JP2009145221A - NAVIGATION SYSTEM, PORTABLE TERMINAL DEVICE, SERVER DEVICE, PORTABLE TERMINAL DEVICE PROGRAM, SERVER DEVICE PROGRAM, AND GUIDANCE METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

A navigation system and the like that enable a user to easily grasp a route to a destination and reliably guide to the destination.
According to a guide route condition from a user, a route from the user's departure point to a destination is searched using the plurality of route data, and the plurality of route data are connected and generated based on the search result. A navigation system S for guiding the user by displaying a guide map 52 including the guided route 51 on the portable terminal device MP, wherein image data associated with a predetermined position on the guidance route 51 is used as the departure point. Image data acquisition means for acquiring in order from the ground to the destination; and mark placement means for placing a mark 53 indicating the position of the user at a predetermined position on the guide route 51 to which the image data is associated. Output control means for outputting image data associated with a predetermined position on the guide route 51 on which the mark 53 is arranged together with the guide map 52; Comprising a.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present application relates to a navigation system that guides a user to a destination, and more particularly, to a navigation system that performs guidance in a place where a user's position cannot be searched by a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver.

  Conventionally, a GPS receiver or the like is mounted on a portable terminal device such as a cellular phone, and a guidance route from the current position of the user to the destination is displayed on a screen together with a map including the guidance route, thereby guiding to the destination. Navigation systems that perform are known.

  With regard to such a conventional navigation system, for example, a navigation system having a function for guiding a user in a place where a user cannot search for a position by a GPS receiver such as a station premises is known (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

  In addition, a map information providing apparatus that allows a user to easily grasp a route to a destination is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Patent Document 1 includes a position information detection unit that replaces the GPS receiver, and displays a landscape image along the guide route when the guide route from the current position of the user to the destination and the current position of the user are displayed on the screen. An on-site guidance device for display is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a guide route for guiding a user on which a checkpoint is placed to a destination and a mark indicating the position of the user are displayed on a map on the screen of the mobile terminal device, and the guide route is displayed. A map information providing apparatus is disclosed that displays an image such as a photograph linked to a predetermined check point by moving the mark along the line.

JP 2003-172632 A JP 2005-70658 A

  However, the on-site guidance device described in Patent Document 1 does not function when the current position of the user cannot be detected, and the user cannot grasp the entire route to the destination. There is a problem that a problem that the eyes cannot be taken off occurs.

  Moreover, since the image displayed in the map information provision apparatus described in Patent Document 2 is only the image at the checkpoint, the user must determine his / her position and direction only by using the map other than the checkpoint. However, if the determination is wrong, there is a possibility that the destination may not be reached.

  In this application, the solution of such a problem is an issue, and an example of the purpose is to provide a navigation system that allows the user to easily grasp the route to the destination and reliably guide to the destination. It is in.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 stores guide map data including a plurality of route data in advance, and uses the plurality of route data in accordance with a guide route condition input by a user. A route from the departure point of the user to the destination is searched, and a guide map including a guidance route generated by connecting the plurality of route data based on the search result is displayed on the portable terminal device. A navigation system that guides the image, wherein image data indicating surrounding images at a plurality of predetermined positions on the guide route is stored in advance, and image data associated with the predetermined positions on the guide route is stored as the departure Image data acquisition means for acquiring images in order from the ground to the destination, and the position of the user at a predetermined position on the guidance route to which the image data is associated. A mark placement means for placing a mark indicating the position, and an output control means for outputting image data associated with a predetermined position on the guide route where the mark is placed together with the guide map. .

  The invention according to claim 5 is a server device included in the navigation system according to claim 1, and constitutes the navigation system by being connected to the portable terminal device via communication means. In the server device, guide map data including a plurality of route data is stored in advance, and the route from the user's departure point to the destination is searched using the plurality of route data according to the guide route condition input by the user. And a guide map generating means for generating a guide map including the guide route by connecting the plurality of route data based on the search result, and image data indicating surrounding images at a plurality of predetermined positions on the guide route. Store in advance and acquire image data associated with a predetermined position on the guidance route in the order from the departure point to the destination. Characterized in that it comprises a, an image data acquisition unit.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a portable terminal device included in the navigation system according to claim 1, and is configured to be connected to a server device via a communication unit to constitute the navigation system. In the terminal device for use, a mark placement means for placing a mark indicating the position of the user at a predetermined position on the guidance route to which the image data is associated, and a predetermined position on the guidance route where the mark is placed Output control means for outputting image data to be associated with the guide map.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, a computer is caused to function as the server device according to the fifth aspect.

  According to an eighth aspect of the invention, a computer is caused to function as the portable terminal device according to the sixth aspect.

  The invention according to claim 9 stores guide map data including a plurality of route data in advance, and uses the plurality of route data according to the guide route condition input by the user from the departure place of the user. A navigation system for searching for a route to a destination and displaying a guide map including a guide route generated by connecting the plurality of route data based on a search result on a portable terminal device to guide the user The image data indicating surrounding images at a plurality of predetermined positions on the guide route are stored in advance, and image data associated with the predetermined positions on the guide route are stored from the starting point. An image data acquisition process for acquiring images in order up to the ground, and a position of the user at a predetermined position on the guide route to which the image data is associated And mark placement step of placing a mark, characterized in that the image data to be associated with a predetermined position on the guidance route the mark is placed and a, and an output control step of outputting together with the guide map.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, embodiment described below is embodiment at the time of applying this invention with respect to the communication navigation system for pedestrians. The mobile navigation system S for pedestrians of the present embodiment guides pedestrians to their destinations in places where GPS positioning is not possible (for example, commercial facilities such as station premises, underground shopping centers, shopping centers, etc.). is there.

-Outline of configuration and functions of communication navigation system for pedestrians-
First, with reference to FIG. 1, the structure and function of the communication navigation system for pedestrians in this embodiment are demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a communication navigation system for pedestrians according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication navigation system S for pedestrians includes a server SV as an example of a server device and a plurality of portable terminals MP as an example of a portable terminal device.

  The server SV and the portable terminal MP can transmit and receive data to and from each other via a network NW as an example of communication means (for example, using TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) as a communication protocol) Data can be sent and received). The network NW is constructed by, for example, the Internet, a dedicated communication line (for example, a CATV (Community Antenna Television) line), a mobile communication network (including a wireless base station, etc.), a gateway, and the like.

  The communication navigation system S for pedestrians of this embodiment, when a pedestrian operates the mobile terminal MP and designates route search conditions such as a departure place and a destination, sends a route search request based on the route search conditions to the server SV. Send to. Then, the server SV searches the route from the departure point to the destination, and the portable terminal MP aims at the pedestrian while displaying the guidance map around the departure point and the destination on the screen based on the searched route. Guide to the ground.

-Configuration and function of server SV-
Next, the configuration and functions of the server SV will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the server SV according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the server SV is connected to a storage unit (for example, a hard disk) 11 as an example of storage means for storing various programs, data, and the like, and a communication state between the mobile terminal MP connected to a network NW. And a system control unit 13 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. They are connected to each other via a bus 14.

  The storage unit 11 displays a guide map on the screen of the mobile terminal MP, and guide map data used for searching a guide route for guiding a pedestrian from the departure place to the destination, and the guide route A plurality of image data associated with the predetermined position is stored.

  This guide map data is composed of various data such as route data and facility data. The route data is composed of a plurality of route data. Each route data includes the type of route, the shape of the route, identification information of the node (route branching point, merging point, etc.) to which the route is connected, and the coordinates of the route. , And node data that defines an identification number of a route connected to each node. In addition, the facility data includes, for example, data such as the shape of the station and the coordinates and shape of facilities such as toilets, shops, and escalators installed in the station.

  On the other hand, the image data is composed of image data obtained by photographing or illustrating the periphery of a predetermined position on the route, and the image data includes data indicating position coordinates and the captured or illustrated direction. . In addition, it is desirable that the image data is prepared in association with a turning point of a route, a meeting point with another route, a branching point to another route, or a point having a different hierarchy.

  The system control unit 13 is configured such that the CPU performs overall control of each unit of the server SV by reading and executing various programs such as a server device program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 11. , Function as image data acquisition means, guide map generation means, and the like. The server device program is a processing program executed by the server SV based on a route search request transmitted from the mobile terminal MP.

  Specifically, the system control unit 13 searches for a route to the destination using a plurality of route data based on a route search condition set by the pedestrian using the mobile terminal MP, and based on the search result. A plurality of route data is connected to generate a guide map including a guidance route, and further, a plurality of image data previously searched for each predetermined position of the guidance route is searched for and the plurality of searched images Data is acquired in the order of the guidance route from the departure point to the destination, and the guide map data including the guidance route and the plurality of image data are transmitted to the portable terminal MP as search result information.

  Note that the various programs may be downloaded from another server, for example, or may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and read via a drive.

-Mobile terminal configuration and functions-
Next, the configuration and function of the mobile terminal MP will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the mobile terminal MP according to the present embodiment, FIG. 4 is a screen display example when guidance to a pedestrian is started, and FIG. 5 is a screen during guidance of the pedestrian. It is a display example.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile terminal MP is connected to the mobile communication network by transmitting and receiving radio waves with the base station, and controls communication with other mobile terminals MP and servers connected to the network NW. Voice input that has a wireless communication unit 21 and, for example, a microphone, a D / A converter, etc., and generates voice data corresponding to the voice when the user's speech is input from the microphone and outputs the voice data to the wireless communication unit 21 Unit 22 and, for example, a voice output unit 23 that includes a speaker, an amplifier circuit, and the like, generates voice corresponding to voice data supplied from wireless communication unit 21, and loudspeaks through the speaker. Communication with the machine MP and data communication with a server or the like are possible. As such a communication method, for example, a PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) method, an IMT (International Mobile Telecommunication) method, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) method, or the like is adopted.

  The mobile terminal MP also includes a display unit 24 (for example, a liquid crystal display) corresponding to the display screen 2 that displays information such as characters and images, and an operation unit 25 (for example, a dial) that receives operation instructions from pedestrians. Buttons, cursor buttons, etc.), and a storage unit 27 (eg, flash memory, etc.) for storing various programs (for example, an operating system and a guide map display application for displaying a guide map). Yes.

  Further, the mobile terminal MP receives a radio wave including a satellite orbit and time data transmitted from a GPS satellite, and calculates a current position (latitude and longitude) of the mobile terminal MP based on the received radio wave. A portion 26 is provided. The GPS positioning unit 26 starts positioning of the current position under the control of the system control unit 28. Once the positioning is started, the GPS positioning unit 26 continues in parallel with other processing (including execution of the program) by the system control unit 28. To perform positioning.

  Furthermore, the portable terminal MP includes a system control unit 28 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The system control unit 28 and each unit are connected to a system bus 29. Are connected to each other.

  The system control unit 28 controls the entire portable terminal MP by reading and executing various programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 27 by the CPU. The system control unit 28 includes a mark arrangement unit, an image data selection unit, It functions as output control means, path length display means, mark display control means, and the like.

  Specifically, when a route search condition such as a departure point and a destination is specified by the operation of the operation unit 25 by a pedestrian, the system control unit 28 transmits a route search request based on the route search condition to the server SV. It is supposed to be.

  Further, when receiving the route search result information transmitted from the server SV, the system control unit 28 stores the received route search result information in the storage unit 27. Based on the route search result information, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a mark 53 (for example, a character) indicating the current location of the pedestrian at the departure point A of the guide map 52 including the guidance route 51 on the screen 50. The guide map 52 is displayed and the image 55 associated with the position of the mark 53 disposed on the guide route 51 is displayed in parallel below the guide map 52. The image 55 is an image in front of the pedestrian in the traveling direction.

  Further, the system control unit 28 calculates the total distance of the route from the departure point to the destination, displays a line graph 57 illustrating the total distance on the screen 50, and displays the line graph 57 on the line graph 57. The position of the mark 53 is displayed in a colored manner in relation to the total distance.

  In addition, in the guide map 52 displayed on the screen 50, instead of displaying the guidance route 51, points 60 to 60d, which are sequentially numbered from the departure point, are arranged at predetermined positions associated with image data. The

  Then, by displaying on the screen 50 of the portable terminal MP the guide map 52 in which such a mark 53 is arranged, the image 55, and the line graph 57 indicating the position of the mark with respect to the total distance are displayed. The communication navigation system S for pedestrians starts guidance for the pedestrian, and the pedestrian follows the point 60 in the order of the numbers while confirming the image 55 displayed on the screen 50, thereby the purpose of the pedestrian. Enables guidance to the ground.

  In addition, image switching buttons 65 and 66 that function as selection means of the present application are arranged on the left and right of the image 55 displayed on the screen 50, and a pedestrian operates the operation unit 25 to select one of the relevant buttons. By specifying the image switching buttons 65 and 66, it is possible to select an image on the departure point side from the mark 53 or an image on the destination side from the mark 53. A plurality of image data associated with a predetermined position on the guidance route from the departure point to the destination is managed in the order from the departure point to the destination. A part 55a, 55b of the image before and after the displayed image 55 is displayed, and a predetermined image can be slid and displayed by selecting the image switching buttons 65, 66. When the image is switched and displayed, the system control unit 28 moves the mark 53 to the point 60 associated with the image data of the switched image. In this way, the pedestrian can image an approximate route scenery from the departure point to the destination by operating the operation unit 25 and switching the image 55 with the image switching buttons 65 and 66. It is possible to easily grasp the route to the destination. In addition, guidance to an actual destination is performed by matching an image displayed on the screen with an actual landscape by a pedestrian.

  In addition, the image 55 displayed on the screen 50 is preferably an image linked so that the respective image data acquired in the order from the departure point to the destination are continuously changed. In other words, it is desirable that the real-view landscape image on the guidance route is continuously displayed as if it were a moving image, using a plurality of image data prepared from the departure point to the destination. In this way, the pedestrian can visually understand the route to the destination in advance using a plurality of images, thereby reducing the possibility of getting lost on the route when actually moving to the destination. .

  Note that various programs may be downloaded from, for example, the server SV or may be read from a recording medium such as a memory card.

-Map data display operation in communication navigation system for pedestrians-
Next, a map display operation in the pedestrian communication navigation system S will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a guide map display process for guiding a pedestrian.

  First, in order to start the communication navigation system S for pedestrians, the pedestrian operates by operating the operation unit 25 of the portable terminal MP. Specifically, it is activated when an item corresponding to guidance is selected by a pedestrian on the initial screen. By selecting the item, the system control unit 28 of the mobile terminal MP displays a screen for setting the departure point and the destination, and accepts a designation operation for a route search condition such as the departure point and the destination by the pedestrian. Start. At that time, the pedestrian may operate the operation unit 25 of the portable terminal MP to directly input the address indicating the departure place and the destination, or may activate the map application and execute the map application. A map based on the above may be displayed on the screen, and a departure place and a destination may be selected from the map. Note that the departure point can be input using the GPS positioning unit 26 as long as it can be measured by the GPS positioning unit 26. It is also possible to use current position acquisition means by other communication. When the route search condition is input by a pedestrian, the system control unit 28 of the mobile terminal MP sets the input information as the route search condition (step S1), and the route is sent to the server SV. A route search request based on the search condition is transmitted.

  Next, the system control unit 13 of the server SV performs a route search according to the route search request transmitted from the mobile terminal MP (step S2). Specifically, as described above, the system control unit 13 searches for a guide route from the departure place to the destination based on route data included in the guide map data, and generates a guide map including the guide route.

  Further, the system control unit 13 searches for image data associated with the searched guidance route (step S3). Specifically, the system control unit 13 acquires, from the storage unit 11, a plurality of pieces of image data associated with a predetermined position on the guidance route in the order of the guidance route from the departure point to the destination as described above.

  Then, the system control unit 13 of the server SV transmits the guide map data including the guidance route and the plurality of image data to the portable terminal MP as search result information.

  Next, based on the route search result information, the system control unit 28 of the mobile terminal MP displays the pedestrian at the departure point of the guide map 52 including the guidance route on the screen 50 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A mark 53 (for example, a character) indicating the current location is arranged to display a guide map 52 including the guide route, and an image 55 associated with the position of the mark 53 on the guide route is displayed (step S4). At that time, the system control unit 28 calculates the total distance of the route from the departure point to the destination, displays a line graph 57 in which the total distance is illustrated, and displays a mark 53 on the line graph 57. Are colored and displayed in relation to the total distance.

  Next, the system control unit 28 of the portable terminal MP determines whether or not the image switching buttons 65 and 66 arranged on the left and right of the image data are pressed by a pedestrian (step S5), and this determination is affirmed. For example, the mark 53 is arranged at a predetermined position (point) on the guide route to which the image data switched by pressing one of the image switching buttons 65 and 66 is associated, and the currently displayed image is Switching to an image managed before or after the displayed image is displayed (step S6). On the other hand, if this determination is negative, the process waits until the image switching buttons 65 and 66 are pressed.

  Even when the image switching buttons 65 and 66 are pressed, if the image data is not associated with the points before and after the point associated with the currently displayed image, the image is replaced. The text data for guidance is displayed on the screen. For example, if there is a target sign or facility (toilet, station ticket gate, etc.) for the direction of travel, the text data for guidance should be “Go straight ahead until you come to the toilet. ”Or other text data.

  Next, the system control unit 28 of the portable terminal MP determines whether or not the destination has been reached (step S7), and if this determination is affirmed, the process ends. On the other hand, if this judgment is denied, it will return to step S5 and will continue a process.

  As described above, the communication navigation system S for pedestrians of the present embodiment includes a guide map 52 including at least a departure place on the screen 50 of the portable terminal MP, a guide route 51 and points for guiding a pedestrian to the destination 60 to 60d and a mark 53 (for example, a character) are displayed, and an image 55 associated with the position of the mark 53 is displayed. Further, by switching the image 55, the image to be switched is associated. The mark 53 can be moved to a predetermined position. By such a display, the pedestrian can confirm the position of the pedestrian 52 and the image 55 including the current location of the pedestrian displayed on the screen 50 and change the image 55 to the destination while grasping his / her position. Be guided. In addition, if the pedestrian switches the image 55 in advance and visually grasps the guide route 51 to the destination, the pedestrian may only need to browse the screen 50 to check his / her position once in a while. This eliminates the need for browsing the screen 50 and is convenient.

  In addition, this application is not limited to this embodiment, It can implement in a various form. For example, in the above embodiment, the route search is performed by the server SV. However, for example, the map data may be stored in the mobile terminal MP. In this case, the server SV is not essential due to the system configuration.

  In each of the above embodiments, other mobile terminal devices such as a mobile terminal device, for example, a mobile phone and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) may be applied.

  In addition, the present embodiment discloses a guidance method limited to a place where the GPS side unit 26 cannot be positioned, but the GPS side unit 26 can be positioned or the GPS positioning unit 26 can perform positioning. Of course, the present invention can be applied to guidance in a place where a place and a place where positioning is impossible are mixed.

It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the communication navigation system for pedestrians concerning this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the server SV which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of portable terminal MP which concerns on this embodiment. It is an example of a screen display when the guidance to a pedestrian is started. It is an example of a screen display during guiding a pedestrian. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a display process of the guidance map for guide | inducing a pedestrian.

Explanation of symbols

S Pedestrian Communication Navigation System SV Server MP Mobile Terminal NW Network 11, 26 Storage Unit 13, 28 System Control Unit 51 Guide Route 52 Guide Map 53 Mark 55 Image 60 Points

Claims (9)

Guide map data including a plurality of route data is stored in advance, and a route from the user's departure point to a destination is searched using the plurality of route data according to the guide route condition input by the user, and the search is performed. A navigation system for guiding the user by displaying a guide map including a guidance route generated by connecting the plurality of route data based on a result on a portable terminal device,
Image data indicating surrounding images at a plurality of predetermined positions on the guide route is stored in advance, and image data associated with the predetermined positions on the guide route is acquired in order from the starting point to the destination. Image data acquisition means for
Mark arrangement means for arranging a mark indicating the position of the user at a predetermined position on the guide route associated with the image data;
Output control means for outputting together with the guide map image data associated with a predetermined position on the guide route where the mark is arranged;
A navigation system comprising: A selection unit that selects any one of the image data acquired before and after the image data output by the output control unit;
The output control means includes
2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the selected one of the image data is output, and the mark is moved to a predetermined position on the guide route with which the one of the image data is associated. . Route length display means for displaying the distance of the route from the departure place to the destination;
The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising: a mark display control unit that displays the position of the mark on the guide route in relation to the distance.   The image data is associated with at least one of a bending point of the guidance route, a junction point with another route, a branching point branching to another route, or a point having a different hierarchy on the guidance route. The navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: A server device included in the navigation system according to claim 1,
In the server device constituting the navigation system by being connected to the portable terminal device via communication means,
Guide map data including a plurality of route data is stored in advance, and a route from the user's departure point to a destination is searched using the plurality of route data according to the guide route condition input by the user, and the search is performed. A guide map generating means for generating a guide map including a guide route by connecting the plurality of route data based on a result;
Image data indicating surrounding images at a plurality of predetermined positions on the guide route is stored in advance, and image data associated with the predetermined positions on the guide route is acquired in order from the starting point to the destination. Image data acquisition means for
A server device included in a navigation system comprising: A portable terminal device included in the navigation system according to claim 1,
In a portable terminal device constituting the navigation system by being connected to a server device via a communication means,
Mark arrangement means for arranging a mark indicating the position of the user at a predetermined position on the guide route associated with the image data;
Output control means for outputting, together with the guide map, image data associated with a predetermined position on the guide route where the mark is arranged;
A portable terminal device included in a navigation system comprising:   A program for a server device, which causes a computer to function as the server device according to claim 5.   A program for a portable terminal device that causes a computer to function as the portable terminal device according to claim 6. Guide map data including a plurality of route data is stored in advance, and a route from the user's departure point to a destination is searched using the plurality of route data according to the guide route condition input by the user, and the search is performed. A guidance method by a navigation system for guiding a user by displaying a guidance map including a guidance route generated by connecting the plurality of route data based on a result on a portable terminal device,
Image data indicating surrounding images at a plurality of predetermined positions on the guide route is stored in advance, and image data associated with the predetermined positions on the guide route is acquired in order from the starting point to the destination. An image data acquisition process,
A mark arrangement step of arranging a mark indicating the position of the user at a predetermined position on the guide route associated with the image data;
An output control step for outputting together with the guide map image data associated with a predetermined position on the guide route where the mark is disposed;
A guidance method characterized by comprising:

Images