JP5019129B2 - Navigation device and navigation program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a navigation program in a navigation apparatus and the navigation apparatus in which a plurality have a processor core which performs operation processing information.

  In recent years, the performance of navigation devices that perform map display processing has been remarkably improved. For example, high-precision reproduction of actual road conditions including various facilities and information signs around the road. Such maps (especially maps with three-dimensional graphics display) have been provided to users. As the displayed map becomes more accurate, the amount of data for displaying the map becomes enormous, and the processor core for processing such enormous information is also required to have higher performance. It is coming.

  In order to meet such a demand for higher performance of the processor core, it has been conventionally attempted to increase the operating speed by increasing the operating frequency of the processor core. However, as the operating frequency of the processor core increases, the power consumption associated with it increases, so that a larger cooling power is required to ensure the normal operation of the processor core, and there is a limit to increasing the operating frequency. . Therefore, depending on the amount of information to be processed, there is a problem that the processing time until the display image is displayed may be increased by increasing the operating frequency.

  Therefore, there is a need for a technology that can process a huge amount of information without depending on an increase in the operating frequency of the processor core. For example, it is also considered that a plurality of processor cores are mounted on a navigation device, and various processes associated with navigation are distributed and executed by each processor core. However, at present, the following Patent Document 1 can be cited as a document disclosing a navigation device equipped with a plurality of processor cores.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2007-241376 (paragraph 0043 and FIG. 15)

  However, the navigation device described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that one processor core mainly performs control of navigation operation and the other processor core executes audio-related control. Therefore, regarding the processing associated with navigation, there is no disclosure about how to specifically distribute information to be processed and execute one processing using a plurality of processor cores.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, by using a plurality of processor cores efficiently, is shortened as a whole process time until the image display is completed, Na excellent responsiveness navigation An object is to provide an apparatus. Moreover, it aims at providing the navigation program which can implement | achieve the map display excellent in the responsiveness.

To achieve this object, the navigation apparatus having a plurality of processor cores for performing information processing according to the present invention is characterized in that the map information storage means stores map information including background information and road information. And a guide route search means for searching for a guide route to the destination and generating guide route information, and a plurality of drawing target information divided for each drawing target at the time of map display , at least the background information, the road information, and the drawing object information acquisition means for acquiring the guidance route information, and the drawing image generating means for generating a drawing image of each of the drawing object by processing the drawing object information by using a plurality of said processor cores, wherein Among the plurality of drawing images generated for each drawing target, a part of the drawing images generated by the processor core that finishes the drawing process first is integrated. Generating an integrated image generating means for generating an integrated image by, said integrated image, synthesized by one of the display image and any one or more of the drawn image and another one of the integrated image for each of the drawing object A plurality of display image generation means, display means for displaying the display image, and the generation of the drawing image by the drawing image generation means, so as to equalize the amount of data to be processed by the processor cores. e Bei and a data amount adjusting means for assigning to each of said processor core in the drawing target unit the drawing object information, the data amount adjusting means, wherein based the drawing image based on the road information to the guide route information A condition that the drawing image should be lower than the drawing image; and a condition that the drawing image based on the background information should be the lowest layer among all the drawing images; Based on the constraints including, to enable superimposition of the drawing image in the constraint condition is satisfied order lies in allocating the drawing object information to each of the processor cores.

According to the above characteristic configuration, a plurality of drawing target information divided for each drawing target at the time of map display is processed using a plurality of processor cores to generate a drawing image for each drawing target, and these are combined. In the map display processing for displaying one display image generated in this way, the data amount adjustment means sets each piece of drawing target information in units of drawing targets so that the data amounts to be processed by the respective processor cores are equalized. Assign to the next processor core. Since the processing time for generating a drawn image is proportional to the amount of data assigned to each processor core, the processing time of each processor core can be equalized by adopting the above configuration. Therefore, the processing time until the route guidance accompanied by the map display is completed can be shortened as a whole. Therefore, it is possible to provide a navigation device with excellent responsiveness.

Here, prior to the display image generating unit synthesizing the drawing images for each drawing target to generate one display image, the integrated image generating unit integrates a part of the drawing images to generate an integrated image. . Here, the drawing image for each drawing target before the display image is generated is temporarily stored in a predetermined area reserved exclusively on the memory included in the navigation device for the purpose of improving the drawing efficiency of the display image. Stored. Therefore, by adopting the above configuration, by reducing the number of drawing images to be stored in the memory by integrating a part of the drawing images, the size of the area reserved exclusively on the memory can be kept small. be able to.

At this time, the integrated image generation unit integrates the drawing images generated by the processor core that has finished the drawing processing first among the drawing images for each drawing target, so that the drawing processing in the processor core that has not yet finished drawing processing. In parallel with the drawing process, a process for integrating the drawing images generated by the processor cores for which the drawing process has been completed can be executed. Therefore, in the case where the display image is generated through the process of integrating a part of the drawn images, the processing time until the route guidance with the map display is completed can be shortened as a whole.

Further, the data amount adjusting means sets the drawing image based on the road information as a lower layer than the drawing image based on the guide route information, and sets the drawing image based on the background information as the lowest layer among all the drawing images. The drawing target information is assigned to each processor core so as to allow the drawing images to be superimposed in the order satisfying the constraint condition. Thereby , even when the integrated image is generated prior to the generation of the display image, the finally generated display image can satisfy a predetermined constraint condition with respect to the overlapping order of the drawn images. Can do. That is, it is possible to overlap the drawing image based on the background information, the drawing image based on the road information, and the drawing image based on the guide route information in this order from the bottom layer side. Therefore, it is possible to generate a display image that appropriately displays information necessary for map display and route guidance .

  Here, the data amount adjusting means sets the drawing target information so as to minimize the difference in data amount between the processor core having the maximum data amount and the processor core having the minimum data amount. Is preferably assigned to the processor core.

  According to this configuration, the variation in the amount of data allocated to each processor core can be minimized, so that the variation in processing time of each processor core can be minimized. Therefore, the map display can be completed in the shortest processing time among a plurality of combinations in which drawing target information is assigned to each processor core.

  Further, the data amount adjusting means acquires all combinations that divide the drawing object information for each drawing object into a plurality of groups according to the number of the processor cores as allocation pattern candidates, and are included in each group. The integrated image is generated by integrating the drawing images based on the drawing target information included in a part of the group in which the sum of the data amount of the drawing target information is relatively small. When it is assumed that the display image is generated by synthesizing the drawing image based on the drawing target information included, those that cannot satisfy the constraint are excluded from the allocation pattern candidates and remain without being excluded. Among the allocation pattern candidates, the allocation pattern that has the smallest difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the sum of the data amounts of the drawing target information included in each group Determined as over emissions, it is preferable to assign the drawing object information to each of said processor core in accordance with the allocation pattern.

The characteristic configuration of the navigation program in the navigation device having a plurality of processor cores that perform the arithmetic processing of the information according to the present invention uses the map information storage means that stores the map information including the background information and the road information. A guide route search step for searching the guide route to generate guide route information, and a plurality of drawing target information divided for each drawing target at the time of map display , at least the background information, the road information, and the A drawing target information acquisition step for acquiring guide route information , a drawing image generation step for processing the drawing target information using a plurality of the processor cores to generate a drawing image for each drawing target, and for each drawing target Of the plurality of generated drawing images, generated by the processor core that finishes drawing processing first. And integrated image generating means for integrating said drawn image parts to generate an integrated image, the an integrated image, by synthesizing the one or more of the drawn image and other of the integrated image for each of the drawing object A display image generation step for generating one display image, a display step for displaying the display image, and the generation of the drawing image by the drawing image generation step, the amount of data to be processed by the processor cores is equalized. A data amount adjustment step of assigning a plurality of drawing target information to each of the processor cores in units of the drawing target , and causing the computer to execute the data amount adjustment step based on the road information The condition that the drawing image should be lower than the drawing image based on the guide route information, and the background information based on the background information The drawing image so as to allow the drawing images to be superimposed in an order satisfying the constraint condition, based on a constraint condition that the image image should be a lowermost layer among all the drawing images. The target information is assigned to each of the processor cores .

According to this feature configuration, a plurality of drawing target information divided for each drawing target at the time of map display is processed using a plurality of processor cores to generate a drawing image for each drawing target, and these are combined. In the map display process for displaying one display image to be generated, in the data amount adjustment step, a plurality of pieces of drawing target information are set for each drawing target unit so that each processor core performs an equal processing amount of data. Assign to the processor core. Since the processing time for generating a drawn image is proportional to the amount of data assigned to each processor core, the processing time of each processor core can be equalized by adopting the above configuration. Therefore, the processing time until the route guidance accompanied by the map display is completed can be shortened as a whole. Therefore, map display and route guidance with excellent responsiveness can be realized.

  Here, prior to generating one display image by synthesizing the drawing images for each drawing target in the display image generation step, an integrated image is generated by integrating a part of the drawing images in the integrated image generation step. . Here, the drawing image for each drawing target before the display image is generated is temporarily stored in a predetermined area reserved exclusively on the memory included in the navigation device for the purpose of improving the drawing efficiency of the display image. Stored. Therefore, by adopting the above configuration, by reducing the number of drawing images to be stored in the memory by integrating a part of the drawing images, the size of the area reserved exclusively on the memory can be kept small. be able to.

  At this time, in the integrated image generation step, by integrating the drawing images generated by the processor core for which the drawing process has been completed first among the drawing images for each drawing target, in the processor core for which the drawing process has not yet been completed. In parallel with the drawing process, a process for integrating the drawing images generated by the processor cores for which the drawing process has been completed can be executed. Therefore, in the case where the display image is generated through the process of integrating a part of the drawn images, the processing time until the route guidance with the map display is completed can be shortened as a whole.

  Furthermore, in the data amount adjustment step, the drawing image based on the road information should be a lower layer than the drawing image based on the guide route information, and the drawing image based on the background information is the lowest layer among all the drawing images. The drawing target information is assigned to each processor core so as to allow the drawing images to be superimposed in the order satisfying the constraint condition. Thereby, even when the integrated image is generated prior to the generation of the display image, the finally generated display image can satisfy a predetermined constraint condition with respect to the overlapping order of the drawn images. Can do. That is, it is possible to overlap the drawing image based on the background information, the drawing image based on the road information, and the drawing image based on the guide route information in this order from the bottom layer side. Therefore, it is possible to generate a display image that appropriately displays information necessary for map display and route guidance.

  Here, in the data amount adjustment step, the drawing target information is set so as to minimize a difference in data amount between the processor core having the maximum data amount and the processor core having the minimum data amount. Is preferably assigned to the processor core.

  In the data amount adjustment step, all combinations that divide the drawing target information for each drawing target into a plurality of groups according to the number of processor cores are acquired as allocation pattern candidates and included in each group. The integrated image is generated by integrating the drawing images based on the drawing target information included in a part of the group in which the sum of the data amount of the drawing target information is relatively small. When it is assumed that the display image is generated by synthesizing the drawing image based on the drawing target information included, those that cannot satisfy the constraint are excluded from the allocation pattern candidates and remain without being excluded. Among the allocation pattern candidates, the one that minimizes the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the sum of the data amounts of the drawing target information included in each group Determined as those patterns, it is preferable to assign the drawing object information to each of said processor core in accordance with the allocation pattern.

  Below, embodiment of navigation apparatus 1 provided with map display device 2 concerning the present invention is described with reference to drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of hardware of a navigation device 1 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of software of the navigation device 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a layer configuration for map drawing. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the drawing image, the integrated image, and the display image DP, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of assigning the drawing target information D to the processor core 3 in units of drawing target, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a time chart showing arithmetic processing of each processor core 3 along a time axis. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating how data corresponding to the integration layer IL is secured on the memory 5. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of assignment in which drawing layers cannot be superimposed in the order satisfying the constraint conditions, and FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a method for determining a drawing pattern of information to be drawn by the data amount adjusting unit. It is a table.

1. Schematic Configuration of Navigation Device As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 according to this embodiment includes three processor cores 3, a drawing engine 4, a memory 5, a storage device 6, a display input device 7, The audio output device 8 is provided as a hardware configuration. In addition, the navigation device 1 includes a GPS receiver 21, an orientation sensor 22, and a distance sensor 23. These are connected so as to be able to transmit and receive information to and from each other via a communication line 9 such as a digital transfer bus.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the navigation device 1 includes a navigation calculation unit 11, a vehicle position information acquisition unit 12, a drawing target information acquisition unit 13, an image processing unit 14, and a data amount adjustment unit 18. Is provided. Each of these functional units is configured as software (program) stored in the storage device 6, and performs various processing on the input information using the processor core 3 that performs information processing. Here, the storage device 6 is a device having a recording medium capable of storing information and its driving means, such as a hard disk drive, a DVD drive equipped with a DVD-ROM, and a CD drive equipped with a CD-ROM. The map database DB is stored. Below, the structure of each part of the navigation apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated in detail.

2. Map Database The map database DB is a database in which a plurality of drawing target information D divided for each drawing target for each predetermined section is stored. As shown in FIG. 2, the map database DB stores background information B, road information R, and name information N as drawing target information D. In the present embodiment, feature information F is further added as drawing target information D. Stored. The map information M is composed of the drawing target information D. In the present embodiment, this map database DB corresponds to the map information storage means in the present invention.

The background information B is information for drawing a background. Specifically, it is configured with information on water areas, green spaces, and facilities. These are configured by including position information on a map expressed by latitude and longitude, information on a shape indicating the outer shape of each area, and the like.
The road information R is information for drawing a road. Specifically, it is configured to include information on a large number of nodes and information on a large number of links that form a road by connecting two nodes. Here, each node is configured with position information on a map expressed in latitude and longitude, and each link is classified as a road type (type of highway, toll road, national road, prefectural road, etc.) and link length. It is configured with information such as road width. The road information R is also used for searching for a route to a destination input from the outside by the user.
The name information N is information for drawing a name. Specifically, it is configured with information such as place names, road names, and facility names displayed on the map. These are configured by including position information on a map expressed by latitude and longitude, character string information regarding each name, and the like.
The feature information F is information for drawing the feature. Specifically, it is configured with information on road markings, signs, tunnels, etc. provided on or around the road. These are configured to have information on the map position, feature type, form, etc. expressed in latitude and longitude.

  Each of these drawing target information D has information corresponding to the level corresponding to each scale. For example, the road information R mainly includes information on highways and main national roads at a level corresponding to a high scale, and information on prefectural roads and city roads as well as the number of lanes as the level corresponds to a low scale. It will mainly have.

  Further, in the map database DB, information related to the corresponding data amount is stored in accordance with each drawing target information D. Information on the data amount of each drawing target information D is output to the data amount adjusting unit 18 in response to a request from the data amount adjusting unit 18.

3. Navigation Calculation Unit The navigation calculation unit 11 is a calculation processing unit that operates mainly in accordance with an application program for executing a guidance function as the navigation device 1. Here, the application program operates by referring to the own vehicle position information P acquired by the own vehicle position information acquisition unit 12, the map information M extracted from the map database DB, and the like. Then, the navigation calculation unit 11 searches for a route from the departure point to the destination according to the application program, and generates guide route information G. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the navigation calculation unit 11 functions as a guidance route search unit. The generated guidance route information G is output to the drawing target information acquisition unit 13. In addition, the navigation calculation unit 11 performs route guidance using one or both of the display input device 7 and the voice output device 8 based on the route searched in this way and the vehicle position information P. In addition, the navigation calculation unit 11 performs a process for determining a map display range according to the application program. The range in which the map is displayed is, for example, a predetermined range around the vehicle position based on the vehicle position information P acquired by the vehicle position information acquisition unit 12, or around a specific point input by the display input device 7 The predetermined range can be set. Information on the determined map display range is output to the drawing target information acquisition unit 13. Further, the navigation calculation unit 11 superimposes the vehicle position mark on the display image DP generated by the image processing unit 14 and displayed on the display input device 7 based on the vehicle position information P according to the application program. The display process is also performed.

  In the present embodiment, the navigation calculation unit 11 is connected to the display input device 7 and the audio output device 8. The display input device 7 is a combination of a display device such as a liquid crystal display device and an input device such as a touch panel. The display input device 7 receives, for example, an input such as a destination and outputs it to the navigation calculation unit 11 and displays the display image DP output from the display image generation unit 17. Therefore, in this embodiment, this display input device 7 corresponds to the display means in the present invention. The voice output device 8 includes a speaker or the like, and outputs voice guidance associated with navigation.

4). Own vehicle position information acquisition unit The own vehicle position information acquisition unit 12 functions as own vehicle position information acquisition means for acquiring own vehicle position information P indicating the current position of the own vehicle. Here, the vehicle position information acquisition unit 12 is connected to the GPS receiver 21, the direction sensor 22, and the distance sensor 23. Here, the GPS receiver 21 is a device that receives a GPS signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. This GPS signal is normally received every second and output to the vehicle position information acquisition unit 12. The own vehicle position information acquisition unit 12 can analyze signals from GPS satellites received by the GPS receiver 21 and acquire information such as the current position (latitude and longitude), traveling direction, and moving speed of the own vehicle. it can. The direction sensor 22 is a sensor that detects the traveling direction of the host vehicle or a change in the traveling direction. The azimuth sensor 22 includes, for example, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an optical rotation sensor attached to the rotating part of the handle, a rotary resistance volume, an angle sensor attached to the wheel part, and the like. Then, the orientation sensor 22 outputs the detection result to the own vehicle position information acquisition unit 12. The distance sensor 23 is a sensor that detects the vehicle speed and movement distance of the host vehicle. This distance sensor 23 integrates the detected acceleration, for example, a vehicle speed pulse sensor that outputs a pulse signal every time a drive shaft or wheel of the vehicle rotates by a certain amount, a yaw / G sensor that detects the acceleration of the host vehicle, and the like. It is composed of a circuit or the like. Then, the distance sensor 23 outputs information on the vehicle speed and movement distance as the detection result to the own vehicle position information acquisition unit 12.

  And the own vehicle position information acquisition part 12 performs the calculation which pinpoints an own vehicle position by a well-known method based on the output from these GPS receiver 21, the direction sensor 22, and the distance sensor 23. FIG. In this way, the host vehicle position information acquisition unit 12 acquires host vehicle position information P including information on the current position of the host vehicle represented by latitude and longitude and information on the traveling direction of the host vehicle. The vehicle position information P acquired by the vehicle position information acquisition unit 12 is output to the navigation calculation unit 11 and the drawing target information acquisition unit 13.

5. Drawing Target Information Acquisition Unit The drawing target information acquisition unit 13 functions as a drawing target information acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of drawing target information D divided for each drawing target at the time of map display. When the drawing target information D is acquired, information of a level corresponding to the specified scale is acquired for each drawing target in the map display range determined by the navigation calculation unit 11. In the present embodiment, the drawing target information acquisition unit 13 includes the background information B, the road information R, the name information N and the feature information F constituting the map information M, and the guidance route generated by the navigation calculation unit 11. A total of five types of information G are acquired as drawing target information D. The drawing target information D acquired in this way is output to the image processing unit 14.

6). Image Processing Unit The image processing unit 14 functions as an image processing unit that receives the drawing target information D output from the drawing target information acquisition unit 13 and performs image processing. The image processing unit 14 includes a drawing image generation unit 15 that generates a drawing image for each drawing target, and a display image generation unit 17 that combines the drawing images to generate one display image DP. In the present embodiment, an integrated image generation unit 16 that further integrates a part of a plurality of drawing images to generate an integrated image is provided. In this specification, the image processing unit 14 means a combination of the drawing image generation unit 15, the integrated image generation unit 16, and the display image generation unit 17 unless otherwise specifically used.

6-1. Drawing Image Generation Unit The drawing image generation unit 15 functions as a drawing image generation unit that processes the drawing target information D using the plurality of processor cores 3 and generates a drawing image for each drawing target. The plurality of drawing object information D divided for each drawing object output from the drawing object information acquisition unit 13 is first input to the drawing image generation unit 15. The drawing image generation unit 15 generates a drawing image for each drawing target based on the received drawing target information D. In the present embodiment, a total of five types of information including background information B, road information R, name information N, feature information F, and guide route information G are used as drawing object information D. Each drawing image is generated. These drawing images are generated as five drawing layers, specifically, a background layer Lb, a road layer Lr, a name layer Ln, a feature layer Lf, and a guide route layer Lg, respectively. That is, in the present embodiment, the background layer Lb, the road layer Lr, the name layer Ln, the feature layer Lf, and the guide route layer Lg correspond to a drawing image for each drawing target in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, each of these layers is superimposed to generate one display image DP.

  When the drawing image generation unit 15 generates a drawing image for each drawing target, the drawing target information D is processed using the processor core 3. At this time, the drawing image generation processing is executed by the processor core 3 generating a drawing control signal based on the drawing target information D, and the drawing engine 4 drawing according to the drawing control signal. Here, the navigation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has three processor cores 3, and the drawing target information D for each drawing target is appropriately distributed and assigned to each processor core 3. The allocation of the drawing target information D to the processor core 3 is executed by the data amount adjustment unit 18. The assignment of the drawing target information D to the processor core 3 by the data amount adjusting unit 18 will be described later.

6-2. Integrated Image Generation Unit The integrated image generation unit 16 functions as an integrated image generation unit that generates an integrated image by integrating a part of a plurality of drawing images generated for each drawing target. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the drawing layers Lb, Lr, Lf, Lg, and Ln generated for each drawing target and the integration layer IL. Moreover, in this embodiment, the integrated image generation part 16 integrates the drawing image produced | generated by the processor core 3 which complete | finishes a drawing process previously among the drawing images for every drawing object. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the drawing target information D is assigned to the processor core 3 in units of drawing targets. In the figure, the numbers written in parentheses next to each drawing target are numerical values indicating the data amount of each drawing target information D (the same applies to other figures). In this example, the sum of the data amounts allocated to the processor core 3a and the processor core 3b (each 30) is less than the sum of the data amounts allocated to the processor core 3c (15 + 15 + 10 = 40). The drawing process in the core 3b ends before the drawing process in the processor core 3c. Therefore, in this example, the integrated image generation unit 16 performs processing for integrating the background layer Lb generated by the processor core 3a and the road layer Lr generated by the processor core 3b as shown in FIG. In 3a, it is executed in parallel with the drawing processing of the name layer Ln in the processor core 3c. As a result, when the display image DP is generated through the process of integrating a part of the drawn images (in this example, the background layer Lb and the road layer Lr), the processing time until the map display is completed is reduced as a whole. can do. In this example, the processing for integrating the background layer Lb and the road layer Lr is executed in the processor core 3a. However, the processing may be executed by the processor core 3b that similarly ends the drawing processing first.

  In the present embodiment, the integrated image generation unit 16 also executes a process of integrating the feature layer Lf, the guide route layer Lg, and the name layer Ln generated by the processor core 3c that finishes the drawing process with a delay. . Two integrated layers IL are generated by the processing of the integrated image generation unit 16 as described above (see FIG. 4). These integration layers IL are generated as an integration layer IL1 in which the background layer Lb and the road layer Lr are overlapped, and an integration layer IL2 in which the feature layer Lf, the guide route layer Lg, and the name layer Ln are overlapped. That is, in the present embodiment, these integration layers IL correspond to the integrated image in the present invention. The generated integration layer IL is stored in a predetermined area reserved exclusively on the memory 5, as shown in FIG. In this way, by integrating a part of the drawing layers and storing them in the memory 5, the size of the area reserved exclusively on the memory 5 can be kept small, and the memory usage can be reduced.

6-3. Display Image Generating Unit The display image generating unit 17 functions as a display image generating unit that generates a single display image DP by synthesizing the drawing images for each drawing target. Here, when a single display image DP is generated by combining drawing images for each drawing target, the display image DP may be generated directly from the drawing image for each drawing target, or a part of the drawing targets may be generated. The display image DP may be generated from a combination of the drawing layer integrated layer IL and other drawing layers to be drawn. In the present embodiment, the drawing layer for each drawing target is integrated into the two integrated layers IL by the integrated image generation unit 16, so that the display image generation unit 17, as shown in FIG. The display image DP is generated by synthesizing IL1 and IL2. The generated display image DP is output to the display input device 7.

7). Data Amount Adjustment Unit The data amount adjustment unit 18 sets a plurality of pieces of drawing target information D so that the processor cores 3 perform equal processing when the drawing image generation unit 15 generates a drawing image. Functions as a data amount adjusting means to be allocated to the processor core 3 of Here, the drawing target information D is assigned to each processor core 3 in a drawing target unit. Therefore, “equalizing the amount of data” is not required until the amount of data to be processed by each processor core 3 is strictly equal, and the concept that the variation in the amount of data should be as small as possible. It is. In the present embodiment, the data amount adjustment unit 18 renders the drawing target information so as to minimize the difference in data amount between the processor core 3 having the maximum data amount and the processor core 3 having the minimum data amount. D is assigned to each processor core 3.

  By the way, as described above, the display image DP is one image generated by superimposing and synthesizing a plurality of drawing layers generated for each drawing target. When the display image DP is generated by superimposing a plurality of drawing layers, a predetermined constraint condition is imposed on the order in which the drawing layers are overlaid. That is, when a drawing layer as another drawing target is overlaid on a drawing layer as a drawing target, information necessary for map display or navigation is not hidden. For example, conditions such as the background layer Lb must be the lowest layer among all drawing layers, and the road layer Lr must be at least a lower layer than the guide route layer Lg are imposed. When the display image DP is generated from a plurality of drawing layers in one step, the display image generation unit 17 adjusts the order of the drawing layers so as to satisfy these constraint conditions, and generates the display image DP. Therefore, in this case, even if the drawing objects to be drawn by the respective processor cores 3 are arbitrarily assigned, the drawing layers can always be superimposed in the order satisfying the above constraint conditions.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, among the plurality of drawing layers generated for each drawing target, the drawing layer generated by the processor core 3 that finishes the drawing process first is integrated by the integrated image generation unit 16. Then, the integration layer IL is generated. In addition, the drawing layer generated by the processor core 3 whose drawing processing ends with a delay is also integrated by the integrated image generation unit 16 to generate the integrated layer IL. Thereafter, the display image generation unit 17 combines the two integration layers IL to generate the display image DP. Therefore, if the drawing target to be drawn by each processor core 3 is arbitrarily assigned, it is finally generated depending on the combination of drawing layers included in the integrated image generated in the first-stage image integration processing. The display image DP may not be able to satisfy the above constraint conditions. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the background layer Lb and the guide route layer Lg are generated by the processor cores 3 a and 3 b that finish drawing processing first, and the processor layer 3 c that finishes drawing processing after the road layer Lr ends. In the case of being generated, the background layer Lb and the guide route layer Lg are first integrated and then combined with the integrated layer IL including the road layer Lr to generate the display image DP. Since each drawing layer cannot be adjusted in order across the integrated layer IL, in this case, the road layer Lr is superimposed on the guide route layer Lg, so that information on the guide route to be displayed on the map is obtained. Will hide. Therefore, the data amount adjusting unit 18 according to the present invention assigns the drawing target information D to each processor core 3 so that the drawing layers can be superimposed in the order satisfying the constraint conditions. That is, the data amount adjusting unit 18 satisfies the constraint condition of the drawing layer overlapping order in the finally generated display image DP even when the integrated layer IL is generated prior to the generation of the display image DP. The drawing target information D is assigned to each processor core 3 so as to be different.

  Specifically, all combinations that divide the drawing target information D for each drawing target into groups (three in this example) corresponding to the number of the processor cores 3 are acquired as assignment pattern candidates. Next, for each group, the sum of the data amount of the drawing target information D included therein is obtained by calculation. Then, the group with the smallest sum of data and the group with the second smallest sum of data are merged first, and then this is combined with the group with the largest sum of data. In the case where the image DP is generated, those that cannot satisfy the constraint conditions are excluded from the allocation pattern candidates. Among the remaining allocation pattern candidates, the combination that minimizes the difference in the data amount between the one having the largest data amount and the one having the smallest data amount is determined as the assignment pattern.

  A more specific example is shown in FIG. In the table shown in this figure, five allocation patterns are shown as examples of combinations for dividing the drawing target information D for each drawing target into three groups. Here, group 1, group 2, and group 3 are set in order from the smallest data amount of the drawing target information D included therein. Since the processor core 3 that processes the drawing target information D included in the group 1 and the group 2 finishes the drawing process first, the group 1 and the group 2 are first integrated for each allocation pattern. And the group 3 are combined to generate the display image DP, it is determined whether or not the constraint conditions as described above can be satisfied. Since this determination method has already been described with reference to the example shown in FIG. 8, detailed description thereof is omitted here. In this example, allocation pattern 2 and allocation pattern 4 are excluded from allocation pattern candidates because they cannot satisfy the constraint conditions. Among the remaining allocation pattern candidates including allocation pattern 1, allocation pattern 3, and allocation pattern 5, the allocation pattern that minimizes the difference between the sum of the data amount of group 3 and the sum of the data amount of group 1 (this example) Then, the allocation pattern 1) is determined as the allocation pattern of the drawing target information D for each drawing target to the processor core 3.

  Accordingly, it is possible to provide the navigation device 1 that can display the necessary information properly and reliably and has a short processing time until the map display is completed and excellent in responsiveness.

8). Procedure of Map Display Processing Next, the procedure of map display processing executed in the navigation device 1 provided with the map display device 2 according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of map display processing according to the present embodiment. The procedure of the map display process described below is executed by software (program) that constitutes each functional unit of the navigation device 1 described above. At this time, the processor core 3 included in the navigation device 1 operates as a computer that executes the map display program.

  First, the navigation calculation unit 11 determines a range for displaying a map (step # 01). Next, the drawing target information acquisition unit 13 acquires the drawing target information D for each drawing target within the determined map display range (step # 02). Next, the data amount adjustment unit 18 acquires the data amount of each drawing target information D from the map database DB (step # 03). Next, the data amount adjustment unit 18 acquires all combinations that divide the drawing target information D for each drawing target into three groups as assignment pattern candidates (step # 04). Next, the data amount adjustment unit 18 obtains, for each group, the sum of the data amounts of the drawing target information D included therein (step # 05), and permutates the three groups based on the sum of the data amounts. Perform (Step # 06). Next, the data amount adjustment unit 18 first integrates the group having the smallest sum of data amounts and the group having the second smallest sum of data amounts for one combination, and then the sum of the data amounts is obtained. When the display image DP is generated by combining with the largest group, it is determined whether or not the constraint condition can be satisfied (step # 07). If the constraint condition cannot be satisfied (step # 07: No), the combination is excluded from the allocation pattern candidates (step # 08). On the other hand, if the constraint condition can be satisfied (step # 07: Yes), it is determined whether or not the examination of step # 07 is completed for all the combinations while leaving the combination as a candidate for the allocation pattern (step # 07). # 09). When the examination has not been completed for all combinations (step # 09: No), step # 07 and step # 08 are repeated. When all the combinations have been examined (step # 09: Yes), the data amount adjusting unit 18 has the largest sum of data amounts and the smallest sum of data amounts among the remaining allocation pattern candidates. The combination that minimizes the difference in the data amount with respect to the one is determined as an allocation pattern (step # 10). Next, the data amount adjustment unit 18 allocates the drawing target information D to each processor core 3 according to the determined allocation pattern (step # 11).

  Next, the drawing image generation unit 15 processes the drawing target information D using the plurality of processor cores 3 to generate a drawing image for each drawing target (step # 12). At this time, each processor core 3 performs the processing of the drawing target information D assigned in step # 11. Next, the integrated image generation unit 16 generates an integrated layer IL by integrating the drawing layers generated by the processor core 3 where the drawing process ends first among the plurality of drawing layers generated for each drawing target. At the same time, the integrated layers IL are generated by integrating the drawing layers generated by the processor core 3 whose drawing processing ends with a delay (step # 13). Next, the display image generation unit 17 combines the two integration layers IL generated in Step # 13 to generate a display image DP (Step # 14). Finally, the display image generation unit 17 outputs the generated display image DP to the display input device 7 to display the display image on the display input device 7 (step # 15). This is the end of the map display process.

  Thereby, necessary information can be displayed properly and reliably, and a map display with excellent responsiveness can be realized with a short processing time until the display is completed.

[Other Embodiments]
(1) In the above embodiment, the case where the navigation device 1 has the three processor cores 3 has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to the navigation device 1 having at least two processor cores 3.

(2) In the embodiment described above, the data amount adjustment unit 18 is configured such that when the drawing image generation unit 15 generates the drawing image, the processor core 3 having the maximum data amount and the processor core 3 having the minimum data amount. The example in which the drawing target information D is assigned to each processor core 3 so as to minimize the difference in data amount between them has been described. However, if the drawing target information D is assigned so as to minimize the variation in the amount of data between the processor cores 3 as much as possible, the processing time of each processor core 3 can be substantially equalized, and the map display can be performed. Processing time until completion can be shortened.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the integrated image generation unit 16 integrates the drawing images generated by the processor core 3 that ends the drawing process, among the drawing images generated for each drawing target, An example has been described in which two integrated images are generated by integrating drawing images generated by the processor core 3 that finishes drawing processing with a delay. However, if an integrated image is generated by integrating at least a part of a plurality of drawing images generated for each drawing target, regardless of the order in which the drawing processing ends, an area reserved exclusively on the memory 5 can be obtained. The size can be kept small, and the memory usage can be reduced.

(4) In the above embodiment, the case where the map display device 2 according to the present invention is applied to the navigation device 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to other various devices that involve map display processing.

The present invention can be suitably used for navigation program in a navigation apparatus and the navigation apparatus in which a plurality have a processor core which performs operation processing information.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the hardware of the navigation apparatus concerning this invention The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the software of the navigation apparatus which concerns on this invention Diagram showing layer structure for map drawing The figure which shows the relationship between a drawing image, an integrated image, and a display image The figure which shows an example which allocates drawing object information to a processor core per drawing object unit Time chart showing the arithmetic processing of each processor core along the time axis The figure which shows a mode that the data corresponding to an integrated layer are ensured on a memory The figure which shows an example of the allocation which cannot superimpose a drawing layer in the order which satisfy | fills constraint conditions Table for explaining a method of determining an allocation pattern of drawing target information by the data amount adjustment unit The flowchart which shows the process sequence by the map display program which concerns on this invention

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation apparatus 2 Map display apparatus 3 Processor core 7 Display input apparatus (display means)
12 Calculation unit for navigation (guide route searching means)
13 Drawing object information acquisition part (Drawing object information acquisition means)
15 Drawing image generation unit (drawing image generation means)
16 Integrated image generation unit (integrated image generation means)
17 Display image generation unit (display image generation means)
18 Data amount adjustment unit (data amount adjustment means)
DB Map database (map information storage means)
D Drawing target information M Map information B Background information R Road information N Name information G Guide route information Lb Background layer Lr Road layer Ln Name layer Lg Guide route layer IL Integrated layer (integrated image)
DP display image

Claims (6)

A navigation device having a plurality of processor cores that perform information processing,
Map information storage means for storing map information including background information and road information;
A guide route search means for searching for a guide route to the destination and generating guide route information;
Drawing target information acquisition means for acquiring at least the background information, the road information, and the guide route information as a plurality of drawing target information divided for each drawing target at the time of map display;
Drawing image generating means for processing the drawing target information using a plurality of processor cores to generate a drawing image for each drawing target;
An integrated image generating unit that generates an integrated image by integrating a part of the drawn images generated by the processor core that finishes the drawing process among the plurality of drawn images generated for each drawing target; ,
Display image generating means for generating one display image by combining the integrated image with any one or more of the drawing image and the other integrated image for each drawing target ;
Display means for displaying the display image;
When the drawing image is generated by the drawing image generation unit, a plurality of pieces of drawing target information are assigned to each of the processor cores in units of the drawing target so as to equalize the amount of data to be processed by the processor cores. e Bei data amount adjusting means for assigning, to,
The data amount adjusting means includes a condition that the drawing image based on the road information should be a lower layer than the drawing image based on the guidance route information, and the drawing image based on the background information is included in all the drawing images. The drawing target information to each of the processor cores so as to enable the drawing images to be superimposed in the order satisfying the restriction conditions based on the restriction condition including the condition that the lowermost layer should be the lowermost layer. Assign navigation device. The data amount adjusting means sets the drawing target information to each of the processors so as to minimize a difference in data amount between the processor core having the maximum data amount and the processor core having the minimum data amount. The navigation device according to claim 1 assigned to a core.   The data amount adjusting means includes
  All combinations for dividing the drawing target information for each drawing target into a plurality of groups according to the number of processor cores are acquired as allocation pattern candidates,
  The integrated image is generated by integrating the drawing images based on the drawing target information included in a part of the group in which the sum of the data amount of the drawing target information included in each group is relatively small, and then the integrated image And the drawing image based on the drawing target information included in another group is combined to generate the display image, the one that cannot satisfy the constraint condition is excluded from the allocation pattern candidates,
  Among the allocation pattern candidates that remain without being excluded, the allocation pattern that has the smallest difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the data amount of the drawing target information included in each group is determined as the allocation pattern. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing target information is assigned to each of the processor cores according to a pattern. A navigation program in a navigation device having a plurality of processor cores that perform information processing,
Using map information storage means storing map information including background information and road information,
A guide route search step for searching for a guide route to the destination and generating guide route information;
A drawing target information acquisition step for acquiring at least the background information, the road information, and the guide route information as a plurality of drawing target information divided for each drawing target at the time of map display ,
A drawing image generating step of processing the drawing target information using a plurality of processor cores to generate a drawing image for each drawing target;
An integrated image generating unit that generates an integrated image by integrating a part of the drawn images generated by the processor core that finishes the drawing process among the plurality of drawn images generated for each drawing target; ,
A display image generating step of generating one display image by combining the integrated image with any one or more of the drawing image and the other integrated image for each drawing target ;
A display step for displaying the display image;
When the drawing image is generated by the drawing image generation step, a plurality of pieces of drawing target information are assigned to the respective processor cores in units of the drawing target so as to equalize the amount of data to be processed by the respective processor cores. A data amount adjustment step for allocation ,
In the data amount adjustment step, the drawing image based on the road information should be a lower layer than the drawing image based on the guidance route information, and the drawing image based on the background information The drawing target information to each of the processor cores so as to enable the drawing images to be superimposed in the order satisfying the restriction conditions based on the restriction condition including the condition that the lowermost layer should be the lowermost layer. Navigation program to assign.   In the data amount adjustment step, the drawing target information is set to each of the processors so as to minimize a difference in data amount between the processor core having the maximum data amount and the processor core having the minimum data amount. The navigation program according to claim 4 assigned to a core.   In the data amount adjustment step,
  All combinations for dividing the drawing target information for each drawing target into a plurality of groups according to the number of processor cores are acquired as allocation pattern candidates,
  The integrated image is generated by integrating the drawing images based on the drawing target information included in a part of the group in which the sum of the data amount of the drawing target information included in each group is relatively small, and then the integrated image And the drawing image based on the drawing target information included in another group is combined to generate the display image, the one that cannot satisfy the constraint condition is excluded from the allocation pattern candidates,
  Among the allocation pattern candidates that remain without being excluded, the allocation pattern that has the smallest difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the data amount of the drawing target information included in each group is determined as the allocation pattern. The navigation program according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the drawing target information is assigned to each of the processor cores according to a pattern.

Images