JP2978088B2 - Target object display device and target object display method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a target search apparatus and a target search method which automatically adjust the scale of a map screen on which a target, for example, a candidate destination, is displayed so that the scale is easy to see. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional target search apparatus such as a navigation apparatus, a destination is registered by a user before departure, and a route from the departure point to the destination is set. Guidance is given to. The destination includes a stopover on the way to the final destination. Further, while the vehicle is traveling on a route in accordance with the guidance provided by the navigation device, a request such as a meal or shopping may occur. In this case, the user newly registers the drop-in place as the destination, whereby the navigation device interrupts the guidance operation of the route to the final destination and the route to the drop-in point newly registered by the user. I will guide you.

[0005] A plurality of targets are stored in the navigation device, and targets searched from the targets in accordance with conditions required by a user are displayed on a display as candidate destinations. Then, a point selected by the user from the displayed candidate destinations is registered as the destination.

[0004]

However, in the conventional navigation device, the scale of the map screen on which the candidate destination is displayed is the scale of the initial screen or the scale of the map screen displayed up to that time. Remains. Therefore, when the candidate destination is displayed on the display, if the scale of the map screen displayed at that time is large, many candidate destinations are displayed, and one destination is selected from among them. It can be difficult. Further, when a candidate destination is displayed, if the scale of the map screen displayed at that time is small, no candidate destination may be displayed. For this reason, the user has to manually change the scale of the map screen by operating the scale change switch so that the number of candidate destinations that is easy to see is displayed.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention determines a scale of a map on which each position of a plurality of targets can be displayed, and displays the map at the determined scale. And displaying the plurality of targets at each location on the map according to the location information of the targets.

[0006]

The scale of the map on which a plurality of landmarks such as candidate destinations are displayed is automatically adjusted so that the user can easily see it, and the user does not need to manually adjust the scale.

[0007]

【Example】

[0008] 1. Regarding “Destination” and “Target” “Destination” includes a final destination, a stopover, and a stopover. The final arrival destination is a point that the user considers to finally arrive using the navigation device, and a transit point or a stopover point may be the final arrival destination. The transit point is a point to which the vehicle passes before reaching the final destination. The drop-off point is a point where the user stops at a place other than the final arrival point and the stopover point while traveling on the route to the final arrival point. In the present embodiment, in order to make the description easy to understand, the final destination and the stopover are referred to as “destinations”.
Is expressed in distinction from the drop-in place. The “target” is a “candidate” of the “destination”, and the “destination” is selected from the plurality of “targets”.

[0009] 2. Overall Circuit FIG. 1 shows the overall circuit of the navigation device. The central processing unit 1 performs operation control and calculation of the navigation device by the CPU 2. The ROMs 3 and 5 store system programs executed by the CPU 2, various parameters, display control, voice guidance control, route guidance control, data for map display control, and the like. The RAM 4 stores data input from the outside, various parameters used for calculation, calculation results, and the like. The clock 6 generates time information. The sensor input interface 7 includes an absolute direction sensor 21 and a relative direction sensor 2 of the current position detecting device 20.
2. Receive the detection data from the distance sensor 23 and the acceleration sensor 24 and send them to the CPU 2. The communication interface 8 sends and receives various data to and from a device connected to the data bus 28.

The image processor 9 reads out image data stored in the image memory 10 and outputs the image data to a display 33 such as a CRT, a liquid crystal display, or a plasma display, which can display images. The image memory 10 stores image data displayed on the screen of the display 33 and transmits and receives image data to and from the image processor 9. The image processor 9 converts data of a target or a road, which will be described later, into display data according to a command from the CPU 2 to form image data to be displayed on the screen of the display 33. At this time, an image around the screen displayed on the display 33 is also formed for scrolling the screen, and is stored in the image memory 10. The audio processor 11 inputs the synthesized audio waveform data read from the ROMs 3 and 5 by the CPU 2 to form an analog audio waveform, and sends the analog audio waveform to the speaker 13.

The current position detecting device 20 is a device for obtaining data for detecting the current position of the own vehicle. The absolute direction sensor 21 is, for example, a geomagnetic sensor that detects geomagnetism and outputs data indicating the north-south direction as the absolute direction. The relative azimuth sensor 22 outputs data indicating a deviation of the traveling direction of the vehicle from the absolute azimuth detected by the absolute azimuth sensor 21, and detects a gyro device such as a piezoelectric vibrating gyro or a steering angle of a wheel. This is a steering angle sensor. The distance sensor 23 outputs data indicating a traveling distance of the own vehicle, and is, for example, a digital counter linked to a traveling distance meter. Acceleration sensor 24
Is for detecting the acceleration of the vehicle, and is, for example, a semiconductor acceleration sensor.

The GPS receiver 25 is a GPS (Global P
ositioning System) signal and outputs position data. The beacon receiving device 26 receives GPS correction data and a beacon from an information providing system such as a VICS (road traffic information communication system) and outputs the received data. The data transmitting / receiving device 27 transmits / receives current position information to / from the interactive current position information providing system.

The data communication device 30 is a VICS or ATI
Signals are transmitted and received to and from a road information system such as S (traffic information service). The data transmitting and receiving unit 31 is, for example, V
The transmitting / receiving unit of the ICS is, for example, A
It is a communication unit of TIS.

On the screen of the display 33, a transparent touch panel 34 is provided. This touch panel has transparent touch switches arranged in a planar matrix. The printer 35 prints various information such as maps and facility guides output via the communication interface 8. The recording card reader 36 is an IC card, RO
This is a reading device for a card-shaped recording medium such as an M card and a memory card. The CD-ROM driver 37 is a reading device for a CD-ROM, which is a compact disk (CD) storage medium. The CD-ROM driver 3
7 may be replaced with a reading device for a recording medium other than a CD-ROM, such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk.

The voice recognition device 38 converts the voice picked up by the microphone 39 into a digital signal, determines whether a voice matching a predetermined command has been input, and determines whether a voice matching the command has been input. If so, the command data is sent to the CPU 2. This voice recognition device 38
Either the specific speaker recognition method or the unspecified speaker recognition method may be used.

The operation switch 40 is a wired remote control switch or a wireless remote control switch, or a manual switch arranged around the display 33. The operation switch 40 is used to operate the touch panel 34 for menu display, image quality adjustment, start of destination setting, and the like. This is a switch for instructing an operation other than.

3. External Storage Medium Various data files as shown in FIG. 2 are stored in the external storage medium such as the card type storage medium or the CD-ROM. The map data file F1 stores map data such as a national road map. The intersection data file F2 stores data on the intersection such as the position and name of the intersection. The node data file F3 stores data of nodes set on the road. The road data file F4 stores data on roads, such as the position and type of road, the number of lanes, and the connection relationship between roads. The photograph data file F5 stores image data of photographs of places where visual display is required, such as various facilities, sightseeing spots, and major intersections.

The destination data file F6 includes location coordinates, locations, and business contents of places and facilities which are likely to be destinations, such as main sightseeing spots, buildings, and companies and offices described in the telephone directory. , And data representing the destination, such as the name of the destination, a mark, and a graphic. In a destination setting process (step 51) described later,
From this destination data file F6, a final destination or a transit point is searched. Guide point data file F
7 stores guidance data of points where guidance such as the contents of a guidance display board installed on a road and guidance of a junction is required. The detailed destination data file F8 stores detailed data relating to the destination stored in the destination data file F6. The road name data file F10 stores name data of main roads among the roads stored in the road data file F4. The branch point name data file F11 stores name data of main branch points. The address data file F11 stores list data for searching a destination stored in the destination data file F6 from an address.

In the area / city station number list file F12, list data of only the area / city station numbers of the destination stored in the destination data file F6 is stored. The registered telephone number file F13 stores telephone number data to be remembered, such as business partners registered by a manual operation of the user. The landmark data file F14 stores data such as the position of a landmark on travel and the position and name of a place to be memorized, which are input by the user through a manual operation. The point data file F15 stores detailed data of the landmark points stored in the landmark data file F14. The target data file F16 stores data such as the position and description of the target such as a gas station, a convenience store, or a parking lot. In a stopover location setting process (step 100) described later, a stopover location candidate is searched for from the targets stored in the target object data file F16. This landmark data file F
16 includes data on points and facilities that are not in the destination data file F6. The target data file F16 may partially or entirely overlap the destination data in the destination data file F6.

The map data file F1 stores map data of a plurality of different scales for the same area. For example, map data of a seven-step scale of 1 / 10,000, 1 / 20,000, 40/100, 1 / 80,000, 1 / 160,000, 1/320, 1 / 640,000 is stored in the map data file F1. Is stored in The larger the scale, the more detailed the map, which includes data of narrower roads and data of finer points.

The coordinates of road data, target data, and the like stored in each data file are the coordinates in the coordinate system determined for each of the latitude coordinates and the map data of different scales. Therefore, for example, for one target,
It stores history coordinate data and a plurality of coordinate data corresponding to each scale. The coordinate system of each map data is a coordinate determined using a predetermined reference point in the stored map as the origin, and the reference point is the same for each scale map. In the map of each scale, the coordinates of each point are determined based on the xy coordinate system set on the screen of one frame displayed on the display 33. Therefore, since the size of one frame of the screen displayed on the display 33 is constant, if the scale of the displayed map is different when the screen of one frame is represented by the xy coordinate system, the same coordinates are used. Are different points. For example, one in 20,000
The point at the coordinates (Xt, Yt) on the map is expressed as (2Xt, 2Yt) on a 1/10000 map.

4. Target Object Data File FIG. 3 shows details of the storage contents of the target object data file F16. The target objects are classified into a plurality of genres, and the number of classifications is stored as target object genre number data JN. Genres are divided into types such as facilities and places.For example, gas stations, convenience stores, parking lots, hotels, restaurants, family restaurants, soba shops, coffee shops, stations, subway station entrances, hospitals,
Parks, police, post offices, golf courses, driving ranges, temples and shrines,
This is the type of facility, place, or the like that may drop in while traveling, such as a cosmetics store or a pharmacy. And each genre J1-Jn
Includes genre code number data JC, target object number data m, and target object list data L determined for each genre.
1 to Lm are stored.

The landmark list data L1 to Lm include, for each of the m landmarks, landmark name data MM for representing the landmark, and telephone number data of the landmark as landmark data. MT, coordinate data M on the map of the target
Z, detailed information MD of the target is stored. The target name data MM stores data such as characters, graphics, and marks representing the target. Target object information data MD
Stores detailed information on the target object classified into a plurality of items. This item includes, for example, the usage fee of the target, the capacity of the facility (the number of cars parked and the number of people, the width, height, length, etc. of the vehicles that can be accommodated), the brand (the name of the gas station distributor, chain store, etc.) ), Address, service content, availability of parking lot, business hours, type of restaurant food, information on restaurants (whether or not expensive, whether it is a chain store, whether there are famous chefs, etc.), convenience store Is information on items that are selection conditions, such as a store name.

5. Data Group FIG. 4 shows a data group stored in the RAM 4. The external data GD includes the recording card reader 36 or C
All or part of the data stored in the external storage medium read by the D-ROM driver 37 is copied. The current position data MP is the current position data of the own vehicle detected by the current position detection device 20. The absolute direction data ZD is data obtained based on data from the absolute direction sensor 21. Relative azimuth data θ1
Is an angle formed by the traveling direction of the host vehicle with respect to the absolute azimuth obtained based on the data from the relative azimuth sensor 22. The traveling distance data ML is the traveling distance of the own vehicle obtained based on the data from the distance sensor 23. The acceleration data ma is the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 24. The current position information PI is the beacon receiving device 2
6 or data relating to the current position input from the data transmission / reception device 27. The VICS data VD is VICS data input from the data transmission / reception unit 31.
ATIS data AD is ATIS data input from the telephone calling unit 32. The registered destination data TP is data on the destination such as the position and name of the destination registered by the user.

The registered drop-in place data SP is data relating to the target such as the position and name of the target set by the user as the drop-off place. The optimum route data MW is data of an optimum route obtained in a route search process (step 52) described later. The genre code number JC is a genre code number of the genre selected in the stopover location setting process described later. The traveling speed data V is the traveling speed of the own vehicle. The search area data KA is coordinate data of an area for searching for a stopover candidate in the stopover location setting process. The drop-off place candidate data KM is data relating to the target searched in the drop-off place setting process, and is picked up from the external data GD and stored.

The destination avoidance data MK is the original destination data stored before the stopover is registered. The coordinate difference data (Xna, Yna) is a coordinate difference between the coordinates of the current position and the coordinates of the stop-by place. Although illustration is omitted, RA
M4 stores data for various other processes, variable data, and the like. Registers surrounded by broken lines are registers added in other embodiments described later.

6. Overall Processing FIG. 5 is a flowchart of overall processing executed by the CPU 2. This process starts when the power is turned on and ends when the power is turned off. CP at start
Initialization processing of the U2, the RAM 4, the image memory 9, and the like is performed. Then, the current position acquisition process (step 5)
0), a destination setting process (step 51), a route search process (step 52), and a guidance display process (step 53) are repeatedly executed.

In the current position acquisition processing (step 50),
The current position of the vehicle is calculated based on the data sent from the current position detection device 20. In the process of calculating the current position, the latitude and longitude are calculated based on the data input from the GPS receiver 25. The latitude and longitude are defined as the latitude and longitude coordinate data (X, Y) of the current position, and the coordinates (X0,
Y0), and as the current position data MP, RA
It is stored in M4. The current position data MP is corrected by information on the current position input from the beacon receiving device 26 or the data transmitting / receiving device 27.

Further, arithmetic processing for specifying the position of the own vehicle is performed based on the absolute azimuth data ZD, the relative azimuth data SD, and the traveling distance data ML. The position of the own vehicle obtained by this calculation processing is compared with the map data in the external data GD, and correction is performed so that the current position on the map screen is accurately displayed. By this correction processing, even when a GPS signal cannot be received in a tunnel or the like, the current position of the vehicle can be accurately obtained. Mileage data M
L is corrected by the acceleration data ma in order to take into account errors due to tire slip and the like.

In the destination setting process (step 51), a destination setting input screen is displayed on the display 33 by a user's destination registration operation. The user has an address,
The destination can be specified from either the telephone number or the name. When one genre is selected from a genre-specific menu such as sightseeing spots and various facilities, a plurality of destinations stored in the selected genre are displayed on the display 33 in the form of a list. Further, detailed guidance of each destination can be displayed. After the destination is determined, an operation for instructing the destination to be determined is performed, so that the data relating to the determined destination is stored as RA in the registered destination data TP.
It is stored in M4. It is also possible to register a plurality of destinations. In this case, the final destination and the transit point through which the final destination is passed are registered as destinations.

The destination setting process (step 5)
In 1), a drop-in place setting process is also performed. This drop-in place setting process is a process of setting a drop-in place when a place to drop in occurs while traveling on the optimal route to the destination. The data relating to the target object set as the stopover place is registered stopover place data SP.
Is stored in the RAM 4. The details of the stopover location setting process will be described later.

The destination setting process and the stop-by place setting process can be performed by touch operation of the touch panel 34, manual operation by operating the operation switch 40, or by voice input by the voice recognition device 38. Switching between the manual operation and the voice input operation is performed by a changeover switch 41 provided on the operation switch 40. The switching operation between the destination setting operation process and the stopover location setting process is also performed by the changeover switch 42 provided in the operation switch 40. The destination setting process (step 51) is jumped when a new destination setting operation or a new stopover setting operation is not performed.

In the route search process (step 52), the optimum route from the starting point to the registered destination or the optimum route from the current position to the registered stop-by place is searched, and the optimum route data MW is stored in the RAM 4. It is memorized.
The optimum route data MW is data in which road number data of roads constituting the optimum route are arranged in accordance with a route from a departure point to a registered destination or a registered stop-off point. The optimal route is displayed as a bold red line on the map screen displayed on the display 33. In this route search process (step 52), if there is no change in the optimum route, the jump is performed.

In the guidance / display processing (step 53), the guidance is sounded from the speaker 13 or the guidance is displayed on the map screen so that the vehicle can travel in accordance with the optimum route obtained in the route search processing (step 52). Displayed inside. In this embodiment, the screen for displaying the optimum route and guiding the route to the destination is automatically scrolled so that the current position is always at the center of the screen.

By repeating the above processing, the map screen displayed on the display 33 displays the optimal route to the destination or stop-over point registered by the user, and the current position and traveling direction of the own vehicle. Then, the current position is corrected in accordance with the progress of the vehicle, and when approaching a point requiring guidance such as an intersection or a junction, the guidance is notified by voice or display.

7. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a stop-by place setting process (step 100) executed in the destination setting process (step 51). This process is started when an operation for setting a stopover is instructed by operating the destination / stopover switch 42. In addition, since the operation of selecting a stopover place is often performed while traveling,
In order to prevent the driver's line of sight from moving away from the front of the vehicle due to the switch operation, when the start of this process is instructed, the operation by voice input is automatically set. When the user operates the manual / voice changeover switch 41 to switch to the manual operation, the manual operation of the operation switch 40 enables the setting operation of the stopover place. Alternatively, the start of this process may be instructed by voice input during travel guidance without operating the changeover switch 42.

The drop-in place setting process (step 100) is repeatedly executed similarly to the current position acquisition process (step 50), the route search process (step 52), and the guidance / display process (step 53). When approaching an intersection during the operation of setting a stopover, etc., the operation of setting the stopover is interrupted by interrupt processing for only a few seconds, guidance by voice and display is performed, and the map screen display and the optimal route and The display of the current position may be performed.

This drop-in place setting processing (step 10)
In step (0), a process of determining a search criterion for a target to be a stopover candidate (step 102) and a process of searching for a target according to the search criterion to obtain a stopover candidate (step 1)
04), a process of displaying the obtained drop-in location candidates (step 106), and a process of registering one drop-in location selected by the user (step 108) are sequentially performed.

8. Search Criteria Determination Process FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the search criterion determination process (Step 102). First, a genre input request process (step 120) is performed, and the CPU 2
1 is sent a command signal. Thereby, for example, the question “What is the genre?” Is pronounced from the speaker 13. This genre is a content range for distinguishing a destination serving as a first search criterion.

Then, it is determined whether or not there is a voice input from the voice recognition device 38 during a predetermined standby time (step 122). When there is a voice input, the CPU 2
The input voice data is converted into code data by a predetermined operation. Then, the input code data is collated with the genre code number JC of the target data file F16 in the external data GD, and a matching genre code number is obtained (step 124). The genre code number data JC that matches this voice input is stored in RAM
4 is stored. For example, if the user wishes to stop at a gas station while the vehicle is traveling on the optimal route to the destination, the genre code number JC of the gas station is stored by saying "gas station". Is done.

9. Target Search Process FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the target search process (step 104). First, the current position data MP stored in the RAM 4 is read by the CPU 2 (step 130). Then, a search area centered on the current position is set (step 132). This search area is a geographical range serving as a second search criterion. The search area is a range of predetermined latitude coordinates, for example, a range of a predetermined distance 2a around the current position. Specifically, the range is from Xa to X + a and from Ya to Y + a with respect to the latitude and longitude coordinates (X, Y) of the current position. The value of the predetermined distance 2a is 1 / 640,000 of the minimum scale.
When the map is displayed on the display 33, the range of the search area is determined to be equal to or slightly smaller than the range of the screen. This coordinate range is stored in the RAM 4 as search area data KA.

Next, the genre code number JC is read (step 134). The genre that matches this genre code number JC is the target object data file F
16 and the target coordinate data MZ in the read genre is stored in the search area KA.
(Step 13).
6). Here, assuming that the latitude coordinate of the target is (Xp, Yp), it is determined whether or not X-a <Xp <X + a and Ya-Y <Yp <Y + a, and the target within this range is searched. It exists in the area. The target searched for here is not limited to the target existing on the optimal route, and the target located at a point other than the optimal route is also searched.

Next, it is determined whether or not the number of searched targets is equal to or greater than a predetermined number Z (step 137). Here, if the number of the targets is equal to or more than the predetermined number Z, the name data MM, telephone number data MT, coordinate data MZ, and information data MD of the targets existing in the search area are read out, and the stopover candidate data is read. It is stored in the RAM 4 as KM (step 138). Here, it is assumed that the number of targets included in the search area is n. If the target of the specified genre does not exist in the search area in the number equal to or more than the predetermined number Z, the fact is notified by an error display and voice (step 139). In this case, the search area KA is expanded again by a certain range, and the search is performed again.
The target object may be set to a predetermined number Z or more.

10. Drop-in location candidate display processing FIG. 9 shows the above-mentioned drop-in location candidate display processing (step 10
It is a flowchart of 6). First, the coordinates (X0, Y) of the current position in the map screen displayed on the display 33 when this processing (step 106) is started from the RAM 4 or the image memory 10 by the CPU 2.
0) is read (step 140). Next, n stored in step 138
The coordinate data (Xn, Yn) corresponding to the scale of the map screen displayed on the display 33 when this process (step 106) is started is read out from the RAM 4 among the coordinate data of the drop-in place candidates KM. (Step 142). Then, a coordinate difference (Xna, Yna) between the current position coordinates (X0, Y0) and the drop-in place coordinates (Xn, Yn).
Is calculated (step 144). This calculation is as follows: Xna = | Xn-X0 | Yna = | Yn-Y0 |, and n stop-over coordinates (X1, Y1)... (X
n, Yn). This coordinate difference is
It is a value proportional to the linear distance between each stopover location coordinate and the current position coordinate. This coordinate difference is calculated using coordinate difference data (Xna, Yn).
a) is stored in the RAM 4.

Next, the scale adjustment processing (step 146)
Then, based on the coordinate difference (Xna, Yna), the scale of the map screen for displaying the stopover candidates is adjusted. For example, a scale is selected such that a predetermined number Z of stopover candidates are displayed in order from the closest to the current position, and a map screen of this scale is displayed on the display 33. Then, a mark, a graphic, or a character representing a stop-by place candidate is displayed on the map screen displayed on the display 33 (step 1).
48).

11. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example of the scale adjustment process (step 146). In this process, the scale is gradually reduced from the most detailed map, that is, the map with the largest scale, and the scale is adjusted so that stop-over candidates having a predetermined number Z or more are displayed. In the following description, it is assumed that Z = 3. This value of Z is stored in the ROM 3 or 5 in advance.

In the process shown in FIG. 10, first, the most detailed 1 / 1000th map data is read by the CPU 2 (step 150). Then, the n pieces of coordinate difference data (Xna, Yna) are converted into a coordinate system value on the display screen of the map data (step 152). Since the coordinate difference data (Xna, Yna) is the coordinate difference on the screen displayed on the display 33 when the stop-by candidate display process (step 106) is started, it corresponds to a scale of 1/10000. Need to be converted. If the scale of the map becomes K times, the coordinate difference data after conversion (Xnr, Ynr) = (Xna, Yna)
/ K. In this conversion process, coordinate difference data (X1a, Y1a)... (Xna, Yna) of n target objects serving as drop-off location candidates
Is performed for each of.

Next, when a 1/10000 map is displayed on the display 33 centering on the current position, it is determined whether or not there are three or more coordinate difference data (Xna, Yna) displayed on this screen. Is performed (step 154). As shown in FIG. 11, the center of the screen of one frame displayed on the display 33 is the current position (X0, Y0), the coordinate length XMAX in the X direction from the center of the screen to the edge of the screen, and the Y direction. The coordinate length YMAX is calculated in advance for each map of each scale, and RO
It is stored in M3 or M5. Then, for each coordinate difference data (X1r, Y1r)... (Xnr, Ynr), Xnr ≦ X
It is determined whether or not MAX and Ynr ≦ YMAX. Those satisfying this condition can be displayed on the screen of the display 33. Furthermore, 3
It is determined whether there is the above.

Here, if the determination in step 154 is NO, the CPU 2 reads the map data on a scale of 1/20000 which is a one-step wide scale (step 156). Then, the coordinate difference data (X1r, Y1
r) (Xnr, Ynr) is converted into a coordinate difference on the map at a scale of 1/20000 (step 152). And
For each coordinate difference data (X1r, Y1r)... (Xnr, Ynr), it is determined whether or not Xnr ≦ XMAX and Ynr ≦ YMAX, and it is determined whether or not three or more satisfy this condition. Step 154). Hereinafter, similarly, until the coordinate difference data included in the screen of the display 33 becomes 3 or more, the scale of the map is changed to a wide scale by one step. Then, when a map of a reduced scale including three or more coordinate data included in the screen of the display 33 is obtained, the determination in step 154 becomes YES. Thereby, a target having a coordinate difference satisfying the conditions of Xnr ≦ XMAX and Ynr ≦ YMAX is displayed on the display 33 as a stopover candidate (step 148 in FIG. 9).

Specifically, step 154 is YES
Is displayed on the display 33 with the current position (X0, Y0) as the center, and a target that has become a stopover candidate is displayed on this screen. For example,
It is assumed that the genre input in the search criterion determination processing (step 102) is "Soba shop". In this case, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, three or more target marks 60 to 62 close to the current position are displayed on the display 33. The names 63 to 65 of the targets are displayed near the marks 60 to 62 of the respective targets. Further, serial numbers are assigned to the names 63 to 65 in order from the closest to the current position (X0, Y0).

Note that the target object search processing (step 10)
In 4), the search area is determined within the range of the screen when the map of the minimum scale is displayed, and the condition is that there are three or more target objects. For this reason, when the map of the minimum scale is finally displayed, three or more landmarks are always displayed.

12. Drop-in place registration processing FIG. 13 shows the above-mentioned drop-in place registration processing (step 108).
It is a flowchart of FIG. As described above, after the target as a stopover candidate is displayed on the display 33,
This drop-in place registration processing (step 108) is started. For example, in the case of FIG. 12, the user determines a desired one of the displayed targets 60 to 62 to drop in, and performs a registration operation of the determined target. This registration operation is performed by touching the target object marks 60 to 62 displayed on the display 33 with a finger (step 16).
0), by uttering the numbers displayed in the target names 63 to 65 and inputting the voice (step 162).

If there is a touch input or a voice input during a predetermined standby time, the input target data is stored in the RAM 4 as registered drop-in place data SP (step 164). Then, the initially registered destination data TP registered in the destination setting process before departure is transferred and stored in a predetermined avoidance area MK in the RAM 4 (step 1).
66). As a result, data relating to the original destination is stored. Then, the registered drop-in place data SP is stored in the RAM 4 as new registered destination data TP.

As described above, when the registration of the stopover place is completed, the registered stopover point becomes a new destination,
The route search processing (step 52) and the guidance / display processing (step 53) to the drop-in place are performed. As a result, an optimal route to the stop-over location is displayed, and a route to the stop-over location registered by the user is provided by guidance of an intersection or the like. Then, after the user arrives at the stopover, by performing a return operation of the destination,
The avoided destination data MK is set again in the registered destination data TP. At this time, a route search process (step 52) is performed, and the optimum route from the point at which the destination return operation is performed to the original destination is searched again. Then, the guidance of the route to the original destination is resumed by the guidance / display processing (step 53). The stopover point may be registered as a stopover point to the initial destination, and the route to the initial destination via the stopover point may be set as a new optimal route.

If the current position has changed by a predetermined distance or a predetermined time has elapsed while waiting for the input in steps 160 and 162, the scale adjustment processing 146 is executed. Accordingly, when the number of the targets displayed on the display 33 decreases due to the movement of the vehicle, the scale is adjusted so that three or more targets are displayed.

13. Another Example of Scale Reduction Process (1) FIG. 14 is a flowchart of another example of the scale adjustment process (step 146). In FIG. 14,
Steps denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 10 perform the same processing. In this process, step 15 in FIG.
0, a drop-in place candidate display process (step 10)
When 6) is started, a process of reading the map data displayed on the display 33 (step 170) is performed. Thus, when the stop-by place candidate display process (step 106) is started, the scale is gradually reduced from the scale of the map screen displayed on the display 33, and three or more stop-by place candidates are displayed. The scale is adjusted as needed.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, when the stop-by place candidates are displayed on the display 33, three or more stop-off place candidates are temporarily switched from the map with the largest scale to the map with a small scale. The scale is adjusted so that is displayed. As a result, the map screen on which the stopover location candidates are displayed may be larger than the scale before the stopover location setting process is started. On the other hand, FIG.
In the example shown in (1), if three or more stop-off location candidates can be displayed on the reduced-scale map displayed before the stop-off location setting process is started, the scale of the map screen is not changed. For this reason, the map screen on which the stop-by place candidate images are displayed does not become larger than the scale before the stop-by place setting processing is started.

14. Another Example of Scale Reduction Process (2) FIG. 15 is a flowchart of still another example of the scale adjustment process (step 146). In FIG. 15, steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 14 perform the same processing. In this processing, when the map data read in Steps 170, 174, and 156 are displayed on the display 33 centering on the current position before Step 154 in FIG. 14, the small area 70 set in this screen is displayed. (Step 172) for determining whether or not there are three or more coordinate difference data (Xna, Yna). As shown in FIG. 16, the small area 70 is located at a distance X from the center of the screen of one frame displayed on the display 33.
It is set within the range of the coordinate length XMIN in the direction and the coordinate length YMIN in the Y direction. XMIN and YMIN are calculated in advance for each map of each scale and stored in the ROM 3 or 5. However, this small area 70 is not provided for a map with a minimum scale of 1/10000. Also, this small area 70
Is displayed on the display 3 in the case of a one-step detailed map.
3 is set to be equal to or slightly smaller than the range 71 displayed in FIG.

Then, in step 172, for each coordinate difference data (X1r, Y1r)... (Xnr, Ynr), Xnr ≦
It is determined whether XMIN and Ynr≤YMIN. Further, it is determined whether or not three or more satisfy this condition. If the determination in this step 172 is NO, then the CPU 2 reads the map data on a one-step detailed scale (step 174). Until the determination in step 172 becomes YES, the scale of the map is gradually increased (step 174). However, since the small area 70 is not provided for the minimum scale 1/1000 map, even if the determination of YES is continued in step 172, a 1 / 10000th map is finally displayed.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 172 is YES, steps 154 and 156 gradually reduce the scale so that three or more drop-in candidates are displayed as in the examples of FIGS. Is changed to a map. Here, as described above, since the small area 70 is determined within the range of the map screen of a one-step detailed scale, step 17
2 → 174 → 152 → 172 → 154 → 156 → 152
The permanent loop of → 172 → 174 →... Does not occur.

For example, even when there are three or more stopover candidates on a map screen of a certain scale, if three or more stopover candidates are densely located near the current position,
Further, it is easier to see which stop-down location candidate is closest when the display is enlarged. The example in FIG. 15 is for such a case.
By changing the map to a detailed map in a step-by-step manner and enlarging and displaying the map, the position of the stopover candidate can be easily understood. In addition,
In this example, if there are three or more stopover candidates in the small area 70, the stopover candidates existing outside the small area 70 are not displayed. However, usually, the point at which the driver wants to drop in is close to the current position, so such processing can be said to be reasonable.

15. Another Example of Scale Reduction Processing (3) FIG. 17 is a flowchart of still another example of the scale adjustment processing (step 146). In this processing, the n coordinate difference data (X1
a, Y1a)... (Xna, Yna) are compared in magnitude, and the largest one (Xka, Yka) is determined.
It is stored in M4 (step 180). Then, based on the maximum coordinate difference (Xka, Yka), an optimal scale is selected from the memory table (step 182). In this step 182, first, the maximum coordinate difference (Xka, Yk)
a) is a value corresponding to the scale of the map screen displayed on the display 33 when the stop-by place candidate display process (step 106) is started. It is converted into the distance L to the object. This is obtained by converting the coordinate difference data into a straight line length using the Pythagorean theorem, and dividing the data by the scale of the map screen displayed on the display 33. This distance data L is stored in the RAM 4.

As shown in FIG. 18, the ROM 3 or 5 stores a data table in which the distance L between the current position and the target having the largest coordinate difference is associated with the scale of the map. Then, in step 182, the distance L
Is obtained from the data table. Then, the map data of the obtained scale is read by the CPU 2 and sent to the image processor 9. As described above, in the target object search processing (step 104),
Since the search area KA is determined within the range of the map screen of the maximum scale (steps 132 and 136), this target is displayed at least in the map screen of the maximum scale.

As described above, in the example of FIG. 17, the scale of the map is determined by one selection according to the maximum coordinate difference, instead of being adjusted stepwise. This allows
The time required from the start of the stopover candidate setting process to the display of the stopover candidate can be reduced.

16. Drop-off place setting processing for giving priority order FIG. 19 shows the above-mentioned drop-off place setting processing (step 100).
9 is a flowchart of another example of the embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the display 33 displays the stopover candidates of the predetermined number Z or more. Thus, the length of the distance from the current position to the stopover candidate can be determined. Therefore, usually, a stop-by place candidate closest to the current position or a stop-by place candidate at a position where traveling is the easiest from the current position is selected. However, it is not possible to judge the characteristics and contents of the stopover candidates. For this reason, when the user arrives at the stopover place and looks at the real thing, the stopover place may not match the user's desire.

FIG. 19 shows an example in which priorities are given to the landmarks as stopover candidates based on search reference information corresponding to the user's request. As a result, the user can select a desired object that meets the desire in a short time. In the drawings after FIG. 19, steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the drawings before FIG. 17 perform the same processing.

This drop-in place setting processing (step 10)
In step (0), a process of determining a search criterion for a target to be a stopover candidate (step 202), a process of determining a reference position of a search area (step 204), and searching for a target according to the search criterion to determine a stopover candidate The process of obtaining (Step 206), the process of determining the priority of the searched target object (Step 208), the process of displaying the obtained drop-in location candidates (Step 106), and registering one drop-in location selected by the user (Step 108) are sequentially executed.

17. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the search criterion determination process (step 20) shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart of 2). First, as in the example of FIG. 7, a genre input request process (step 120), a voice input determination process (step 122), and a genre code determination process (step 124) are performed.

Next, a sub-reference input request process (step 210) is performed, and a command signal is sent from the CPU 2 to the voice processor 11. As a result, for example, the pronunciation of “What is the sub-criterion?”
Alternatively, the sub-criteria item is pronounced. further,
It is determined whether there is a voice input from the voice recognition device 38 during a predetermined standby time (step 112). When there is a voice input, the CPU 2 converts the input voice data into sub-reference data by a predetermined operation. Then, the input sub-reference data is compared with the sub-reference data of the target object data file F16 in the external data GD, and a matching sub-reference is obtained (step 2).
14). The sub-reference data SK that matches this voice input is stored in the RAM 4.

The sub-criterion is the content condition of the target desired by the user. This sub-criterion corresponds to the item of the target information data MD in the target data file F16. For example, if the user wants to stop at a gas station while the vehicle is traveling on the optimal route to the destination, first, when a genre request is made (step 120), the user By saying "gas station", the genre code number JC of the gas station is stored (steps 122 and 12).
4). Next, as a request for the sub-criterion, "what is the brand" is pronounced (step 210), and when a voice for designating the brand is inputted by the user, the sub-criterion corresponding to the inputted voice is set. Is performed (step 214).

18. Reference Position Determination Process FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the reference position determination process (step 204). First, a command signal is sent from the CPU 2 to the voice processor 11, and a voice saying “Please designate a reference position” is generated from the speaker 13. By the time the predetermined standby time elapses, the current position, the destination set before the start of traveling, the intersections and buildings on the optimal route to the destination, and the map displayed on the display 33 Center of screen, display 3
From among points on the route such as an intersection or a building on the optimum route displayed in 3, the user inputs a desired point by voice.

When there is a voice input by the user (step 230), the contents of the voice input data are analyzed by the CPU 2 (steps 232, 234, 236, 23).
8, 240), the input point is stored in the RAM 4 as reference position data KP (steps 242, 24).
4).

19. Target Search Process FIG. 22 is a flowchart of the target search process (step 206). First, the CPU 2 reads the reference position data KP stored in the RAM 4 (step 250). Then, a search area KA centering on the reference position is set (step 252). This step 252 performs the process of replacing the current position with the reference position in step 132 of FIG. Therefore, the search area KA is a range of a predetermined distance 2a around the reference position.

Next, the genre code number JC is read (step 134). The genre that matches this genre code number JC is the target object data file F
16 and the target coordinate data MZ in the read genre is stored in the search area KA.
(Step 13).
6).

Next, it is determined whether or not the number of searched target data is equal to or greater than a predetermined number Z (step 13).
7). Here, if the number of the targets is equal to or more than the predetermined number Z, the name data MM, telephone number data MT, coordinate data MZ, and information data MD of the targets existing in the search area are read out, and the stopover candidate data is read. RAM as KM
4 (step 138). If there are no more than the predetermined number Z of targets that match the specified genre and sub-criteria in the search area, an error display and voice notification are given (step 13).
9).

20. Priority Determination Process FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the priority determination process (step 208). First, the current position data MP representing the coordinates of the current position is read by the CPU 2 (step 260). Further, the CPU 2 reads the coordinate data MZ of the n pieces of stopover candidate data KM (step 262). Then, the reach distance TK from the current position to each stopover candidate is calculated (step 2).
64). The reach distance TK is a straight-line distance obtained by the Pythagorean theorem or a map data file F1.
Is the total length of the route to each drop-off point obtained using This route may be a shortest route or an optimal route in consideration of road information. The data TK from this reacher is
It is stored in the RAM 4.

Further, the sub-reference data KS is read from the RAM 4 by the CPU 2 (step 26).
6). Then, the reach distance TK is weighted according to the sub-reference data KS, and unnecessary stopover candidate data KM is deleted (step 268). For example,
The traveling direction of the own vehicle at the reference position KP is determined, and the relative direction of each drop-in location candidate to the traveling direction is determined. Then, according to the relative direction of each drop-in candidate,
Weighting is performed. For example, for left-hand traffic,
Since it is easy to stop in the order of “front left”, “front right”, and “rear”, the reach distance TK of the drop-in location candidate that is the easiest to drop in
Is weighted such that is smaller.

As described above, when the designated genre is “gas station”, the distribution company “brand”,
In the case of “convenience store”, “brand” of the chain store name is specified by the sub-criteria. In this case,
The CPU 2 determines whether or not the code data of the designated brand and the code data of the brand included in the landmark information data MD of each stopover candidate match each other, and the mismatched stopover candidate data KM is determined. Will be erased.
In this way, the priority is determined for the remaining drop-in place candidate data KM that has been weighted according to the reach distance TK (step 270).

21. Priority Assignment Process FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the priority assignment assignment process (step 270). The CPU 2 executes the above step 2
At step 68, the remaining distance data TK of the stop-by place candidates remaining without being erased are read (step 280). Then, the reach distance data TK is arranged in ascending order (step 282). The reaching distance data TK at this time is
Since the weighting is performed in the above step 268, the drop-in place candidate that best matches the user's request has the smallest value. Therefore, priorities are assigned in ascending order of the reach distance data TK (step 284). This priority data UN is stored in the RAM 4.

In this way, priorities are given to the stopover candidates in the order that suits the user's desire, and the stopover candidates with the priorities are displayed on the display 33 (step 106). In step 148 of the display process of the drop-in place candidates (step 106), a map screen centering on the reference position is displayed on the display 33. The scale of the map is adjusted to a scale at which three or more stop-by candidates are displayed. On the map screen, a mark of a target representing a stopover candidate is displayed. The name of the target is displayed near the mark of each target. Furthermore, the above-mentioned priorities are given to the names of the targets. In addition, the display processing of this drop-in place candidate (Step 106)
The scale adjustment processing performed in is performed in the above-described FIGS.
Either 15 or 17 may be used. However, "current position" in each figure is replaced with "reference position".

After the target is displayed on the display 33 as a stopover candidate as described above, the user determines what he / she wants to drop in and registers the determined target (step 108). ). At this time, the user can determine a target that meets the conditions desired by the user in a short time by referring to the priorities assigned to the drop-in location candidates.

22. Another Example of Drop-Off Location Candidate Setting Process In the embodiment shown in FIG.
In step 06), the scale of the map screen is adjusted so that a target object having a predetermined number Z or more in the search area is searched, and the stopover candidate having the predetermined number Z or more is displayed in the stopover candidate display process (step 106). Was something. For this reason, a target with a low priority and near the reference position may be displayed, and a target with a high priority and far from the reference position may not be displayed.

In the stopover candidate setting process shown in FIG. 25, after the priority order determination process (step 208), the RA
The priority data UN is read from M4, and the magnitude comparison is performed.
Are extracted (step 210). Then, the distance from the reference position to the Z targets is calculated (step 212). Further, the object farthest from the reference position among the Z objects is selected (step 214). The distance of the farthest target is stored in the RAM 4 as distance data L. Then, the scale of the map corresponding to the distance data L is obtained from the data table shown in FIG. 18 (step 216). Next, on the map screen of the determined scale,
The Z targets are displayed as drop-off location candidates (step 148). The user selects and registers a target object to drop in with reference to the priority order from the drop-in place candidates (step 108).

As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 25, Z targets are selected in descending order of priority, and the scale of the map is adjusted so that the Z targets are displayed. .
As a result, it is possible to prevent an object having a high priority and far from the reference position from being displayed.

23. Modification of the Processing in FIG. 17 In the example shown in FIG. 17, the range of the search area is set to the range in which the map of the maximum scale is displayed on the display 33 (step 132 in FIG. 8). It is also possible to search for all the targets corresponding to the specified genre without defining the range of the search area. In this case, the target farthest from the current position may not enter the map screen at the maximum scale. Therefore, if the distance L of the target farthest from the current position exceeds the range of the map screen of 1 / 640,000 of the maximum scale, the scale is determined to a predetermined scale (the bottom column in FIG. 18). To Thus, when the distance L is equal to or greater than 20000 m, the scale of the map is determined to be 1 / 80,000, and only the target that enters the map screen of this scale is displayed as a stopover candidate.

FIG. 17 may be modified as shown in FIG. After the target farthest from the current position is selected in step 180, it is determined whether or not the distance L to the farthest target is greater than a predetermined distance LMAX (step 184). In the case of FIG. 18, the predetermined distance LMAX = 2000
0 m. If the distance L is smaller than LMAX, a scale corresponding to the distance L is obtained from the table of FIG. 18 (step 182). If the distance L is equal to or greater than LMAX, a target second from the current position is selected (step 1).
86), it is determined whether or not the distance L of the target is smaller than LMAX (step 184). If the distance L of the second farthest target is also equal to or greater than LMAX, the distance L of the third, fourth,... It is determined whether or not it is (steps 184, 186). If all of the distances of the target searched in the target search processing (step 104) are equal to or larger than LMAX, an error is notified (step 1).
90).

24. Other Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, steps 170, 152, 172, 154, 15 shown in FIG.
6, 174 is performed in step 154 of FIG.
Alternatively, it may be executed after step 154 in FIG. As a result, Z or more drop-in location candidates are displayed on the map screen, and the scale is adjusted so that the drop-out location candidates are not crowded.

Further, steps 180, 1 shown in FIG.
The processing of step 82 in FIG.
It may be replaced with 56 or 174. Thus, the scale at which the target farthest from the current position is displayed is selected, so that the time for scale adjustment can be reduced. In this case, after performing the processing of steps 180 and 182, step 15
The process may proceed to the process following step 154 without returning to 2.

The predetermined number Z may be a number other than three,
But it is good. If Z = 1, there may be only one stopover candidate displayed on the display 33. Also,
Because Z is large, even at the smallest scale map, step 154
If does not become YES, an error may be notified. Step 154 is also performed on the final scale map.
If the answer is not YES, step 154 returns YES.
Alternatively, Z may be decreased by a predetermined number until. In this case, an error is reported when Z = 0.

In the target search processing (steps 104 and 206) of each of the above-described embodiments, when searching for a target in the search area, Z is set in order from the current position or the reference position.
Individuals may be selected. As a result, in the scale adjustment process (step 146), a scale map screen on which these Z stopover candidates are displayed is selected. Therefore, the time required for the selection can be reduced as compared with the case where the user selects one from among many or more drop-in place candidates.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the search area need not be set. In this case, if a stop-over candidate of Z or more is not displayed on the map screen at the maximum scale, an error is notified. Further, the search area may be limited to a range narrower than the range of the map screen at the maximum scale. For example, the range may be a predetermined distance from the current position or the reference position. Although the range of scale selection is narrower, the search range for drop-in location candidates is limited to the range close to the current position or the reference position, which is effective when the user wants to go to the drop-in location in a short time. is there. Also,
The search area may be set by the user.

Further, before the target search processing (step 104) in FIG. 6, the reference position determination processing (step 2) in FIG.
04) may be inserted so that the reference position of the search area can be set to a point other than the current position. FIG.
The priority order determination processing of Steps 9 and 25 (Step 208) may be executed after the scale adjustment processing (Steps 146 and 216). As a result, the priority order is determined for the stopover candidates displayed on the display 33. Further, coordinate data such as the coordinates of the current position (X0, Y0), the coordinates of the stop-by place (Xn, Yn), XMAX, YMAX, etc. are represented by latitude and longitude coordinates, and the coordinate difference (Xna, Yna) and distance L
May be calculated. Further, in the example where the sub-criterion is not specified, the target information data MD shown in FIG.
May not be required. In addition, the map data file F1 includes
Map data having a scale of 7 or more or less may be stored, or one map data may be enlarged or reduced by proportional calculation to form map data of different scales. In the case of reduction, map data may be thinned out. The above steps 156, 174, 182
, The proportional calculation or the data thinning is performed. Also, the map scale may be stepless.

Further, the various data files shown in FIG. 2 may be stored in a writable external storage medium such as a floppy disk. Further, the sub-reference data SK is not limited to the items stored in the target information data MD in the target data file F16, and the user can freely register predetermined items. An item may be selected as the sub-reference SK.

If a position where the direction cannot be changed, such as an expressway, an elevated road, or a tunnel, is designated as the reference position, an interchange scheduled to descend,
A point where the direction can be changed, such as an intersection, may be set as the reference position. Further, when the current position is used as the reference position, the correction may be made such that the higher the traveling speed, the more the reference position is ahead of the current position. As a result, it is less likely that the stopover point of the passing point falls in the higher priority order. Further, the priority order may be determined with reference to the relative direction of the stopover candidate with respect to the traveling direction of the own vehicle.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the stopover point is set has been described. However, the scale adjustment processing and the priority order determination processing may be performed also when setting the final arrival point or the waypoint. In this case, in the destination setting process (step 51) of FIG. 5, when a candidate point of the destination is displayed on the map screen, the same process as the above-described stop-by location setting process (step 100) is performed. Done.
The embodiments of the present invention are as follows. [1]
Map data storage means (map data file F1) for storing map data; information indicating destinations such as destination mark data and destination name data for a plurality of destinations; guidance data and coordinate data for the destinations Storage means (a destination data file F6 and a target data file F1)
6) and when searching for a destination as a destination candidate from among the destinations stored in the destination storage means, the information representing the destination or the information about the destination is used as a search reference. First search criterion information generating means (steps 102 and 20) for generating first search criterion information
2) and second search criterion information generating means for generating second search criterion information serving as a search criterion for the current position or the specified reference position (steps 132 and 204).
Reading destination information from the destination storage means for candidate destinations corresponding to the first and second search reference information generated by the first and second search reference information generating means; Means (Steps 104, 20)
6) and scale determining means (step 146) for determining an appropriate scale of the map screen on which two or more or a predetermined number of the information indicating the destination read by the destination information reading means are displayed. A destination which displays the map data of the scale determined by the scale determining means from the map data storage means and displays the information representing the destination read by the destination information reading means on the map screen; A target search device (method) / navigation device (method) comprising a display means (step 148). [2] Map data storage means for storing map data, destination storage means for a plurality of destinations, storing information representing the destination and information about the destination in association with each other, In searching for a candidate destination that is a destination candidate from among the stored destinations, first search criterion information that serves as a search criterion for information representing the destination or information related to the destination is generated. Search reference information generating means; second search reference information generating means for generating second search reference information serving as a search reference for a current position or a specified reference position; and generating the first and second search reference information Means for reading destination information from the destination storage means for candidate destinations according to the first and second search criteria information generated by the means; Scale determining means for determining an appropriate scale of a map screen on which a predetermined number or more or a predetermined number of destination information read by the information reading means are displayed; and a scale determined by the scale determining means. Destination display means for displaying the map screen using the map data read from the map data storage means, and displaying information representing the destination read by the destination information reading means on the map screen. A target search device (method) / navigation device (method), comprising: [3] map data storage means for storing map data, map data read means for reading map data from the map data storage means, and for a plurality of destinations, correspondence between information representing the destination and information about the destination. Destination storage means for storing and storing, when a content range for distinguishing the destination is specified, first search criterion information storage means for storing the specified content range, and first search criterion information First search criterion information reading means for reading the specified content range from the storage means, and second search criterion information for storing a geographic range including the current position or the specified reference position as second search criterion information Storage means, second search criterion information reading means for reading the geographical range from the second search criterion information storage means, and the first search criterion information reading means Destination information reading means for reading, from the destination storage means, information on a destination that matches the content range read and the geographic range read by the second search criterion information reading means; Relative position calculating means for obtaining a relative positional relationship with respect to the current position or a designated reference position with respect to the information on the destination read by the information reading means; A scale determination for determining an appropriate map screen scale on which a predetermined number or more or a predetermined number of the destination information read by the destination information reading means is displayed according to the relative positional relationship. Means, and a map screen of the scale determined by the scale determination means is displayed using the map data read by the map data reading means. And a destination display means for displaying information representing the destination read by the destination information reading means on the map screen. ). [4] The search criterion information includes information for searching for a candidate destination as a destination candidate on a route to the final destination and on a route other than the route. 4. The target object search device (method) / navigation device (method) according to 2 or 3. [5]
The map data storage means stores a plurality of map data of different scales for the same area, and
The scale determining means changes the scale stepwise from the scale of the map screen displayed when the setting operation of the candidate destination is performed by the user, and determines the appropriate scale of the map screen. The target object search device (method) / navigation device (method) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: [6] The map data storage means stores a plurality of map data of different scales for the same area, and the scale determination means changes the scale stepwise from the minimum scale to the appropriate scale. The target object search device (method) / navigation device (method) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a scale of the map screen is determined.
[7] The scale determining means determines the scale of the map screen according to the destination farthest from the current position or the reference position among the destinations read by the destination information reading means. The target object search device (method) / navigation device (method) according to claim 2 or 3. [8] The scale determining means selects a map screen on which two or more or a predetermined number of destinations read by the destination information reading means are displayed, and further selects a small area set in the map screen. 4. The target object search according to claim 2, wherein, when the destination information readout means includes two or more or a predetermined number of destinations read out by the destination information readout means, the scale of the map is further reduced. Device (method) / Navigation device (method).
[9] The priority order determining means for determining the priority order of the destination read by the destination information reading means, and the priority order determined by the priority order determining means are displayed by the destination display means. 4. The target object search device (method) / navigation device (method) according to claim 2, further comprising a priority order display means for displaying the destination in accordance with the destination.

[0096]

As described above in detail, the present invention determines the scale of a map on which the positions of a plurality of targets can be displayed, displays the map on the determined scale, and displays the map of the target. The plurality of target objects are displayed at each location on the map according to each piece of position information. Therefore, the scale of the map on which a plurality of landmarks such as candidate destinations are displayed is automatically adjusted so that the user can easily see the map, and the user does not need to manually adjust the scale.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall circuit diagram of a navigation device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data file stored in an external storage medium.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of a target object data file F16.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing data stored in a RAM 4.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an overall process.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a stopover location setting process.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a search criterion determination process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a target object search process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a stop-by location candidate display process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a scale adjustment process.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a current position and the coordinates of a stopover candidate displayed on a display 33;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display 33.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a stopover place registration process.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of another example of the scale adjustment processing.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of still another example of the scale adjustment processing.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a small frame 70 used for scale adjustment processing.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of still another example of the scale adjustment processing.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a data table used for scale adjustment processing.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a flowchart of another example of a stopover place setting process.

20 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a search criterion determination process in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a reference position determination process in FIG.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a target object search process in FIG. 19;

23 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a priority order determination process in FIG.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a priority order assigning process in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of another example of the stopover location setting process.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a flowchart of still another example of the scale adjustment processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Central processing unit, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... ROM, 4 ...
RAM, 9 image processor, 10 image memory, 11
... Sound processor, 13 ... Speaker, 20 ... Current position detecting device, 21 ... Absolute direction sensor, 22 ... Relative direction sensor, 23 ... Distance sensor, 25 ... GPS receiving device, 26 ...
Beacon receiving device, 27: data transmitting / receiving device, 30: data communication device, 31: data transmitting / receiving unit, 32: telephone transmitting unit, 33: display, 34: touch panel, 36 ...
Recording card reader 37 CD-ROM driver
Reference numeral 38 denotes a voice recognition device, 39 denotes a microphone, 40 denotes an operation switch, 41 denotes a manual / voice changeover switch, and 42 denotes a destination / stopover changeover switch.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-139496 (JP, A) JP-A-6-68388 (JP, A) JP-A-5-313581 (JP, A) JP-A-5-313581 298597 (JP, A) JP-A-5-88615 (JP, A) JP-A-3-113312 (JP, A) JP-A-63-271110 (JP, A) JP-A-5-96869 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G09B 29/10 G01C 21/00 G08G 1/0969 G09B 29/00

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of targets and respective position information of the targets are searched based on a predetermined search criterion, and each of the plurality of searched targets is searched based on the searched position information. Determine the scale of the map whose position can be displayed, display the map at the determined scale, and display the plurality of targets at each location on the map in accordance with the position information of the target. Characteristic target search device. 2. Searching for a plurality of targets and respective position information of the targets based on a predetermined search criterion, and for each of the plurality of targets searched, based on the searched position information. Determining the scale of the map whose position can be displayed, displaying the map at the determined scale, and displaying the plurality of targets at each location of the map according to the position information of the target. Characteristic target search method. 3. The target object and the position information of the target object are stored in a storage unit, and a plurality of the target objects stored in the storage unit are searched based on the predetermined search criterion. The number of the plurality of target objects to be searched is determined in advance, and the number of the objects to be searched is determined to be equal to or greater than the predetermined number. The map to be displayed and the scale of the map are determined based on the current position or a predetermined reference position. The priorities of the plurality of landmarks are determined according to predetermined criteria, and the priorities are displayed corresponding to the respective landmarks, and a destination is selected from the displayed plural landmarks. 2. The target object search device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A plurality of targets and respective position information of the targets are searched based on a predetermined search criterion, and each of the plurality of searched targets is searched based on the searched position information. Determining a scale of a map at which at least one of the positions can be displayed, displaying the map at the determined scale, and displaying the target at a location on the map corresponding to the position information of the target; Characteristic target search device. 5. Searching for a plurality of targets and respective position information of the targets based on a predetermined search criterion, and for each of the plurality of targets searched, based on the searched position information. Determining the scale of the map at which at least one of the positions can be displayed; displaying the map at the determined scale; and displaying the target at a location on the map corresponding to the position information of the target. Characteristic target search method. 6. A search for a plurality of targets and respective position information of the targets based on a predetermined search criterion, and as a result of the plurality of searches, if one target is searched,
Based on the searched position information, the scale of the map on which the position of the searched target can be displayed is determined, and the map is displayed at the determined scale, and the map is displayed in accordance with the position information of the target. A target search device which displays the target at a location on the map, and sets the displayed target as a destination of a guide route. 7. Searching for a plurality of targets and respective position information of the targets based on a predetermined search criterion, as a result of the plurality of searches, when one searched target is found,
Based on the searched position information, the scale of the map on which the position of the searched target can be displayed is determined. The map is displayed at the determined scale, and the map is displayed in accordance with the position information of the target. A target search method, characterized by displaying the target at a location on the map, and setting the displayed target as a destination of a guide route.