JPH09319862A - Method and device for point retrieval - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a point retrieval device which easily specifies a point on a map for recognizing this position. SOLUTION: Plural n-th hierarchical items included in an n-th hierarchy ((n) is a natural number) are displayed as a menu, and one of them is selected as a selected n-th hierarchical item. Next, plural (n+1)th hierarchical items included in the (n+1)th hierarchy, corresponding to the selected n-th hierarchical items are displayed as a menu, and one of them is selected as a selected (n+1)th hierarchical item. This processing is repeated to finally display a map on a CRT, which includes a corresponding point which corresponds to the selected (n+1)th hierarchical item, and a pointing index which points the corresponding point is displayed on this map.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation device for displaying a map on a display device and guiding a vehicle to a destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a vehicle navigation device for recording map information on a CD-ROM or the like, reading the map information and displaying it on a display device together with the current position of the vehicle, and guiding the vehicle to a predetermined destination is studied. Is being developed. The setting of the destination in such a conventional device is performed by the operator looking for the destination while looking at the map displayed on the display device and setting the cursor at the position.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the destination is set while looking at the map in this way, if the location of the destination is unknown, the place names displayed on the display device are confirmed one by one. However, there was a drawback that it took time to find out the place name of the destination. In addition, since the screen of the display device cannot be made too large especially when it is mounted on the vehicle, it is difficult for the vehicle navigation device to display too many place names on the map.
Therefore, it is difficult to use the vehicle navigation device when the place name is known but the place name is not known.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the first invention is to provide a plurality of n-th layer items included in the n-th (n is a natural number) layer, The menu display control means such as a processor for displaying a plurality of n-th layer items corresponding to points included in the map information on a display unit such as a CRT as a menu; A selection unit such as a touch sensor for selecting any one of the n-th hierarchical item as a selected n-th hierarchical item, and (n + 1) th corresponding to the selected n-th hierarchical item.
A plurality of (n + 1) th layer items included in the th layer, the menu display control means for displaying a plurality of (n + 1) th layer items corresponding to the points as a menu on the display means; A plurality of (n +
1) Among the hierarchical items, the selecting means for selecting any one of the (n + 1) th hierarchical item as a selected (n + 1) th hierarchical item, and the corresponding point which is the point corresponding to the selected (n + 1) th hierarchical item A map display control means such as a processor that displays a map including the above on the display means, and that displays an indication index indicating the corresponding point on the map.
Is provided.

In this structure, the n-th layer item and the (n + 1) -th layer item are configured to indicate the type of facility, respectively.

Further, the n-th layer item is an item indicating the area on the map, and the (n + 1) -th layer item is an item indicating the type of facility.

Furthermore, the corresponding point is configured to be a destination to be reached.

On the other hand, the second invention is the n-th (n is a natural number)
A plurality of n-th layer items included in the th layer, wherein C
A first menu displaying step of displaying a plurality of n-th layer items corresponding to points included in a map displayed on a display unit such as RT as a menu on the display unit, and the plurality of displayed n-th layer items A first selecting step of selecting any one of the n-th hierarchical items as a selected n-th hierarchical item, and a plurality of (n + 1) th layers included in the (n + 1) -th hierarchical layer corresponding to the selected n-th hierarchical item. ) A second menu display control step of displaying a plurality of (n + 1) th hierarchical items corresponding to the points as menus on the display means, and the plurality of (n + 1) th displayed hierarchical items
The second selecting step of selecting any one of the (n + 1) th hierarchical items as the selected (n + 1) th hierarchical item among the hierarchical items, and the corresponding point which is the point corresponding to the selected (n + 1) th hierarchical item A map display control step of displaying the included map on the display means and displaying an indication index indicating the corresponding point on the map.

According to the operation of the first invention, the menu display control means displays a plurality of n-th layer items included in the n-th (n is a natural number) layer as a menu on the display means.

Then, the selecting means selects any one of the n-th layer items displayed as the selected n-th layer item.

Further, the menu display control means displays a plurality of (n + 1) th layer items included in the (n + 1) th layer corresponding to the selected nth layer item on the display means as a menu.

Then, the selecting means selects any one of the (n + 1) th layer items displayed as the selected (n + 1) th layer item.

Finally, the map display control means selects the selected number (n
+1) A map including corresponding points, which are points corresponding to the hierarchical items, is displayed on the display unit, and an indicator indicating the corresponding points is displayed on the map.

Therefore, it is possible to identify the corresponding points stepwise and display them together with the map so that the position can be recognized.

Further, according to the operation of the second invention, in the first menu displaying step, a plurality of nth layer items included in the nth layer (n is a natural number) are displayed as a menu on the display means.

Next, in the first selecting step, one of the n-th hierarchical items displayed is selected as the selected n-th hierarchical item.

Further, in the second menu display control step, a plurality of (n + 1) th layer items included in the (n + 1) th layer corresponding to the selected nth layer item are displayed as a menu on the display means.

Then, in the second selecting step, one of the (n + 1) th hierarchical items displayed is selected as the selected (n + 1) th hierarchical item.

Finally, in the map display control step, the map including the corresponding points corresponding to the selected (n + 1) th hierarchical item is displayed on the display means, and the indicator indicating the corresponding points is displayed on the map. .

Therefore, it is possible to identify the corresponding points stepwise, display them together with the map, and recognize their positions.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CD-ROM (including its drive device) as a recording medium or a storage medium, in which digitized map information is recorded. Data from the CD-ROM 1 is stored in the memory (RAM) 5 via the interface 2, the address bus 3, the data bus 4 and the like. Reference numeral 6 denotes an information processor (CPU) as a display unit, a display control unit and an extraction display unit, which performs various image data processing, and which responds to commands input through the keyboard 12 and its interface 13 It is also designed to control equipment. Reference numeral 7 is a direction sensor that detects the direction of the vehicle from the geomagnetism and the like, and 8 is a speed sensor that detects the speed of the vehicle. 9 is GPS (Global Posit
Ionizing System) device, which detects the current position of the vehicle from latitude and longitude information. Reference numeral 10 denotes a navigation processor (CPU) which corrects data of the direction sensor 7, the speed sensor 8 and the like, calculates the amount of movement of the vehicle from those data, and when the GPS device 9 cannot detect latitude and longitude information. Etc., the current position is calculated from the data set and input. Alternatively, the current location set and entered is GP
The correction process is performed according to the information from the S device 9. The processor 10 and the processor 6 can exchange data with each other. Reference numeral 11 is a ROM for storing programs of the processors 6 and 10 and other necessary information, and 14 is a control logic for supplying timing signals necessary for each circuit, means, device and the like.

A graphic display controller (GDC) 15 reads necessary data from the memory 5 and draws a predetermined image in the memories (VRAM) 16 and 17. A parallel / serial (P / S) conversion circuit 18 selects data from one of the memories 16 and 17 and converts the parallel signal into a serial signal. Reference numeral 19 is a color palette register as a color conversion circuit.
The 3-bit color signal in the video signal supplied from the / S conversion circuit 18 is converted into a predetermined 5-bit color signal. The video signal converted from the color signal is a memory (VRAM)
20, memory 20 to memory (VRAM) 21
The video signal transferred to the memory 21 and stored in the memory 21 is converted from a digital signal to an analog signal by the D / A conversion circuits 26, 27 and 28 for each of the three primary colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B). And is displayed on a display device 29 such as a CRT. Although not shown, a touch sensor as a selection means including a transparent electrode or the like is provided on the front surface of the screen of the display device 29.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a synchronizing signal generating circuit, which generates a horizontal synchronizing signal (HSYNC), a vertical synchronizing signal (VSYNC) and a dot clock (DCK) which are synchronized with each other, and addresses of the register 19, memories 20 and 21. Etc. are output to the address counters 23, 25, etc. for setting the etc.
Reference numeral 22 denotes an offset register, which sets an offset position of a portion to be transferred to the memory 20 among the images stored in the memories 16 and 17. Reference numerals 30 to 37 are buffers inserted at predetermined positions.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows the structure of the keyboard 12. As shown in the figure, each operation key is arranged on the outer periphery of the display device 29. Reference numeral 51 is a navigation (NAVI) key which is operated when executing a navigation operation, and 52 is a help (!) Key which is operated when an explanation image of the operation is output to the display device 29. A guide (GUIDE) key 53 is operated when displaying symbols such as a parking lot, a hotel, and a gas station on the map. Reference numeral 54 is a destination (DEST) key, which is operated when setting the destination. Reference numeral 55 denotes a set (SET) key, which is operated when registering an item designated by the cursor displayed on the display device 29 and a position on the map.
A cancel (CANCEL) key 56 is arranged to return to the previous screen when operated on a limited predetermined screen. Reference numeral 57 is a reduction key, and 58 is an enlargement key, which are operated when reducing or enlarging the map displayed on the display device 29. Reference numeral 59 is a scroll key as a selection means, and when moving the cursor up and down and left and right, the keys 59a to 59d are respectively operated. 6
Reference numeral 0 is a text (TEXT) key, which is operated when displaying information related to running of the vehicle. The program when the above keys are operated is managed by the processor 6.

On the other hand, a CD key 61 operated when operating the compact disc player, a TV key 62 operated when receiving a television broadcast, an AM and FM key 63 operated when receiving an AM or FM broadcast, and a reproduction. Sound select (SOUNDSE) that is operated when selecting the equalization characteristic of the sound from the predetermined characteristics
L) key 64, a muting key 65 for instantly muting the reproduced sound, a volume 66 for adjusting the volume of the reproduced sound, an air conditioner operated when operating the air conditioner (A /
C) A key 67 is provided so that a CPU (not shown) can execute a predetermined operation.

Now, the operation will be described. First, the basic operation when the navigation key 51 is operated will be described. The processor 10 calculates and detects the current position of the vehicle from the information of the direction sensor 7, the speed sensor 8, the GPS device 9, and the like. In response to this information, the processor 6 reads the map including the current location from the CD-ROM 1 and stores it in the memory 5. A plurality of reduced scale maps are recorded in the CD-ROM 1, and a reduced scale map including the current location is stored in the memory 5. The processor 6 controls the controller 15 to write the data of a predetermined scale of the map stored in the memory 5 into the memory 16 or 17. One of the memories 16 and 17 is on the front side (data is stored in the memory 2).
0)) and the other side is the back side (the data is not transferred to the memory 20 and new data is written by the controller 15). The front side and the back side are switched alternately, and writing by the controller 15 is always performed on the back side which does not send data to the memory 20.

The processor 6 further controls the controller 15 to draw the own vehicle mark on the front side of the memories 16 and 17 in response to the current position signal from the processor 10.

The controller 15 stores memories 16 and 17
In the map drawn in Fig. 3, data within a predetermined range centering on the own vehicle mark is converted from parallel data to serial data by the parallel / serial conversion circuit 18, and the color signal thereof is displayed by the color palette register 19 at a high gradation level. Is converted into a color signal and transferred to the memory 20. Which part of the maps drawn in the memories 16 and 17 is transferred is specified by the processor 6 via the offset register 22 and the address counter 23.

The processor 6 can also draw a photograph of an intersection or the like recorded in the CD-ROM 1 as an image directly in the memory 20. The image thus written in the memory 20 is further transferred to the memory 21, and finally the image stored in the memory 21 is output and displayed on the display device 29 via the D / A conversion circuits 26, 27, 28. .

Next, the operation according to the present invention will be described in detail.

First, the operation when the destination (DEST) key 54 is operated will be described. When the destination key 54 is operated, the processor 6 displays the set menu at a predetermined position (near the lower side in the figure) of the display device 29 by superimposing it on the map, as shown in FIG. 4, for example. That is, the characters of the guide set and the characters of the place name set are displayed near the lower side of the display device 29.

A touch sensor is arranged on the front surface of the display device 29, and when the display position of each character is touched with a finger or the like, it is detected. Therefore, it is possible to know which of the guide set and the place name set is selected. Assuming that the place name set is selected now, the set menu is erased on the display device 29, and the place name information is displayed as shown in FIG. 5B. Of course for that CD-
The ROM 1 stores not only map information for displaying roads, railways, coastlines, etc., but also place name information.

The place name information is divided into a plurality of stages (three stages in the present embodiment), and one point on the map is specified by designating all stages. How to define each stage is arbitrary, but for example, the first stage is a prefecture as an area on the map, the second stage is a category such as a spot, a station, a government office, etc. The stages of 3 can be the place names of Hiroshima, Higashihiroshima, Kure, etc. as the areas on the map.

When the place name set is selected, as the initial state, the first stage and the second stage are displayed as shown in FIG. 5 (b). In this initial state, it is arbitrary which prefecture is displayed as the first stage, and what category is displayed as the second stage. For example, as the first stage, Hiroshima prefecture, as the second stage. Display the station category. Display device 29
In, each area in which the place name information of each stage is displayed is defined. That is, the place name information of the first stage is in the leftmost area A, and the place name information of the third stage is in the rightmost area C.
In addition, the place name information of the second stage is displayed in the area B between the areas A and C, respectively. Fig. 5 (b)
As shown in, in the initial state, only one prefecture is displayed in the area A as the first stage. This means that the selection of the first stage has already been completed. On the other hand, the category as the second stage is displayed in the area B as much as possible. This informs the operator that the category as the second stage has not yet been selected and needs to be selected.

If the destination is other than Hiroshima Prefecture, the scroll key 59c is operated. Then, the category display in area B disappears, and the names of prefectures are displayed in area A as much as possible. In this state, scroll key 5
When 9a or 59b is operated, the cursor (the hatched portion in FIG. 5) remains stopped at the approximate center of the screen.
The display of area A moves up and down. Therefore, the desired prefecture is selected by positioning its name in the cursor.

After the selection of the first stage is completed in this way (for example, after selecting Hiroshima), the scroll key 5
When 9d is operated, the state shown in FIG. 5 (b) is obtained. That is, the display in the area A is limited to the selected Hiroshima prefecture, and many categories are displayed in the area B. Therefore, the area to be selected becomes clear compared to the case where many prefecture names are displayed as they are even after the area A is selected. Operability is improved. Also in this case, the scroll keys 59a and 59b are operated to move the category up and down, and the desired category is selected by positioning its name in the cursor.

For example, when a station is selected as a category and the scroll key 59d is further operated, the screen of the display device 29 becomes as shown in FIG. 5 (c). Ie area A
Only the prefectures and stations already selected are displayed in and B, and many place names are displayed in the area C. In this case as well, the scroll keys 59a and 59b are further operated to move the place name up and down, and the desired place name is selected by positioning the name in the cursor.

For example, when Hiroshima is selected as the place name and the set key 55 is further operated, Hiroshima station in Hiroshima prefecture is set in the memory 5 as the destination. Then the processor 6
A map including this destination is sequentially loaded from the D-ROM 1 into the memories 5 to 21 and displayed on the display device 29. At this time, the destination mark is also displayed on the map.

A flowchart for causing the processor 6 to perform the above operation is shown in FIG. 3, for example. The detailed description thereof is the same as the above-mentioned case, so it is omitted, but the pointer in the steps in this flow is for specifying the name to be displayed in the cursor at each stage, and is set in the initial state. The value is set to 0 (in the above-mentioned embodiment, the pointers of Hiroshima prefecture and the pointers of stations are set to 0), and the name is scrolled up or down by increasing or decreasing the pointer by one. The level specifies which of three levels of place name information is to be displayed.
When the level is 1, the prefecture and the category are displayed, and when the level is 2, the prefecture, the category and the place name are displayed.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the data structure when the place name information is recorded on the CD-ROM 1. That is, for example, the number of prefectures recorded in an area of 2 bytes is used as a header, and thereafter a plurality of prefecture data of arbitrary lengths are sequentially arranged.

Each prefecture data is composed of a 2-byte prefecture number, an 8-byte prefecture name, a 2-byte category number, and a plurality of category data of arbitrary length.

Each category data is composed of a 2-byte category number, an 8-byte category name, a 2-byte number of place names, and a plurality of place name data of arbitrary length.

The place name data consists of a 2-byte place name number and 16
It consists of the place name of the byte and its coordinates (x, y).

The place name information may be displayed on the map, but it is not always necessary to display it on the map. It may be recorded as searchable data, and a predetermined mark may be displayed at that point on the map when searched. Of course, the present invention can be applied not only when setting a destination but also when simply searching for a predetermined position from a place name, so that the mark does not necessarily have to be a mark as a destination.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, the point information is the area on the map corresponding to the point information at the (n + 1) th stage or the point type is any of those at the nth stage. The desired point candidates selected by stepwise classification are included so that the point information is included in the corresponding map area or point type, and the point information candidates based on the point information are displayed in each step. Since the existing map is displayed, the desired point to reach can be specified by using the point name without using the map, and it is not necessary to specify the map including the desired point in advance, and the desired point exists. The search time when searching and displaying a map can be significantly reduced, and operability is improved. Furthermore, since the desired facility or the like is displayed on the map where the facility or the like exists, the position of the facility or the like on the map can be easily recognized.

Furthermore, a plurality of stages of point information candidates are displayed at the same time, and in the displayed nth stage selection, the display mode of the selected point candidate is not selected in the nth stage. Since the point candidate is displayed differently from the point information candidate of, the point information candidate selected as the point candidate becomes clear, and the operability is improved.

Furthermore, since a desired point can be displayed without inputting characters, a means for inputting characters is not required and the structure of the vehicle navigation device can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle navigation device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a display device and a keyboard in the vehicle navigation device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle navigation device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view (I) of a display screen in the vehicle navigation device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view (II) of a display screen in the vehicle navigation device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a data configuration in the vehicle navigation device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... CD-ROM 2, 13 ... Interface 5, 16, 17, 20, 21 ... Memory 6 ... Information processor 7 ... Direction sensor 8 ... Speed sensor 9 ... GPS device 10 ... Navigation processor 11 ... ROM 12 ... Keyboard 15 ... Graphic Display controller 18 ... Parallel / serial conversion circuit 19 ... Color palette register 22 ... Offset register 23, 25 ... Address counter 24 ... Sync signal generation circuit 26, 27, 28 ... D / A conversion circuit 29 ... Display device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 20, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Furthermore, the n-th layer item or the
Any one of the (n + 1) layer items is an item indicating the area on the map, and the nth layer item or the previous layer item.
The other of the (n + 1) th layer items is configured to indicate the type of facility.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0037

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

After the selection of the first stage is completed in this way (for example, after selecting Hiroshima), the scroll key 5
When 9d is operated, the state shown in FIG. 5 (b) is obtained. That is, the display in the area A is limited to the selected Hiroshima prefecture, and many categories are displayed in the area B. Therefore, compared with the case where many prefecture names are displayed as they are after the selection of the area A, the area to be selected becomes clear and the operability becomes good. Also in this case, the scroll keys 59a and 59b are operated to move the category up and down, and the desired category is selected by positioning its name in the cursor.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0047

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0048

[Correction method] Deleted

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical display location G09B 29/10 G09G 5/36 510B // G09G 5/36 510 G06F 15/40 370C (72) Invention Masaki Kakihara 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture Mazda Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tadashi Masaji 3-3-1 Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture Mazda Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of n-th layer items included in the n-th (n is a natural number) layer, and a plurality of n-th layer items corresponding to points included in the stored map information are displayed on the display means. A menu display control means for displaying as, a selection means for selecting any one of the n-th hierarchical items displayed as the selected n-th hierarchical item, and the selected n-th hierarchical item A plurality of (n + 1) -th layer items included in the (n + 1) -th layer corresponding to, and displaying a plurality of (n + 1) -th layer items corresponding to the points as a menu on the display means. Control means, and selects any one (n + 1) th layer item from the displayed plurality of (n + 1) th layer items.
1) A map including the selection unit that is selected as a hierarchical item and the corresponding point that is the point corresponding to the selected (n + 1) th hierarchical item is displayed on the display unit, and the corresponding point is displayed on the map. A point search device comprising: a map display control unit that displays an instruction index to instruct. 2. The point search device according to claim 1, wherein the nth layer item and the (n + 1) th layer item are items indicating the type of facility, respectively. 3. The point search device according to claim 1, wherein the nth layer item is an item indicating an area on the map, and the (n + 1) th layer item is an item indicating a type of facility. A point search device characterized by the above. 4. The point search device according to claim 1, wherein the corresponding point is a destination to reach. 5. A plurality of n-th layer items included in an n-th (n is a natural number) layer, the plurality of n-th layer items corresponding to points included in a map displayed on the display means. A first menu displaying step of displaying as a menu on the display means, and a first selecting step of selecting any one n-th hierarchical item from the plurality of displayed n-th hierarchical items as a selected n-th hierarchical item , A plurality of (n + 1) th layer items included in the (n + 1) th layer corresponding to the selected nth layer item, the plurality of (n + 1) th layer items corresponding to the points being displayed on the display means. A second menu display control step of displaying as a menu, and selecting one of the (n + 1) th hierarchical items from the plurality of displayed (n + 1) th hierarchical items
1) A second selection step of selecting as a hierarchical item, and displaying the map including the corresponding point which is the point corresponding to the selected (n + 1) th hierarchical item on the display means and the correspondence on the map. A point search method comprising: a map display control step of displaying an indication index indicating a point.