JP2025032242A - IMAGE CONTROL PROGRAM, IMAGE CONTROL DEVICE, AND IMAGE CONTROL METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image control program etc. that makes it difficult for a user to lose track of a symbol indicating the same object even when switching images in a case where the display format is different before and after switching images and a noteworthy symbol indicating the same object is present in both.
[Solution] A first process is performed to display on a display unit a first image having a first display format, the first image displaying a symbol indicating a specified object, a second process is performed to display on a display unit a second image having a second display format different from the first display format, the second image displaying a symbol indicating the same object as the specified object, and a transition process is performed to display on the display unit a transition image that is displayed while switching from the first image to the second image, the transition image displaying the symbol indicating the same object as the specified object in an emphasized manner.
[Selected figure] Figure 3

Description

This application relates to the technical field of display control for switching and displaying images.

Digital devices provide services that meet the needs of users according to settings entered through user input operations. In general, user input operations and the provision of services are performed by switching images on the display unit of the digital device.

However, when the display format is different before and after switching images, and a noteworthy symbol indicating the same object is present in both images, if the images are switched instantly, the user may lose sight of the symbol indicating the same object. In response to this, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for enlarging and displaying symbols.

JP 2009-80573 A

However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the case where the display format is different before and after switching images, and where a notable symbol indicating the same object exists in each case, and therefore does not solve the problem of the user losing track of the symbol indicating the same object when switching images.

In view of these circumstances, the present invention aims to provide an image control program or the like that makes it difficult for a user to lose track of a symbol indicating the same object even when switching images in a case where the display format is different before and after switching images and a notable symbol indicating the same object is present in both cases.

The invention described in claim 1 is characterized in that it causes a computer to execute a first process of displaying on a display unit a first image having a first display format and displaying a symbol indicating a predetermined object, a second process of displaying on the display unit a second image having a second display format different from the first display format and displaying a symbol indicating the same object as the predetermined object, and a transition process of displaying on the display unit a transition image that is displayed during switching from the first image to the second image and that displays, in an emphasized manner, the symbol indicating the same object as the predetermined object.

The invention described in claim 7 is characterized by comprising a first processing means for displaying on a display unit a first image having a first display format, the first image displaying a symbol indicating a predetermined object, a second processing means for displaying on the display unit a second image having a second display format different from the first display format, the second image displaying a symbol indicating the same object as the predetermined object, and a transition processing means for displaying on the display unit a transition image displayed during switching from the first image to the second image, the transition image displaying the symbol indicating the same object as the predetermined object with emphasis.

The invention described in claim 8 is an image control method by an image control device, characterized in that it includes a first processing step of displaying on a display unit a first image having a first display format and displaying a symbol indicating a predetermined object, a second processing step of displaying on the display unit a second image having a second display format different from the first display format and displaying a symbol indicating the same object as the predetermined object, and a transition processing step of displaying on the display unit a transition image that is displayed during switching from the first image to the second image and that displays, in an emphasized manner, the symbol indicating the same object as the predetermined object.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a display control device 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an in-vehicle device 200 according to the embodiment. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of image transition when switching from an overhead image to a planar image in the embodiment. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of a change in the viewpoint position when switching from an overhead image to a planar image in the embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of image transition when switching from a point search result image to an entire route image in the embodiment. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of image transition when switching from an overall route image to a planar image in the embodiment.

The embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display control device 100 includes a first processing means 101, a second processing means 102, and a transition processing means 103.

The first processing means 101 causes the display unit to display a first image having a first display format, the first image displaying a symbol indicating a predetermined object.

The second processing means 102 causes the display unit to display a second image having a second display format different from the first display format, the second image displaying a symbol indicating an object identical to the specified object.

The transition processing means 103 causes the display unit to display a transition image that is displayed while switching the image from the first image to the second image, the transition image highlighting a symbol that indicates an object that is the same as the specified object.

According to the display control device 100, during switching from a first image in a first display format to a second image in a second display format, a transition image that highlights a symbol indicating a specific object is displayed, making it difficult for the user to lose track of the symbol.

Next, an example corresponding to the above-described embodiment will be described. Note that the example described below is an example in which the present invention is applied to the in-vehicle device 200.

1. Configuration of the in-vehicle device 200
The configuration of the in-vehicle device 200 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the in-vehicle device 200 includes a control unit 211, a storage unit 212 including a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), an input unit 213 including a keyboard, a remote controller, a touch panel, or the like, a display unit 214, a bus line 215, an input/output interface unit 220, a vehicle speed sensor 221, an angular velocity sensor 222, an acceleration sensor 223, a steering angle sensor 224, and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiving unit 225.

The vehicle speed sensor 221 detects the current speed of the vehicle using a speed detection process using a vehicle speed pulse acquired from the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device 200 is mounted, and outputs the speed data. The angular velocity sensor 222 detects the angular velocity of, for example, a change in direction of the vehicle, and outputs angular velocity data and relative orientation data per unit time. The acceleration sensor 223 detects the acceleration of the vehicle, for example, in the forward/rearward direction, and outputs acceleration data per unit time, etc. The steering angle sensor 224 detects the steering angle of the vehicle, and outputs steering angle data, etc. The GNSS receiver 225 receives navigation radio waves from GNSS satellites, and outputs GNSS positioning data.

The storage unit 212 stores data for displaying various images on the display unit 214. For example, map data for displaying a map, map information used when searching for a route, road link information, etc. are stored. The storage unit 212 also stores various programs such as an operating system and application programs. In particular, the storage unit 212 stores a display control program for switching and displaying images on the display unit 214. Note that the various programs may be obtained, for example, from a server device or the like via a network, or may be read from a recording medium such as a CD, DVD, or USB memory.

The input unit 213 accepts input operations from the user and transmits an operation signal indicating the operation content to the control unit 211.

The display unit 214 displays an image based on image data under the control of the control unit 211. The display unit 214 is configured with a graphics controller 214a, a buffer memory 214b consisting of a memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM), and a display 214c consisting of a liquid crystal display or the like. In this configuration, the graphics controller 214a controls the entire display unit 214 based on control data sent from the control unit 211 via a bus line 215. The buffer memory 214b also temporarily stores image data that can be displayed immediately. Then, an image is displayed on the display 214c based on the image data output from the graphics controller 214a.

The control unit 211 is composed of a CPU 211a that controls the entire control unit 211, a ROM 211b in which control programs for controlling the control unit 211 are prestored, and a RAM 211c in which various data are temporarily stored. The CPU 211a functions as various means by reading and executing various programs stored in the ROM 211b and the storage unit 212. The control unit 211 or the CPU 211a corresponds to a "computer."

The control unit 211 is also connected to a vehicle speed sensor 221, an angular velocity sensor 222, an acceleration sensor 223, a steering angle sensor 224, and a GNSS receiving unit 225 via a bus line 215 and an input/output interface unit 220.

The control unit 211 performs satellite positioning based on GNSS positioning data, autonomous positioning based on speed data, angular velocity data, relative orientation data, acceleration data, steering angle data, etc., or hybrid positioning that combines these, to obtain current position information indicating the current position (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the vehicle (sometimes referred to as the "own vehicle").

2. Image Switching Control by the Control Unit 211
The control unit 211 controls switching of images to be displayed on the display 214c by transmitting image data generated based on map data etc. stored in the storage unit 212 and control data related to switching of images to the display unit 214. The control is performed by the control unit 211 executing a display control program. Below, the images to be displayed on the display 214c and the image switching control by the control unit 211 will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 6.

[2.1. Control of switching from overhead image to planar image]
First, a case where the image displayed on the display 214c is switched from an overhead image to a planar image will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image transition when switching from an overhead image to a planar image, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a viewpoint position when depicting a vehicle mark when switching from an overhead image to a planar image.

Figure 3(A) is a diagram showing an example of overhead image 300A, and Figure 3(H) is a diagram showing an example of planar image 300H. Also, Figures 3(B) to 3(G) are diagrams showing examples of intermediate images 300B, 300C, 300D, 300E, 300F, and 300G (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "intermediate images 300B-300G") that are displayed during the image change from overhead image 300A to planar image 300H.

The overhead image 300A and the planar image 300H are route guidance images for guiding the user along the route to the destination, and respectively display the vehicle mark 301A and the vehicle mark 301H indicating the vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle device 200, and the route 302A and the route 302H.

In this embodiment, the user can select from two display modes when the route guidance image is displayed on the display 214c. There are two display modes: an overhead mode and a planar mode. When the overhead mode is selected, the control unit 211 displays an overhead image 300A, and when the planar mode is selected, the control unit 211 displays a planar image 300H. The overhead image 300A is an image depicting the vehicle mark 301A and its surroundings from behind and above the vehicle mark 301A, while the planar image 300H is an image depicting the vehicle mark 301H and its surroundings from directly above the vehicle mark 301H, and the display formats are different for each.

When the user switches the display mode from the overhead mode to the planar mode, the control unit 211 switches the image from the overhead image 300A to the planar image 300H. At this time, the control unit 211 does not immediately switch the image from the overhead image 300A to the planar image 300H, but switches and displays the images in the order of the overhead image 300A, intermediate images 300B, 300C, 300D, 300E, 300F, 300G, and planar image 300H.

Intermediate images 300B, 300C, 300D, 300E, 300F, and 300G respectively display vehicle marks 301B, 301C, 301D, 301E, 301F, and 301G, and routes 302B, 302C, 302D, 302E, 302F, and 302G. Vehicle marks 301A, 301B, 301C, 301D, 301E, 301F, and 301G, and vehicle mark 301H may be collectively referred to as "vehicle mark 301."

The overhead image 300A, the intermediate images 300B-300G, and the planar image 300H each have a different viewpoint when depicting the vehicle mark 301 and its surroundings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of each viewpoint from the side with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle. That is, the overhead image 300A is a diagram depicted from the viewpoint position 350A, the intermediate image 300B is a diagram depicted from the viewpoint position 350B, the intermediate image 300C is a diagram depicted from the viewpoint position 350C, the intermediate image 300D is a diagram depicted from the viewpoint position 350D, the intermediate image 300E is a diagram depicted from the viewpoint position 350E, the intermediate image 300F is a diagram depicted from the viewpoint position 350F, the intermediate image 300G is a diagram depicted from the viewpoint position 350G, and the planar image 300H is a diagram depicted from the viewpoint position 350H.

The control unit 211 switches and displays the images in the order of the overhead image 300A, the intermediate images 300B, 300C, 300D, 300E, 300F, 300G, and the planar image 300H. In other words, the control unit 211 enlarges and displays the vehicle mark 301 from the size of the vehicle mark 301A displayed in the overhead image 300A, and then reduces and displays the vehicle mark 301H displayed in the planar image 300H. In other words, when the image is switched from the overhead image 300A to the planar image 300H, the vehicle mark 301 is highlighted, making it difficult for the user to lose sight of the vehicle mark 301 when the image is switched. In addition, the user can obtain a realistic visual effect (as if he/she were a bird) in which the user gradually approaches the vehicle mark 301 from above and behind (viewpoint position 350A) (viewpoint position 350B), lowers his/her posture while approaching further (viewpoint position 350C, viewpoint position 350D), then moves directly above the vehicle mark 301 (viewpoint position 350E), and then gradually moves upward from there (viewpoint position 350F, viewpoint position 350G, viewpoint position 350H). The above visual effect makes it clear that the vehicle mark is an icon that requires attention, so the user will not lose sight of the vehicle mark. Furthermore, when switching from the bird's-eye view image 300A to the planar image 300H, the viewpoint movement effect and the enlargement effect cause surrounding icons, etc. to be removed from the screen or not displayed, so that the user can focus more attention on the vehicle mark.

[2.2. Switching control from location search result image to whole route image]
Next, a case where the image displayed on the display 214c is switched from a location search result image to an overall route image will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of image transition when switching from a location search result image to an overall route image.

Fig. 5(A) is a diagram showing an example of a location search result image 400A, and Fig. 5(C) is a diagram showing an example of an overall route image 400C. Also, Fig. 5(B) is a diagram showing an example of an intermediate image 400B that is displayed during the process of switching from the location search result image 400A to the overall route image 400C.

The location search result image 400A is an image showing the results of a location search based on the set search criteria. The location search result image 400A includes a list 410 of the searched locations, and when any location included in the list 410 is selected, a planar map 420 showing the area around that location and a location mark 401A showing that location within the planar map 420 are displayed.

The location search result image 400A also includes a "Go here" button 402. When the user selects the "Go here" button 402, the control unit 211 switches the image from the location search result image 400A to an overall route image 400C. The overall route image 400C is an image that displays, together with a map, the entire route whose destination is the location in the list 410 that was selected when the "Go here" button 402 was selected. The overall route image 400C also includes a destination mark 401C that indicates the same location (searched location) as the location mark 401A in the location search result image 400A.

In this way, the location search result image 400A is an image that displays the results of a location search based on the set search criteria in list format, and also displays a planar map 420 showing one of the locations in the list 410, while the overall route image 400C is an image that displays the entire route to a location in the list 410 as a destination, with each display format being different.

Furthermore, when the "Go here" button 402 is selected by the user, the control unit 211 does not immediately switch the image from the location search result image 400A to the overall route image 400C, but instead switches and displays the images in the order of location search result image 400A, intermediate image 400B, and overall route image 400C. The intermediate image 400B is an image that displays the location that was selected when the "Go here" button 402 was selected and its surroundings at a larger scale than the planar map 420 of the location search result image 400A. At this time, the location mark 401B indicating the location selected by the user is displayed at a larger scale than the location mark 401A in the location search result image 400A.

Note that in FIG. 5, a single intermediate image 400B is shown as the image displayed while switching the image from the location search result image 400A to the overall route image 400C, but multiple intermediate images other than the intermediate image 400B may be displayed to transition between the screens smoothly as a moving image.

Specifically, the control unit 211 may display multiple intermediate images in sequence after the location search result image 400A to gradually enlarge the planar map 420 and the area around the location mark 401A in the location search result image 400A, and then display the intermediate image 400B. The control unit 211 may also display multiple intermediate images in sequence after the intermediate image 400B to gradually reduce the planar map showing the mark 401B and its area in the intermediate image 400B, and then display the overall route image 400C.

In addition to or separately from this enlargement or reduction display control, the control unit 211 may display a plurality of intermediate images in sequence while switching the image from the point search result image 400A to the overall route image 400C, thereby causing a mark indicating the point (a mark in the display form of the point mark 401A or the destination mark 401C) to move from the position of the point mark 401A in the point search result image 400A to the position of the destination mark 401C in the overall route image 400C. Furthermore, since the point mark 401A in the point search result image 400A and the destination mark 401C in the overall route image 400C are both marks indicating the same point but have different display forms, the control unit 211 changes the display form from the display form of the point mark 401B to the display form of the destination mark 401C. The change may be such that the display form of the mark is gradually changed, or may be such that the display form of the mark is switched when the "Go here" button 402 is selected, or when the mark is most enlarged (the viewpoint is closest) during a screen transition.

[2.3. Switching control from whole path image to planar image]
Next, a case where the image displayed on the display 214c is switched from an overall route image to a planar image will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of image transition when switching from an overall route image to a planar image.

Fig. 6(A) is a diagram showing an example of an overall route image 500A, and Fig. 6(C) is a diagram showing an example of a planar image 500C. Also, Fig. 6(B) is a diagram showing an example of an intermediate image 500B that is displayed during the process of switching from the overall route image 500A to the planar image 500C.

The overall route image 500A is an image showing the entire route from the current position of the vehicle to the set destination, and is, for example, an image that displays, together with a map, the entire route to the destination, which is the point in the list 410 that was selected when the "Go here" button 402 in FIG. 5(A) was selected. The overall route image 500A includes a current position mark 501A that shows the current position of the vehicle (the position where guidance begins), and a "Start guidance" button 502.

When the user selects the "Start Guidance" button 502, the control unit 211 switches the image from the overall route image 500A to a planar image 500C. The planar image 500C is an image that displays a map showing a current position mark 501A and its surroundings. The planar image 500C also includes a vehicle mark 501C that indicates the current position of the vehicle, which is the same object as the current position mark 501A in the overall route image 500A. The planar image 500C displays a map including the vehicle position and its surroundings at a larger scale than the overall route image 500A, except when the user performs an operation to reduce the map display.

In this way, the overall route image 500A is an image that displays the entire route from the vehicle's current position to the destination, while the planar image 500C is an image that displays the current position mark 501A and its surroundings, as well as part of the route, and the display formats are different for each.

In addition, when the "Start Guidance" button 502 is selected by the user, the control unit 211 does not immediately switch the image from the overall route image 500A to the planar image 500C, but instead switches and displays the images in the order of the overall route image 500A, intermediate image 500B, and planar image 500C. The intermediate image 500B is an image that displays the current position mark 501A and its surroundings at a larger scale than the overall route image 500A. At this time, the current position mark 501B is displayed at a larger scale than the current position mark 501A on the overall route image 500A.

Note that in FIG. 6, a single intermediate image 500B is shown as the image displayed while switching the image from the overall route image 500A to the planar image 500C, but multiple intermediate images other than the intermediate image 500B may be displayed to transition between the screens smoothly as a moving image.

Specifically, the control unit 211 may display multiple intermediate images in sequence after the overall route image 500A to gradually enlarge the planar map and current position mark 501A of the overall route image 500A, and then display the intermediate image 500B. The control unit 211 may also display multiple intermediate images in sequence after the intermediate image 500B to gradually reduce the current position mark 501B and its surroundings of the intermediate image 500B, and then display the intermediate image 500B.

In addition to or separately from this enlargement or reduction display control, the control unit 211 may display a plurality of intermediate images in sequence while switching the image from the overall route image 500A to the planar image 500C, thereby causing a mark indicating the vehicle (a mark in the display form of the current position mark 501A or the display form of the vehicle mark 501C) to move from the position of the current position mark 501A in the overall route image 500A to the position of the vehicle mark 501C in the planar image 500C. Furthermore, since the current position mark 501A in the overall route image 500A and the vehicle mark 501C in the planar image 500C are both marks indicating the current position of the vehicle but have different display forms, the control unit 211 changes the display form from the display form of the current position mark 501B to the display form of the vehicle mark 501C. The change may be such that the mark display form is gradually changed, or the mark display form may be switched when the "Start Guidance" button 502 is selected, or when the mark is most enlarged (the viewpoint is closest) during a screen transition.

Up to this point, we have described examples in which intermediate images 300B-300G are displayed while switching the image from overhead image 300A to planar image 300H, intermediate image 400B is displayed while switching the image from point search result image 400A to overall route image 400C, and intermediate image 500B is displayed while switching the image from overall route image 500A to planar image 500C. In this application, however, the process of displaying the images before the image switching (overhead image 300A, point search result image 400A, overall route image 500A) is referred to as a first process, the process of displaying the images after the image switching (planar image 300H, overall route image 400C, planar image 500C) is referred to as a second process, and the process of displaying the images between the image switching (intermediate images 300B-300G, intermediate images 400B, intermediate image 500B) is referred to as a transition process.

As described above, in the vehicle device 200 in this embodiment, the control unit 211 (an example of a "first processing means," "second processing means," or "transition processing means") executes a first process in which the control unit 211 displays an overhead image 300A (an example of a "first image having a first display format") displaying a vehicle mark 301A (an example of a "symbol") indicating the vehicle (an example of a "predetermined target") on the display 214c (an example of a "display unit"); a second process in which the control unit 211 displays a planar image 300H (an example of a "second image having a second display format") having a different display format from the overhead image 300A and displaying a vehicle mark 301H (an example of a "symbol indicating the same target as the specified target") indicating the vehicle; and a transition process in which the control unit 211 displays an intermediate image 300D (an example of a "transition image") displayed while switching from the overhead image 300A to the planar image 300H, the intermediate image 300D displaying an enlarged version of the vehicle marks 301A, 301H on the display 214c.

Therefore, according to the in-vehicle device 200 of this embodiment, while switching the image from the overhead image 300A to the planar image 300H, which has a different display format from the overhead image 300A, an intermediate image 300D is displayed that displays an enlarged view of the vehicle mark 301 indicating the vehicle, making it difficult for the user to lose sight of the vehicle mark 301.

In the vehicle device 200 of this embodiment, the control unit 211, in the transition process, displays the vehicle mark 301 included in the intermediate images 300B-300G in an enlarged size from the size of the vehicle mark 301A displayed in the overhead image 300A (vehicle marks 301B, 301C, 301D, 301E), and then reduces the size to the size of the vehicle mark 301H displayed in the planar image 300H (vehicle marks 301F, 301G). This gradually increases the size of the vehicle mark 301A before the image switching, and then gradually reduces it to the size of the vehicle mark 301H after the image switching, preventing the user from feeling uncomfortable even though the vehicle mark 301 is enlarged when the image is switched.

Furthermore, in the vehicle device 200 in this embodiment, as described in the example of FIG. 5, the location search result image 400A (an example of a "first image") and the overall route image 400C (an example of a "second image") are displayed including a background other than marks such as a map, and in the transition process, the control unit 211 enlarges and displays the map when enlarging and displaying the location mark 401B (an example of a "symbol") included in the intermediate image 400B, and then reduces and displays the map when reducing and displaying the location mark 401B included in the intermediate image 400B. In this case, when the location mark 401B is enlarged or reduced and displayed, the background map is also enlarged or reduced and displayed, so that it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable when switching images.

Furthermore, in the vehicle device 200 in this embodiment, as described in the example of FIG. 6, the control unit 211 may display the mark indicating the vehicle included in the intermediate image (the mark in the display form of the current position mark 501A or the mark in the display form of the vehicle mark 501C) moving from the position of the current position mark 501A (an example of a "symbol") displayed in the overall route image 500A (an example of a "first image") to the position of the vehicle mark 501C (an example of a "symbol") displayed in the planar image 500C (an example of a "second image"). In this case, even if the position of the mark indicating the vehicle differs between the overall route image 500A before switching and the planar image 500C after switching, the position of the mark indicating the vehicle does not switch instantly but switches gradually, so that it is possible to prevent the user from losing sight of the position of the mark indicating the vehicle when switching images.

Furthermore, in the vehicle device 200 of this embodiment, as described in the examples of Figures 3 and 4, in the first process, the control unit 211 displays an overhead image 300A depicting the host vehicle mark 301 from a viewpoint position 350A (an example of a "first viewpoint position") diagonally above the host vehicle mark 301, in the transition process, it displays intermediate images 300B, 300C, 300D, and 300E depicting the host vehicle mark 301 from a viewpoint position 350B (an example of a "second viewpoint position") that is closer to the host vehicle mark 301 from the viewpoint position 350A, and in the second process, it displays a planar image 300H depicting the host vehicle mark 301 from a viewpoint position 350H (an example of a "third viewpoint position") that is directly above the host vehicle mark 301. As a result, while the image switches from the overhead image 300A to the planar image 300H, dynamic intermediate images 300B, 300C, 300D, and 300E that depict the vehicle mark 301 from different viewpoints are displayed, drawing the user's attention to the mark indicating the vehicle and preventing the user from losing sight of the position of the mark.

Furthermore, in the vehicle device 200 of this embodiment, as described in the example of Figure 6, the control unit 211 may, in the first processing, display an overall route image 500A in which a mark (an example of a "symbol") indicating the current position of the vehicle (an example of a "predetermined target") is displayed in the display form of the current position mark 501A in (A) of Figure 6 (an example of a "first display form"), and in the second processing, display a planar image 500C in which a mark indicating the current position of the vehicle is displayed in the display form of the vehicle mark 501C in (C) of Figure 6 (an example of a "second display form"), and in the transition processing, display an intermediate image in which an enlarged mark indicating the current position of the vehicle is displayed, which is the display form of the current position mark 501A or the display form of the vehicle mark 501C. In this case, even if the display form of the mark indicating the vehicle's current position is different between the entire route image 500A before switching and the planar image 500C after switching, the display form of the mark indicating the vehicle's current position is switched gradually rather than instantly, so that the user can be prevented from losing track of the position of the mark indicating the vehicle's current position when switching images.

3. Modifications
Next, modified examples of this embodiment will be described. Note that the modified examples described below can be combined as appropriate.

[3.1. Modification 1]
In the above embodiment, as described in the example of FIG. 5, the control unit 211 enlarges and displays the background map when enlarging and displaying the point mark 401B included in the intermediate image 400B, and then reduces and displays the background map when reducing and displaying the point mark 401B included in the intermediate image 400B. However, instead of this, the control unit 211 may not enlarge and display the background map when enlarging and displaying the point mark 401B included in the intermediate image 400B, and may not reduce and display the background map when reducing and displaying the point mark 401B included in the intermediate image 400B. That is, the control unit 211 may enlarge and display only the point mark 401B, or reduce and display only the point mark 401B. In this case, the intermediate image 400B in which the point mark 401B is enlarged and displayed is displayed, so that the user is less likely to lose sight of the point mark 401B when switching images.

[3.2. Modification 2]
In the above embodiment, as explained in the example of Fig. 3, the control unit 211 enlarges and displays the vehicle mark 301 in the intermediate images 300B, 300C, 300D, and 300E to emphasize the vehicle mark 301, but instead of or in addition to this, the vehicle mark 301 may be displayed in an emphasized manner, such as by flashing the vehicle mark 301 or by displaying it in a conspicuous color. In this case, too, since the vehicle mark 301 is displayed in an emphasized manner, it is possible to make it difficult for the user to lose sight of the vehicle mark 301 when switching images.

[3.3. Modification 3]
The above embodiment is an example of applying the present invention to the in-vehicle device 200, but the present invention can also be applied to programs used in mobile terminals, game consoles, and other devices other than the in-vehicle device 200, in which the display form is changed.

100 Display control device 101 First processing means 102 Second processing means 103 Transition processing means 200 In-vehicle device 211 Control unit 211a CPU
211b ROM
211c RAM
212 Storage unit 213 Input unit 214 Display unit 214a Graphics controller 214b Buffer memory 214c Display 215 Bus line 220 Input/output interface unit 221 Vehicle speed sensor 222 Angular velocity sensor 223 Acceleration sensor 224 Steering angle sensor 225 GNSS receiving unit

Claims (1)

On the computer,
a first process of displaying, on a display unit, a first image having a first display format, the first image displaying a symbol indicating a predetermined object;
a second process of displaying, on the display unit, a second image having a second display format different from the first display format, the second image displaying a symbol indicating an object identical to the predetermined object;
a transition process for displaying, on the display unit, a transition image displayed during switching from the first image to the second image, the transition image displaying a symbol indicating the same object as the predetermined object in an emphasized manner;
4. An image control program comprising:

Images