversion circuit 18, and the color signal is further converted to a high gradation by a color palette register 19. And transferred to the memory 20. Which part of the map drawn on the memories 16 and 17 is transferred is specified by the processor 6 via the offset register 22 and the address counter 23. The processor 6 is also capable of directly drawing a picture of an intersection or the like recorded on the CD-ROM 1 into the memory 20 as an image. The image written in the memory 20 in this way is further transferred to the memory 21, and finally the image stored in the memory 21 is output and displayed on the display device 29 via the D / A conversion circuits 26, 27, 28. . Next, the operation according to the present invention will be described in detail. First, the operation when the destination (DEST) key 54 is operated will be described. When the destination key 54 is operated, the processor 6 superimposes it on the map, for example, as shown in FIG.
The set menu is displayed at a predetermined position (near the lower side in the figure) of the display device 29. That is, the characters of the guide set and the characters of the place name set are displayed near the lower side of the display device 29. A touch sensor is arranged on the front surface of the display device 29, and when a display position of each character is touched with a finger or the like, it is detected. Therefore, it is possible to determine which of the guide set and the place name set has been selected. Assuming that the place name set has been selected, the set menu is deleted on the display device 29, and the place name information is displayed as shown in FIG. 5 (b). Of course CD-
The ROM 1 records not only map information for displaying roads, railways, coastlines, and the like, but also place name information. The place name information is divided into a plurality of stages (three stages in this embodiment), and one point on the map is specified by specifying all the stages. How each stage is determined is arbitrary. For example, the first stage is a prefecture as a region on a map, and the second stage is a category such as a famous place, a station, a government office, etc. Stage 3 can be a place name such as Hiroshima, Higashihiroshima, or Kure as an area on the map. When a place name set is selected, a first stage and a second stage are displayed as an initial state as shown in FIG. 5 (b). In this initial state, it is arbitrary which prefecture is displayed as the first stage, and which category is displayed as the second stage. For example, Hiroshima Prefecture is the first stage, and the second stage is the second stage. Display the category of stations. Display device 29
In, areas where the place name information of each stage is displayed are respectively defined. That is, the place name information in the first stage is in the leftmost area A, and the place name information in the third stage is in the rightmost area C.
The place name information in the second stage is displayed in an area B between an area A and an area C. Fig. 5 (b)
In the initial state, only one prefecture as the first stage is displayed in the area A as shown in FIG. This means that the selection of the first stage has already been completed. On the other hand, the categories as the second stage are displayed in the area B as much as possible. As a result, the operator is notified that the category as the second stage has not yet been selected and needs to be selected. If the destination is outside Hiroshima prefecture, the scroll key 59c is operated. Then, the display of the category of the area B disappears, and the names of the prefectures are displayed as much as possible in the area A. In this state, scroll key 5
When the user operates 9a or 59b, the cursor (the shaded portion in FIG. 5) remains stopped at approximately the center of the screen.
The display of the area A moves up and down. Therefore, the name of the desired prefecture is selected so as to be positioned in the cursor. After the selection of the first stage is completed in this way (for example, after selecting Hiroshima Prefecture), the scroll key 5
When 9d is operated, the state becomes as shown in FIG. 5 (b). That is, only the selected Hiroshima prefecture is displayed in the area A, and many categories are displayed in the area B. Therefore, the area to be selected becomes clearer and the operability is improved as compared with the case where many prefecture names are displayed as they are even after the selection of the area A is completed. Also in this case, the category is moved up and down by operating the scroll keys 59a and 59b, and the desired category is selected by positioning its name in the cursor. For example, when a station is selected as a category and the scroll key 59d is further operated, the screen of the display device 29 becomes as shown in FIG. 5 (c). That is, the area A
And B show only the selected Hiroshima prefecture and station, and area C shows many place names. In this case, the user further operates the scroll keys 59a and 59b to move the place name up and down, and selects a desired place name by positioning the place name in the cursor. For example, when Hiroshima is selected as a place name and the set key 55 is operated, Hiroshima Station in Hiroshima Prefecture is set in the memory 5 as a destination. Then, the processor 6 becomes C
The map including the destination is sequentially loaded from the D-ROM 1 to the memories 5 to 21 and displayed on the display device 29. At this time, a destination mark is also displayed on the map at the same time. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a case where the above operation is performed by the processor 6, for example. The detailed description is omitted because it is the same as that described above, but the pointer in the step in this flow is for specifying the name to be displayed in the cursor at each stage, and is set in the initial state. The pointer is set to 0 (in the above-described embodiment, the pointer of Hiroshima Prefecture and the pointer of the station are each set to 0), and the name is scrolled up and down by increasing or decreasing the pointer by one. The level specifies which of the three levels of place name information is to be displayed.
At level 1, prefectures and categories are displayed, and at level 2, prefectures, categories and place names are displayed. FIG. 6 shows an example of the data structure when the place name information is recorded on the CD-ROM 1. That is, for example, the number of prefectures recorded in an area of 2 bytes is set as a header, and a plurality of prefecture data having an arbitrary length are sequentially arranged thereafter. Each prefecture data is composed of a 2-byte prefecture number, an 8-byte prefecture name, a 2-byte category number, and a plurality of category data having an arbitrary length. Each category data is composed of a 2-byte category number, an 8-byte category name, a 2-byte number of place names, and a plurality of place name data having an arbitrary length. Each place name data includes a 2-byte place name number and 1 byte.
It consists of a 6-byte place name and its coordinates (x, y). The place name information may be displayed so as to be superimposed on the map, but need not necessarily be displayed so as to be superimposed on the map. It may be recorded as searchable data, and a predetermined mark may be displayed at that point on the map when the search is performed. Of course, the present invention can be applied not only to the case where a destination is set but also to the case where a predetermined position is simply searched for from a place name. Therefore, the mark does not necessarily need to be a mark as a destination. As described above, according to the first aspect, the area and the type on the map are selected, and the points selected from the selected area and the type are displayed in a list to display the desired area. Is selected, a desired point can be easily searched and selected. Since a desired area is selected from the area selection menu and a desired type is selected from the type selection menu, the area and the type can be more easily selected and the desired point can be selected. it can. Further, since the map display control means displays the map indicating the selected desired point, it is possible to easily display the map indicating the desired point. Furthermore, since the position of the desired point is shown on the displayed map, the position of the desired point on the map can be easily grasped. Further, since the point is a facility point, it is possible to easily select a desired facility and grasp the position on the map. On the other hand, according to the second aspect, the area and the type on the map are selected, and the points selected from the selected area and the type are displayed in a list to select the desired point. Can be easily searched and selected. Further, since a desired area is selected from the area selection menu and a desired type is selected from the type selection menu, it is possible to more easily select the area and the type and select a desired point. it can. Further, since the map indicating the desired point selected in the map display control step is displayed, the map indicating the desired point can be easily displayed. Further, since the position of the desired point is shown on the displayed map, the position of the desired point on the map can be easily grasped. Since the point is a point indicating a facility,
It is possible to easily select a desired facility and grasp the position on the map.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a display device and a keyboard in the vehicle navigation device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle navigation device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view (I) of a display screen in the vehicle navigation device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view (II) of a display screen in the vehicle navigation device according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a data configuration in the vehicle navigation device according to the present invention. [Description of Signs] 1 ... CD-ROM 2, 13 ... Interface 5, 16, 17, 20, 21 ... Memory 6 ... Information processor 7 ... Azimuth sensor 8 ... Speed sensor 9 ... GPS device 10 ... Navigation processor 11 ... ROM 12 ... Keyboard 15 ... Graphic display controller 18 ... Parallel / serial conversion circuit 19 ... Color palette register 22 ... Offset registers 23 and 25 ... Address counter 24 ... Synchronization signal generation circuits 26, 27 and 28 ... D / A conversion circuit 29 ... Display apparatus

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI G08G 1/0969 G08G 1/0969 G09B 29/10 G09B 29/10 A G09G 5/36 510 G09G 5/36 510B (72) Inventor Masaki Kakihara Hiroshima Mitsuda Co., Ltd., No.3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Japan (72) Inventor Tadashi Masaji, No.3-1 Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Pref. (56) References JP-A-59-174714 JP, A) JP-A-58-154874 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/30 G01C 21/00 G06F 3/00 G06T 1/00 G08G 1 / 0969 G09B 29/10 G09G 5/36 JICST file (JOIS)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] Area selection means for selecting an administrative area as an area on a map, type selection means for selecting the type of facility as a type , and list display means for displaying points selected from the selected area and type in a list format And a point selecting means for selecting a desired point from the displayed list. 2. The map display device according to claim 1, wherein the area selection means includes an area selection menu display control means for displaying an area selection menu, and selects a desired area from the area selection menu. A map display device comprising a type selection menu display control means for displaying a type selection menu, and selecting a desired type from the type selection menu. 3. The map display device according to claim 1, further comprising a map display control unit that displays a map indicating the selected desired point. 4. The map display device according to claim 3, wherein the map display control means indicates a position of the desired point on the displayed map. 5. The map display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the point is a facility point. 6. A selection step of selecting an administrative area as an area on a map and selecting a type of facility as a type , a display step of displaying a list indicating a point selected from the selected area and the type, A point selection step of selecting a desired point from a list; 7. 7. The point search method according to claim 6, wherein the selection step displays an area selection menu, and displays an area selection step of selecting a desired area from the displayed area selection menu; and a type selection menu. And a type selection step of selecting a desired type from the displayed type selection menu. 8. The point search method according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a map display control step of displaying a map indicating the selected desired point. 9. 9. The point search method according to claim 8, wherein in the map display control step, a position of the desired point is indicated on the displayed map. 10. The spot search method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the spot is a facility spot.