JP2010054196A - Map display method and navigation device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a convenient map display method, capable of giving, when an enlarged map is superimposed and displayed on a part of a map, the direction also by a display mode of the enlarged map. <P>SOLUTION: The map display method for displaying a map on a display device includes displaying a first map 50 on the display device, superimposing a frame 51 including a current location 53, which is smaller than the first map 50 on the first map 50, displaying an enlarged second map 52 including the current location 53 within the frame 51; and making the frame 51, when a destination is out of the frame 51, into a first arrow shape indicating the direction of the destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention superimposes a frame smaller than the displayed map on the displayed map, and uses the map display method for displaying an enlarged map including the reference point in the frame in the frame. The present invention relates to a navigation device.

  Currently, maps are displayed and used on various devices such as navigation devices, portable information terminals, mobile phones, personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs). There are a variety of map display methods depending on the usage form of each device and the contents of map data, and many display methods with improved user convenience have been proposed.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a map image of a certain scale corresponding to a wide area map is displayed as a main image, and a detailed map area with a different scale is superimposed on the display area on the main image. A map information display device that performs display is disclosed. That is, by displaying a map that is enlarged more than a part of the currently displayed map, a part of the map is displayed as if magnified by a magnifying glass.
JP 2002-5672 A

  However, when the technique of Patent Document 1 is used, while the user moves the detailed map area from the state where the desired place such as the destination or searched place is displayed at the center, The desired location that was initially displayed may move out of the screen and be lost. At this time, when the user wants to return to the map that displays the desired place that was initially displayed, the user has to move and search the map display in all directions, which is not convenient.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient map display method capable of informing the direction by the display mode of the enlarged map when the enlarged map is superimposed on a part of the map. Another object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device using the map display method.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a map display method for displaying a map on a display device, wherein the display device displays a first map, and the first map includes a reference point. A frame smaller than a map is superimposed, and an enlarged second map including the reference point is displayed in the frame, and when the set desired place is outside the frame, the frame points in the direction of the desired place A first arrow shape is used.

  According to this configuration, the shape of the frame is changed depending on whether the set desired place is outside the frame or inside the frame.

  In the map display method, at the time of guidance, the reference point is the current location and the desired location is the destination.

  According to this configuration, the present invention can be applied to a device that can detect the current location, such as a navigation device, a mobile phone, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

  In the map display method, when the current location approaches within a predetermined distance to the guide point on the guide route in the frame, the frame may be formed in a second arrow shape indicating the guide direction.

  According to this configuration, when approaching the guide point, the frame shape is further changed and displayed.

  The navigation device of the present invention uses any one of the map display methods described above.

  According to the present invention, when the set desired place is out of the frame, the vicinity is made easy to understand by displaying the enlarged map in the frame by using the first arrow-shaped frame indicating the direction of the desired place. At the same time, the direction of the desired place set by the direction of the arrow can be notified.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the current location approaches within a predetermined distance to the guidance point on the guidance route, the enlarged map and the current location are displayed in the frame by using the second arrow-shaped frame indicating the guidance direction. By doing so, the guide route can be easily understood, and the guide direction can be displayed in an easy-to-see manner according to the direction of the arrow.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly convenient map display method capable of not only displaying an enlarged map superimposed on a part of a map but also informing the direction by the display mode of the enlarged map.

  Hereinafter, a navigation apparatus and a PC using the map display method of the present invention will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the navigation apparatus of the present invention.

  The navigation device 10 is for mounting on a vehicle, specifies a vehicle position based on radio waves received from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, displays a guidance screen showing a map of the vicinity along with the vehicle position, The main function is to guide the vehicle to the destination along the guide route.

  The navigation device 10 includes a GPS unit 11, a gyro sensor 12, a vehicle speed sensor 13, an interface unit 14, a control unit 15, a recording medium 19, a drive unit 20, a drawing unit 21, and a display control unit 22. , A display unit 23, a sound source circuit unit 24, a speaker 25, a hard key 26, a touch panel 27, a position detection unit 28, and an interface unit 29.

  The GPS unit 11 includes a receiving antenna, a tuner, and the like. The GPS unit 11 processes radio waves received from GPS satellites and extracts positioning data. The retrieved positioning data is sent to the control unit 15 via the interface unit 14. The control unit 15 specifies the current location of the vehicle based on the positioning data sent from the GPS unit 11. The navigation device 10 employs a so-called hybrid system, and also uses a gyro sensor 12 for detecting the direction of the vehicle and a vehicle speed sensor 13 for detecting the speed of the vehicle. Detection signals from the gyro sensor 12 and the vehicle speed sensor 13 are sent to the control unit 15 via the interface unit 14, and the control unit 15 identifies the direction and speed of the vehicle based on these signals.

  In addition, the control unit 15 performs overall control of the navigation device 10 and executes various operations and processes such as vehicle position specification and route search. The control unit 15 is configured by, for example, a microcomputer, and is read from a CPU 16 that executes various programs in which control and operation procedures are described, data used by the CPU 16, and a recording medium 19 to be described later, and the CPU 16. RAM 17 for temporarily storing the program to be executed in (1), and ROM 18 for storing a program, font data, and the like that describe basic control relating to startup, input / output, and the like. The CPU 16, RAM 17, ROM 18 and the like are connected via a bus (not shown).

  As the recording medium 19, a hard disk, a memory card, an optical disk or the like can be adopted. The recording medium 19 stores a map database necessary for displaying a guidance screen, searching for a route, and the like, and a program describing various operations of the navigation device 10. Then, the control unit 15 reads this program from the recording medium 19 via the drive unit 20 and executes it. The map database contains map data including information on roads, facilities, backgrounds, drawing parameters referenced when drawing maps and guidance screens based on map data, index data referenced in various searches, route guidance Audio data used to generate audio for use and other purposes. And the control part 15 takes out data required for operation to perform partially from a map database, and refers it.

  The drawing unit 21 is an IC chip that includes a drawing-dedicated CPU or the like, and creates guidance screen image data, operation screen image data, and the like based on instructions from the control unit 15. The image data created by the drawing unit 21 is sent to the display control unit 22 and stored in a RAM included in the display control unit 22. The display control unit 22 sends an image display signal to the display unit 23 based on the stored image data, and causes the display area of the display unit 23 to display a screen related to the image data. For the display unit 23, an LCD, an organic EL display, or the like is used.

  The sound source circuit unit 24 generates an analog audio signal for route guidance and other uses based on the audio data sent from the control unit 15. The generated analog audio signal is reproduced by the speaker 25.

  The hard key 26 includes a power key for turning on / off the power, a volume adjusting key, and the like. When one of the keys constituting the hard key 26 is pressed, a signal notifying that the key is pressed is sent to the control unit 15 via the interface unit 29.

  The touch panel 27 is, for example, a pressure-sensitive panel having transparent electrodes arranged in a grid pattern, and is disposed on the display area of the display unit 23. When the touch panel 27 is pressed, the position detection unit 28 generates a signal for notifying the coordinate information of the pressed position based on the voltage signal sent from the touch panel 27. This signal is sent to the control unit 15 via the interface unit 29.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device of the first embodiment. The navigation device 10 includes a normal mode and an enlarged frame mode. Hereinafter, a case where the enlarged frame mode is selected in advance by a user operation will be described. The enlarged frame mode is a mode in which a frame is superimposed on a part of the map on the screen and an enlarged map including the current location is displayed in the frame. On the other hand, the normal mode is a mode in which the current location is superimposed on a map on the screen.

  First, when there is an operation such as power-on, the navigation device 10 identifies the current location in step S10. Next, it progresses to step S11 and the 1st map containing the present location is displayed. The first map is a map of a preset scale, and is displayed so that the current location is at the center of the first map or slightly below the center.

  Next, it progresses to step S12 and it is discriminate | determined whether the destination is set. The destination is set by the user selecting from a map, searching from an address, or searching from a telephone number.

  If the destination is not set in step S12, for example, if the power is turned on and the state is as it is, the process proceeds to step S13, and a smaller frame than the first map including the current location is superimposed on the first map. Then, the second map and the current location enlarged from the first map including the current location are displayed in the frame. From step S13, the process returns to step S10.

  FIG. 3 is an example of the display screen in step S13. A circular frame 41 smaller than the first map 40 is superimposed on the center of the first map 40, and a second map 42 and a current location 43 that are larger than the first map 40 including the current location are displayed in the frame 41. It is displayed.

  The size of the frame 41 may be changed to a desired size by the user dragging and moving around the frame 41. Further, the shape of the frame 41 may be changed by dragging and dragging a predetermined portion of the frame 41.

  What is necessary is just to cut the 2nd map 42 so that the 1st map 40 may be expanded centering on a present location and it may fit in the frame 41. FIG. The current location 43 is indicated by an isosceles triangle in FIG. 3 and the apex angle indicates the current traveling direction. However, the current location 43 may be at least a mark indicating the current location, such as a dot, an arrow, or a vehicle pattern. May be.

  The above-described method for changing the size and shape of the frame, the second map enlargement method, and the current location mark are also applicable to the following drawings.

  In this way, by using the frame 41, the user can simultaneously grasp the state of the wide area around the current location and the detailed state around the current location. In other words, it is not necessary to greatly change the viewpoint in grasping the situation of both. Moreover, since it is not necessary to display both of them separately as in the prior art, a large amount of information can be displayed without impairing visibility even with the same screen size. Therefore, it is effective even for a small screen such as a portable terminal.

  Returning to FIG. 2, when the destination is set in step S12, the process proceeds to step S14 to search for a route from the current location to the destination, and in a predetermined color or the like so that the guidance route can be distinguished from other roads. Superimpose on the map. Various conventional methods can be employed for route search.

  Proceeding from step S14 to step S15, it is determined whether the destination is outside or within the frame to be displayed later. As the frame at this time, for example, the frame 41 including the current location described above may be assumed. If the destination is outside the frame in step S15, the process proceeds to step S16, the frame is superimposed on the first map, and the second map and the current location are enlarged in the frame than the first map including the current location. Is displayed. The frame at this time has a first arrow shape indicating the direction of the destination.

  FIG. 4 is an example of the display screen in step S16. A first arrow-shaped frame 51 smaller than the first map 50 is superimposed on the center of the first map 50, and a second map 52 enlarged in the frame 51 than the first map 50 including the current location; The current location 53 is displayed. The frame 51 has a shape combining a triangle and a circle, and the triangle arrow of the frame 51 points in the direction of the destination 54. Further, the guide route 55 is indicated by a broken line.

  In this way, by using the first arrow-shaped frame 51, the enlarged route and the current location are displayed in the frame, so that the guide route can be easily understood, and the direction of the destination can be informed by the direction of the arrow. it can. Therefore, it is possible to provide a more convenient map display method than just the enlarged map.

  Returning to FIG. 2, if the destination is within the frame in step S15, the process proceeds to step S17, where a frame smaller than the first map including the current location is superimposed on the first map, and the current location is displayed within the frame. A second map enlarged from the first map including the current map and the current location are displayed. It is assumed that the frame at this time is not the same arrow shape as in step S13.

  FIG. 5 is an example of the display screen in step S17. A circular frame 61 smaller than the first map 60 is superimposed on the center of the first map 60, and the second map 62, the current location 63, and the purpose are enlarged in the frame 61 than the first map 60 including the current location. The ground 64 is displayed.

  Thus, by using the frame 61, the same effect as the case of using the frame 41 described above can be obtained.

  Returning to FIG. 2, both step S16 and step S17 proceed to step S18 to identify the current location. Next, it progresses to step S19 and it is discriminate | determined whether it arrived at the destination. This can be done by determining whether or not the current location and the destination are at substantially the same position.

  If it is determined in step S19 that the destination has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S20, where the first map is updated to match the current location moved, and the process returns to step S15. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S19 that the vehicle has arrived at the destination, the process proceeds to step S21 to end the guidance.

<Second Embodiment>
In the following description of the second embodiment, detailed description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted. Similarly to the first embodiment, the second embodiment will describe a case where the enlargement frame mode is selected.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device of the second embodiment. Steps S10 to S14 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The process proceeds from step S14 to step S30, and whether or not the current location has come within a predetermined distance to the guide point on the guidance route in the frame to be displayed later. Is determined. As the frame at this time, for example, the frame 41 including the current location described above may be assumed. A guide point refers to a point where the route needs to be guided in detail, such as a branch point or a corner. The predetermined distance is, for example, a distance that allows the user to change the course with a margin such as 100 m.

  If it is determined in step S30 that the vehicle is approaching within the predetermined distance of the guide point, the process proceeds to step S31, where a frame is superimposed on the first map, and the first map including the current location is enlarged in the frame. 2 maps and current location are displayed. The frame at this time has a second arrow shape indicating the guide direction.

  FIG. 7 is an example of the display screen in step S31. A second arrow-shaped frame 71 smaller than the first map 70 is superimposed on the center of the first map 70, and a second map 72 enlarged in the frame 71 than the first map 70 including the current location; The current location 73 is displayed. The frame 71 has a shape combining a triangle and a quadrangle, and the triangle arrow of the frame 71 points in the guide direction. Further, the guide route 74 is indicated by a broken line.

  In this way, by using the second arrow-shaped frame 71, the enlarged map and the current location are displayed in the frame to make the guide route easy to understand, and the direction of the arrow can be displayed in an easy-to-read manner. it can. Therefore, it is possible to provide a more convenient map display method than just the enlarged map.

  Returning to FIG. 6, the process proceeds from step S31 to step S18. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S30 that the vehicle is not approaching within the predetermined distance of the guide point, the process proceeds to step S15. Steps S15 to S21 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the process returns from step S20 to step S30.

  In the first and second embodiments, the shape of the first and second arrow-shaped frames is not particularly limited. 8A to 8I show examples of frame shapes. The frame 80 in FIG. 8A has an arrow shape in which the base of an isosceles triangle is aligned with one side of the rectangle. The frame 81 in FIG. 8B has an arrow shape in which parallelograms are matched with line symmetry. The frame 82 in FIG. 8C has an isosceles triangular arrow shape. The frame 83 in FIG. 8D has an arrow shape in which congruent triangles are aligned with line symmetry. The frame 84 in FIG. 8E has an arrow shape in which isosceles triangles are stacked. A frame 85 in FIG. 8F has an arrow shape in which isosceles triangles smaller than the square are stacked. A frame 86 in FIG. 8G has an arrow shape in which smaller isosceles triangles are stacked on a circle. The frame 87 in FIG. 8H has an arrow shape in which an arrow is combined with a circle. The frame 88 in FIG. 8I has an arrow shape in which right triangles are stacked on a rectangle.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the PC of the present invention. The PC 90 is a notebook type and can display a map received via a network or a map stored in a recording medium.

  The PC 90 includes an interface unit 91, a control unit 92, a recording medium 93, a drive unit 94, a drawing unit 95, a display control unit 96, a display unit 97, a sound source circuit unit 98, a speaker 99, hardware, and the like. A key 100 and an interface unit 101 are provided. The interface unit 91 is connected to a network 110 such as the Internet.

  The control unit 92 performs overall control of the PC 90. The control unit 92 is configured by, for example, a microcomputer, and is read from a CPU 102 that executes various programs in which control and operation procedures are described, data used by the CPU 102, and a recording medium 93 described later, and the CPU 102. RAM 103 for temporarily storing a program executed in the above, and ROM 104 for storing a program describing basic control relating to startup, input / output, etc., font data, and the like. The CPU 102, RAM 103, ROM 104, etc. are connected via a bus (not shown).

  As the recording medium 93, a hard disk, a memory card, an optical disk or the like can be adopted. The recording medium 93 stores a map database and a program describing various operations of the PC 90. Then, the control unit 92 reads this program from the recording medium 93 via the drive unit 94 and executes it. The map database includes map data including information on roads, facilities, backgrounds, drawing parameters referenced when drawing maps and guidance screens based on map data, index data referenced in various searches, route guidance Audio data used to generate audio for use and other purposes. And the control part 92 takes out data required for operation to perform partially from a map database, and refers it. Further, data stored in the recording medium 93 may be received from the network 110.

  The drawing unit 95 is an IC chip that includes a drawing-dedicated CPU and the like, and creates image data for a guidance screen, image data for an operation screen, and the like based on an instruction from the control unit 92. The image data created by the drawing unit 95 is sent to the display control unit 96 and stored in the RAM included in the display control unit 96. The display control unit 96 sends an image display signal to the display unit 97 based on the stored image data, and causes the display area of the display unit 97 to display a screen related to the image data. As the display unit 97, an LCD, an organic EL display, or the like is used.

  The sound source circuit unit 98 generates an analog audio signal based on the audio data sent from the control unit 92. The generated analog audio signal is reproduced by the speaker 99.

  The hard key 100 is a keyboard of the PC 90. When one of the keys constituting the hard key 100 is pressed, a signal notifying the pressing of the key is sent to the control unit 92 via the interface unit 101.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PC 90 of the third embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the PC 90 reads a map from the recording medium 93. In this case, a case where the enlargement frame mode is selected in advance by a user operation will be described. In the enlarged frame mode, a frame is superimposed on a part of the map on the screen, and a reference point (which can be moved to a place the user wants to see and moves together with the frame described later) in the frame. This is a mode to display an enlarged map including.

  First, in step S40, the PC 90 determines whether or not a desired location has been set. The desired place refers to a place searched by the user by address search or the like. When a desired place is set in step S40, for example, when an address search is performed, the process proceeds to step S41, and a first map centered on the address is displayed. The first map is a map with a preset scale, but the scale can be arbitrarily changed by the user.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S42, and a second map that is smaller than the first map including the desired location is superimposed on the first map, and the second map is larger than the first map including the desired location in the frame. Display the reference point. The reference point display may be omitted.

  FIG. 11 is an example of the display screen in step S42. A circular frame 121 smaller than the first map 120 is superimposed on the center of the first map 120, and the second enlarged image is larger than the first map 120 centered on the set desired location 122 in the frame 121. A map 122 and a desired location 122 are displayed. The reference point is the center of the frame 121.

  The size of the frame 121 may be changed to a desired size by the user moving the periphery of the frame 121 while dragging. Further, the shape of the frame 121 may be changed by dragging and dragging a predetermined portion of the frame 121.

  The second map 122 may be enlarged so that the first map 120 is enlarged around the set desired location and cut out so as to fit in the frame 121.

  In this way, by using the frame 121, the user can simultaneously grasp the state of the wide area around the desired place and the detailed state near the desired place. In other words, it is not necessary to greatly change the viewpoint in grasping the situation of both.

  Returning to FIG. 10, the process proceeds from step S42 to step S43 to determine whether or not the reference point has been moved. The reference point can be arbitrarily moved to the point that the user wants to see by the user's operation, and the frame is also moved simultaneously so that the reference point is the center.

  If the reference point is moved in step S43, the process proceeds to step S44 to match the moved reference point. For example, if the reference point is moved out of the screen, the first map is followed. Update.

  In step S45, it is determined whether the set desired place is outside the frame to be displayed later or inside the frame. For example, the circular frame 121 described above may be assumed as the frame at this time. If the desired place set in step S45 is within the frame, the process returns to step S42.

  On the other hand, if the desired location set in step S45 is outside the frame, the process proceeds to step S46, the frame is superimposed on the first map, and the first map including the reference point is enlarged in the frame than the first map. 2 maps and reference points are displayed. The frame at this time has an arrow shape (corresponding to the first arrow shape) that points in the direction of the set desired location. The reference point display may be omitted.

  FIG. 12 is an example of the display screen in step S46. A first arrow-shaped frame 131 that is smaller than the first map 130 is superimposed on the center of the first map 130, and the second map 132 that is larger than the first map 130 including the reference point is included in the frame 131. Is displayed. The frame 131 has a shape in which a triangle and a circle are combined, and the triangle arrow of the frame 131 points in the direction of the set desired location 122. The reference point is the center of the circular portion of the frame 131.

  In this way, by using the arrow-shaped frame 131, it is possible to easily understand in detail by displaying an enlarged map in the frame, and it is also possible to notify the direction of a desired place set by the direction of the arrow. Therefore, it is possible to provide a more convenient map display method than just the enlarged map. For example, even if the desired location has gone out of the screen while moving the frame 131 and viewing the surrounding information, if the desired location is moved by relying on the direction of the arrow, the first desired location is easily set. You can return to

  The map display method of the present invention can be mounted on various electronic devices capable of displaying a map such as a navigation device, a PC, a PDA, and a mobile phone, or can be provided to a PC or the like through a network.

It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the navigation apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the navigation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is an example of the display screen of step S13 of FIG. It is an example of the display screen of step S16 of FIG. It is an example of the display screen of step S17 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the navigation apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is an example of the display screen of step S31 of FIG. It is an example of a frame shape. It is an example of a frame shape. It is an example of a frame shape. It is an example of a frame shape. It is an example of a frame shape. It is an example of a frame shape. It is an example of a frame shape. It is an example of a frame shape. It is an example of a frame shape. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of PC of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of PC of 3rd Embodiment. It is an example of the display screen of step S42 of FIG. It is an example of the display screen of step S46 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Navigation apparatus 40, 50, 60, 70, 120, 130 1st map 41, 51, 61, 71, 80-88, 121, 131 Frame 42, 52, 62, 72, 122, 132 2nd map 43 , 53, 63, 73 Current location 54, 64 Destination 122 Desired location

Claims (4)

In a map display method for displaying a map on a display device,
Displaying a first map on the display device;
A smaller frame than the first map including a reference point is superimposed on the first map;
Displaying an enlarged second map including the reference point in the frame;
When the set desired place is outside the frame, the map is displayed in a first arrow shape indicating the direction of the desired place.   2. The map display method according to claim 1, wherein at the time of guidance, the reference point is a current location and the desired location is a destination.   3. The map display method according to claim 2, wherein when a current location approaches within a predetermined distance to a guide point on the guide route in the frame, the frame is formed in a second arrow shape indicating a guide direction.   The navigation apparatus using the map display method in any one of Claims 1-3.

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