JP4705444B2 - Navigation device, control method thereof, and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus, a control method thereof, and a control program for improving a route guidance destination and waypoint setting method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Navigation devices are widely used as electronic devices that automatically guide the current position of a moving body represented by an automobile or the like and a route to a destination. This navigation device uses a GPS receiver to receive radio waves from an artificial satellite, calculates the current position and current date and time of a moving body on which the device is mounted, and prepares a road map prepared in advance. Based on the data, while displaying the current position and the surrounding map, a route guidance such as where to turn next is performed on a screen display or synthesized voice.

  For example, when a driver searches and inputs a destination, an in-vehicle navigation device calculates an optimum route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination by calculation. Thereafter, as the driver travels, the current location is displayed along with the road on the map while calculating the position of the vehicle.

  For destination input methods, in the case of a display with a remote control or touch sensor function, you can select and input the destination directly with your finger from the displayed map screen, or the registration list recorded in the device There are a method of searching by inputting a name from among the methods, a method of using a voice recognition function, a driver calling a destination name, searching from a registration list, and inputting it.

  On the other hand, with the development of digital communication technology in recent years, mobile phones are rapidly spreading and the opportunity to use mobile phones in automobiles is increasing, but this is due to the use of mobile phones while driving. The number of car accidents is increasing. As a result, the Road Traffic Law was revised, and penal regulations for the use of mobile phones while driving increased. In order to cope with this, an increasing number of users use simple hands-free kits that can make a call without using hands, and the need for a connection function with a mobile phone is also increasing in navigation devices.

Recent navigation devices also have functions as personal computers, so when combined with a mobile phone, not only the hands-free function, but also displays the contents of received emails on the display of the navigation device, and voices the text. Technologies that read out or access the information center to obtain the latest map data have been developed and put into practical use, and it is considered that the market needs will increase further in the future.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-108676 JP 2004-294376 A

  By the way, when the destination is input and the navigation apparatus guides the route, the destination is usually input by a driver or a person in the vehicle. Therefore, if there is a request from someone else who wants to go to a certain place, the driver or the person in the car may forget the content of the story, or the story may not be communicated, The client's purpose cannot be achieved.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 can receive an e-mail transmitted from the outside, and set a destination based on position information included in the e-mail. The destination can be set using e-mail. However, in Patent Document 1, a registration point list in which position information (absolute position information such as latitude and longitude) and a point name are associated with each other is prepared in advance on the transmission side, and an interface or application for displaying and searching for the list. Is required, and the use is restricted in a terminal such as a mobile phone whose storage capacity is limited. Moreover, in patent document 2, it is necessary to acquire point information by GPS by the transmission side, and processing takes time.

  The present invention solves the problems of the prior art as described above, and its purpose is that a specific person outside the vehicle inputs and transmits by a simple operation similar to ordinary e-mail. Another object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that automatically determines a destination or waypoint and provides route guidance to the driver, a control method therefor, and a control program.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 relates to facility information relating to a facility indicating a point on a map and its position in a navigation device for guiding a route on a map from a starting point to a destination or a waypoint. Map information storage means associated with location information, information acquisition means for obtaining e-mail via a communication line, destination setting means for setting a destination or waypoint, and the destination Means for registering point information that is a target of destination or waypoint setting by the setting means, command registration means for registering a command that includes a word or phrase that operates the destination or waypoint setting function of the destination setting means, and Text information extraction means for extracting text information from the email acquired by the information acquisition means, and text extracted by the text information extraction means. Analyzing the strike information and extracting the registered command and point information, storage means for setting the validity period, and the transmission date and time of the e-mail acquired by the information acquisition means are set to the validity period A judgment means for judging whether or not the sentence analysis means extracts the registered command and spot information, and if the judgment means judges that it is a valid period, the spot corresponding to the extracted spot information is And point information search means for searching from the map information storage means so as to be set as a destination or waypoint setting target by the destination setting means . The present invention can also be understood as a method for realizing the functions of the respective means and a program for causing a computer to execute the process of each means.

  In the invention as described above, the facility information included in this information can be automatically extracted from the information transmitted from the client, and the destination or waypoint can be set. A user who is requested to move and work related thereto can surely achieve the purpose. Here, since the requester only has to input and transmit facility information instead of location information, it does not take time to input information and is easy to use.

In addition, if the client inputs and transmits the name of the facility that he wants to go to, the destination or waypoint can be set in the received navigation device, so that it can be used in a very simple and easy manner.

Even if the client terminal does not have a specific application or interface, such as a mobile phone, if the command in a predetermined format is input and transmitted, the destination navigation device receives the command. Alternatively, since the transit point is automatically set, wide use and spread can be expected.

Also, only information from a specific person can be set as a target value or waypoint setting target, so that only necessary processing can be executed and efficient processing can be realized.

In addition, since it is possible to input and transmit information using electronic mail that is used by many people on a daily basis, it is easy to use and widespread use is expected.

  According to the present invention as described above, a specific person outside the vehicle inputs and transmits by a simple operation similar to ordinary e-mail, and automatically determines a destination or a waypoint by the driver. It is possible to provide a navigation device that provides route guidance, a control method thereof, and a control program.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In addition, although this embodiment is realizable by controlling the computer provided with the peripheral device by the program, the implementation | achievement aspect of the hardware and program in this case can be variously changed. The present invention can also be understood as a program as described above and a computer-readable storage medium storing such a program. Therefore, in the following description, virtual circuit blocks that realize the functions of the present invention and the present embodiment are used.

[1. Constitution]
[1-1. overall structure]
First, as shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, an information communication unit 20 such as a mobile phone is connected to the navigation device N, and a point that is desired to be performed based on e-mail information input from the information communication unit 20. The mail text format including the name is extracted, the destination or waypoint is set, and guidance is provided. The navigation device N has a function of analyzing an electronic mail recorded in the information communication unit 20 in addition to a general route search and guidance function.

[1-2. Configuration of information communication unit 20]
The information communication unit 20 is a terminal (information acquisition unit of claims) capable of transmitting and receiving mail such as a normal mobile phone, PHS, PDA, etc., and a transmission / reception unit 21 for performing transmission / reception with a base station via an antenna, A control unit 22 constituted by a CPU, a memory 23 for storing settings for control by the control unit 22, and an input / output unit 24 which is an interface for connection with an external device (the navigation device N in the present embodiment) I have. The navigation device N side also includes an interface for connection with the information communication unit 20 and an application for reading mail, but illustration thereof is omitted.

[1-3. Configuration of Navigation Device N]
Next, the configuration of the navigation device N will be described. First, the absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 calculates the absolute position coordinates and direction on the ground surface with respect to the current position of the automobile (referred to as the own vehicle) on which the navigation device N is mounted, that is, the own vehicle position. For example, it is a part for receiving GPS radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites with an antenna or a receiver. The relative orientation detection unit 2 is a part for detecting the relative orientation of the host vehicle using a gyro or the like. Moreover, the vehicle speed detection part 3 is a part which calculates the speed of the own vehicle by processing the vehicle speed pulse obtained from a motor vehicle.

  The HDD control unit 5 is means for reading various data such as a navigation program recorded in a hard disk (mass storage device) from a database, and road map data that preliminarily represents a network structure of a road or a section of a road. (Including facility information and location information). A CD / DVD-ROM controller (not shown) is also provided so that the same information recorded on a CD or DVD can be used. The microphone 6 is a means for the user to input voice. The voice recognition unit 7 is a means for converting the voice input from the microphone 6 into an information format that can be processed by the navigation device N, and inputting it to the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4.

  The main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are parts that serve as a control circuit for controlling the entire navigation device N. As various storage means (including the point information storage means and the point classification storage means described in the claims) necessary for the operation of the navigation device N, a memory group such as various ROMs and RAMs is provided. Therefore, illustration is omitted.

  The display 10 is means for displaying various information such as a map and an operation menu on the screen. The speaker 9 is means for performing voice guidance by voice output. Furthermore, although this apparatus is provided with input / output means such as a switch, a touch panel, a remote control unit, and an infrared transmission / reception unit for the user to input information such as commands, illustration is omitted. The display 10 itself has a function as a touch panel. The user interface unit 8 is an interface that connects the display 10, the speaker 9, and other input / output means to the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 using an I / O control circuit, a device driver, or the like.

  Further, the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are configured to realize the roles as the following parts shown in FIG. 1 by the action of the program as described above. That is, the current position detection unit 40 is means for sequentially calculating the own vehicle position, and specifically, is configured to calculate the own vehicle position by combining GPS navigation positioning and autonomous navigation positioning. .

  Here, in GPS navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained by the absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 based on radio waves from an artificial satellite. In the autonomous navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained from the relative bearing detection unit 2 and the vehicle speed detection unit 3 based on the geomagnetism and the speed of the host vehicle.

  The destination setting unit 41 is a means for setting a destination by searching for a facility from a database in which the road map data is recorded or specifying a cursor on the map (point information searching means, destination Setting means). As will be described later, the navigation device N can set a destination based on information included in an e-mail from the information communication unit 20. The route setting unit 42 calculates a route from the current position detected by the current position detection unit 40 to the destination set by the destination setting unit 41 based on the road map data, and as a result It is a means for setting the obtained route.

  In addition, the display control unit 44 displays the vehicle position on a surrounding map and at least a part of the route on the display 10 based on the calculated vehicle position and the road map data. It is a means to display in the aspect. The voice synthesizer 45 is a means for synthesizing and outputting voice for guidance. The guidance control unit 43 processes various types of information for guidance. In addition to the function of determining the displayed part of the route, elements such as flashing emphasis, and controlling guidance guidance by using combined speech, etc. Also, it has a function as a determination means for determining the distance from the current position to a specific point (intersection, etc.), and a function for determining a guidance target, guidance content, guidance timing, and the like according to settings.

  Further, the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 include a mail address registration unit 46, a name registration unit 47, a command registration unit 48, a text information extraction unit 49, a sentence analysis unit 50, and a determination processing unit 51. The mail address registration unit 46 is means for registering a mail address that is a target of a function for setting a destination in a dedicated address book set in a memory or the like. The name registration unit 47 is means for previously registering the name and other information (point information) of the point targeted for the destination setting function in a memory or the like. The command registration unit 48 is a means for previously registering a command for operating the destination setting function in a memory or the like.

  The text information extracting unit 49 is means for extracting text information of the input electronic mail. The sentence analysis unit 50 is a means for analyzing the extracted text information and extracting facility information such as commands and names. The determination processing unit 51 determines whether the source address, date and time, command and name extracted from the text of the email included in the header of the input email are registered in advance, and the result It is a means for performing a corresponding process.

[2. Action]
An example of the destination (or waypoint) setting process according to the present embodiment as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following description, a function for automatically guiding a route to a location designated in an e-mail from a specific person is referred to as this function. First, the user connects the information communication unit 20 to the navigation device N using a predetermined connector or the like. Then, the navigation apparatus N reads the mail information recorded in the information communication unit 20 (step 201).

  The determination processing unit 51 searches for an address existing in the dedicated address book, and determines whether there is a received mail having a matching source address (step 202). If there is no match, this function is terminated. As a result, it is possible to distinguish between the received mail and those that may activate this function.

  Further, the determination processing unit 51 determines from the header of the electronic mail whether the date and time when the mail is transmitted is within the valid period set in advance in the memory or the like (step 203). Thereby, only the thing within the period set by the user can be validated. If there is nothing within the period, this function is terminated. In addition, it is also possible to validate only the period (such as what time you want to go or the business hours of the facility you want to go) described in the command sentence extracted from the text to be described later. .

  Next, in order to prevent others from knowing the contents of the e-mail, such as when there are other passengers in the car, an announcement to confirm whether or not to read aloud is output from the speaker 9 (step 204). . On the other hand, when the driver issues “Yes” or “No”, this is input via the microphone 6 and recognized by the voice recognition unit 7. In the case of “Yes”, based on the mail contents extracted by the text information extraction unit 49, an image including the text is generated by the display control unit 44 and displayed on the display 10, and the voice corresponding to the text is also displayed. Are synthesized by the voice synthesizing unit 45 and output from the speaker 9, thereby reading out the voice (step 205).

  If “No” in step 204, an announcement “Do you want to hold the operation” is output from the speaker 9 (step 212). On the other hand, when the driver issues “No”, this function is terminated. In the case of “Yes”, a hold mark indicating the hold state is displayed at the corner of the screen of the display 10 (step 213). When the hold mark is pressed or selected by touching the panel or a remote controller or the like, the hold state is released (step 214), and the above-mentioned voice reading and screen display are performed (step 205). If the Acc (accessory switch) is turned off without releasing the hold state, the retrieved content is cleared and the function is terminated.

Along with the above-mentioned voice reading and screen display, the sentence analysis unit 50 extracts a sentence including a command command registered in advance in the text information (step 206). When there is no command, this function is terminated. For example, the extracted sentence format is as follows.
Command command, XXX, XXX, expiration date, command end command, message,

Arbitrary words / phrases need to be registered in advance for the command and the command end command. For example, the instruction command is “GO TO”, the instruction end command “END”, and the like. In the XXX part, a category that is a key for searching from the registration list is input. For example, the key is any one of “registered name”, “address”, and “phone number”. In the part of XXX, the name of the point that is desired to be the destination is input in the category input in the above XXX. An example of input is shown below.
GOTO, “Registered name”, “Frequently visited store”, “2005/6/7 20:00” END, “Buy two mechanical pens”

  “Registered name” and “classification” are validated as newly entered by the user separately from the database originally possessed by the navigation apparatus N in order to avoid searching from a plurality of the same names. For telephone numbers or addresses, those registered in the town page and stored in the navigation device N as a database are valid. As for the expiration date, if you want to go by that time or enter the business hours of the store you sent.

  FIG. 3 shows a table configuration example (classified point information) of the registration list. In this example, “Frequently visited store” is registered in the first line in the category “Classification” supermarket, “Registered name”, and the address and telephone number of the stationery store are registered in association with each other. Then, the category that is the key of the search can be set to “classification”, and the category with super classification can be displayed. Further, based on the coordinate data and the vehicle position, only the closest point from the vehicle position can be displayed.

  In the case of the example of the above-mentioned command sentence: GOTO, “classification”, “super”, “2005/6/7 20:00” END, “buy two mechanical pens”, Since there are two supermarket categories (stationery store and convenience store), these are candidates for destinations, and the one closer to the vehicle position is displayed as the destination, and the screen display or audio Will inform you that you have bought a mechanical pencil. The text to be read out is not particularly limited. However, as described above, only the text “Buy mechanical pencil” may be read out.

  If there is a sentence having a command in step 206, the corresponding destination is searched from the registration list or road map data (step 207). If there is a destination (step 208), a message “Set XX as the destination” is displayed and an announcement flows and the destination is set (step 209). Then, a display and announcement of “Do you want to perform route guidance” flow and whether or not to perform route guidance is determined (step 210).

  When performing route guidance, if the user touches “YES” on the touch panel or answers “Yes” to the microphone 6, a message “Starting route guidance” is displayed on the screen and an announcement is made. Flow and route guidance are started (step 211). Subsequent route guidance is the same processing as normal navigation.

  If there is no destination in step 208, a message “No corresponding destination” is displayed (step 215). Then, a message “Canceling route guidance” is displayed, an announcement is made, and this function is terminated. If route guidance is not performed, the user touches “NO” on the touch panel or answers “Yes” to the voice recognition microphone, and the message “Route guidance is canceled” is displayed on the screen. At the same time, the announcement flows and this function ends (step 215).

[3. effect]
According to the present embodiment as described above, a request from a person outside the vehicle is received by e-mail, and the point described there is automatically set as the destination. For example, a specific person ( When a family member asks you to return to work, you can prevent them from forgetting you or going home without knowing it and getting angry from your family members.

  Further, even when the transmitting side does not have a special application or interface like a mobile phone, the destination is automatically set on the navigation device side simply by inputting and transmitting information indicating a command and a point. Therefore, it can be easily used from any terminal, and it is expected to improve convenience and widespread use and spread.

  Moreover, there is no need to prepare absolute coordinates such as location information on the transmission side, and the telephone number and address of the target facility can be arbitrarily determined using e-mails that are used by many people on a daily basis. It is easy to use because the name of the spot can be described in the command statement. In particular, among points recorded in advance, when the point closest to the current location is set as the destination or waypoint, it is easy to set the optimum point.

  Moreover, since it can be used while confirming to the user whether to read aloud, whether there is a destination, or to perform route guidance, it is possible to ensure accuracy and prevent forgetting the requirement. Moreover, since only information from a specific person can be set as a setting target, only necessary processing can be executed, and efficient processing can be realized.

[4. Other Embodiments]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Other embodiments which are illustrated below are included. For example, an information communication unit such as a mobile phone may be built in the navigation device. The terminal on the transmission side may be any device capable of transmitting electronic mail, such as a mobile phone, PHS, PDA, personal computer, or the like.

  Thus, the point information, facility information, and the like exchanged via e-mail are not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiment, and the expression format is also free. The point to be set can be any point on the map (including facilities and natural objects).

  Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a so-called off-board type navigation system that can receive provision of the latest data via a wireless communication network, instead of a so-called on-board type that places navigation data in a vehicle. is there. In this case, a server outside the vehicle connected via the communication network can perform all or part of the above processing, and the processing result is reduced by the in-vehicle computer to acquire the processing result. be able to. In addition, this invention is not limited to vehicle-mounted use, It is applicable also to another moving means and portable navigation.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the navigation apparatus in embodiment of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the registration list in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Absolute position and direction detection part 2 ... Relative direction detection part 3 ... Vehicle speed detection part 4 ... Main CPU and its peripheral circuit 5 ... HDD control part 6 ... Microphone 7 ... Voice recognition part 8 ... User interface part 9 ... Speaker 10 ... Display 11 ... HDD control unit 20 ... information communication unit 21 ... transmission / reception unit 22 ... control unit 23 ... memory 24 ... input / output unit 40 ... current position detection unit 41 ... destination setting unit 42 ... route setting unit 43 ... guide control unit 44 Display control unit 45 Speech synthesis unit 46 Mail address registration unit 47 Name registration unit 48 Command registration unit 49 Text information extraction unit 50 Text analysis unit 51 Judgment processing unit

Claims (9)

In the navigation device that guides the route on the map from the starting point to the destination or waypoint,
Map information storage means in which facility information relating to a facility indicating a point on a map and position information relating to its position are stored in association with each other;
Information acquisition means for acquiring an e-mail via a communication line;
Destination setting means for setting a destination or waypoint; and
Means for registering point information to be set as a destination or waypoint by the destination setting means;
Command registration means for registering a command consisting of a word or phrase that activates the destination or waypoint setting function by the destination setting means;
Text information extraction means for extracting text information from the email acquired by the information acquisition means;
Analyzing the text information extracted by the text information extraction means, and a sentence analysis means for extracting registered command and point information;
Storage means for setting the validity period;
Determining means for determining whether the transmission date and time of the e-mail acquired by the information acquiring means is within a set valid period;
When the sentence analysis unit extracts the registered command and point information, and the determination unit determines that the transmission date and time of the e-mail is a valid period, the point corresponding to the extracted point information is determined as the destination. Point information search means for searching from the map information storage means so as to be set as a destination or a waypoint by the setting means ;
A navigation device comprising: Of the sentences included in the text information, a voice synthesizing unit that synthesizes only a business sentence,
Voice output means for outputting the voice synthesized by the voice synthesis means;
The navigation device according to claim 1, comprising: The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the location information includes at least one of a registered name, an address, and a telephone number . In a control method of a navigation device that guides a route on a map from a starting point to a destination or waypoint,
A process in which the map information storage means stores the facility information related to the facility indicating the point on the map in association with the position information related to the position;
A process in which the information acquisition means acquires an e-mail via a communication line;
The destination setting means sets the destination or waypoint; and
A means for registering point information, a process for registering point information to be set as a destination or waypoint by the destination setting means;
Processing for registering a command consisting of a word or phrase that activates the destination or waypoint setting function by the destination setting means;
A process in which text information extraction means extracts text information from the email acquired by the information acquisition means;
A sentence analysis unit that analyzes the text information extracted by the text information extraction unit and extracts a registered command and point information;
A process in which the storage means sets the validity period;
A process for determining whether or not the transmission date and time of the e-mail acquired by the information acquiring unit is within a set valid period;
When the point information retrieval unit extracts the command and the point information registered by the sentence analysis unit, and the determination unit determines that the transmission date and time of the email is a valid period, the point information search unit corresponds to the extracted point information . Processing for searching the point from the map information storage means so as to set the destination or waypoint by the destination setting means ;
A method for controlling a navigation device, comprising: A process of synthesizing only a business sentence among sentences included in the text information;
A process in which the voice output means outputs the voice synthesized by the voice synthesis means;
5. The method of controlling a navigation device according to claim 4, further comprising: The navigation device control method according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the point information includes at least one of a registered name, an address, and a telephone number . In the program for controlling the navigation device that guides the route on the map from the starting point to the destination or waypoint,
On the computer,
A process of associating and storing facility information relating to a facility indicating a point on a map and position information relating to the position;
A process of obtaining an e-mail via a communication line;
Processing to set a destination or waypoint;
A process for registering the point information that is the target of the destination or waypoint setting;
A process of registering a command consisting of a word or phrase that activates the destination or waypoint setting function;
Processing to extract text information from the acquired email,
A process of analyzing the extracted text information and extracting the registered command and point information;
Processing to set the validity period;
A process for determining whether or not the transmission date and time of the acquired email is within a set valid period;
If the registered command and location information are extracted and it is determined that the e-mail transmission date / time is within the valid period, the location corresponding to the extracted location information is set as the destination or destination setting target. And a process of searching from the stored facility information and location information,
A program for controlling a navigation device, characterized in that In the computer,
Among the sentences included in the text information, a process for synthesizing only the message sentences;
Processing to output the voice synthesized by the voice synthesis means;
The program for controlling the navigation device according to claim 7, wherein: The navigation device control program according to claim 7 or 8 , wherein the point information includes at least one of a registered name, an address, and a telephone number .

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