System and program

Abstract

To provide a system and a program capable of displaying information about a sightseeing route easily and quickly by eliminating not only setting work of a sightseeing spot but also setting work of generation conditions of a sightseeing route.SOLUTION: In a system which conducts control to acquire a plurality of pieces of sightseeing route information and display them on a display device 5, the sightseeing route information is grouped for each time required for sightseeing to be stored in a database. A control part acquires a time zone required for a sightseeing route from the database and displays the required time zone on the display device 5. When receiving selection of a required time zone from a user, the control part conducts control to display a sightseeing route belonging to the required time zone on the display device 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and a program for displaying information on a tourist route that travels around tourist spots, for example. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, car navigation systems have become an essential in-car item. The convenience of car navigation systems lies in the fact that they allow users to arrive at their destination with just a few simple settings. Therefore, by using a car navigation system, users can easily travel to unfamiliar places.

[0003] However, because of its convenience, many people set off for their destination without doing sufficient research. As a result, even if they travel to a famous tourist spot far away, they often do not know much about tourist spots other than their destination. For this reason, various navigation technologies suitable for use in tourist spots have been proposed.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for an in-vehicle navigation device that searches for an optimal route for efficiently touring places to visit in order. However, this technology requires the user to set tourist spots as destinations by looking at a guidebook, which makes the setting process cumbersome.

[0005] Therefore, a technology has been proposed that generates a sightseeing route from a departure point without the user having to set tourist spots, using the user's desired time, distance, etc. as conditions for generating the sightseeing route (for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-101168 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-117848 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the technology of Patent Document 2 and the like, although the destination is not set, the user still needs to set the conditions for generating a tourist route, such as the desired time and distance, which is still a tedious task. In particular, when visiting a tourist spot for the first time, the user not only does not know the tourist spots included in the area, but also does not know the size of the area, etc.

[0008] As a result, users may be confused when setting the conditions for generating a tourist route, and end up having to rely on guidebooks or the like. Therefore, many users feel that the burden of setting the conditions for generating a tourist route is not much different from the burden of setting tourist spots. Moreover, with the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 and the like, it is undeniable that the process of generating a tourist route takes time, and issues such as poor usability have been pointed out.

[0009] The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a system and program that can easily and quickly display information about tourist routes, eliminating the need to set tourist spots and even the task of setting conditions for generating tourist routes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the system according to the present invention is as follows. (1) In a system that acquires multiple tourist route information and controls the display of the information on a display means, the tourist route information is grouped by the time required for sightseeing, the time required is displayed on the display means, and when a user selects the time required, the system has a control means that controls the display means to display the tourist route information that belongs to the selected time required.

[0011] In this way, tourist route information grouped by the amount of time required for sightseeing is obtained, so there is no need to use this system to search for tourist routes and generate them. For example, tourist route information grouped by the amount of time required for sightseeing can be created in advance by grouping multiple locations by the amount of time required for sightseeing, like a set meal menu.

[0012] Any configuration is acceptable as long as it is possible to acquire tourist route information grouped by the amount of time required for sightseeing, but it is particularly preferable to store tourist route information grouped by the amount of time required for sightseeing in advance and acquire the stored tourist route information grouped by the amount of time required for sightseeing. This acquisition can be performed, for example, by storing the tourist route information grouped by the amount of time required in a storage means of a server and acquiring the information from the storage means of the server via a network, but it is also preferable to provide a storage means in the on-board electronic device that stores the tourist route information grouped by the amount of time required and acquire the information from the storage means in the on-board electronic device.

[0013] The tourist route information may be displayed, for example, as the entire or partial route connecting multiple tourist spots. By displaying the tourist route information as a route that traces the tourist spots, the tourist route can be understood spatially or geographically. It may also be desirable to include the user's current location on the route. By including the user's current location in the route of the tourist route information, the route from the current location to the destination tourist spot becomes clear.

[0014] The display format of the tourist route information is not limited to this, and may be any information that conceptually evokes the route, such as a list display of text information indicating the names of tourist spots. In such a list display, for example, the text information indicating the names of each tourist spot may be connected by arrows or lines, or each tourist spot may be assigned a number, etc., to indicate the order in which to visit the tourist spots.

[0015] The user's selection, whether the selection item is the required time as described above or the duration or genre as described below, may be accepted by, for example, a button on the electronic device, a touch panel on the display means, or a remote control. Regarding the display when selecting a selection item, for example, multiple selection items may be displayed simultaneously on the same display means. In this case, the user can select while viewing multiple items, thereby improving operability.

[0016] Alternatively, for example, only one selection item may be displayed, and an operation unit for displaying the next option may be provided. In such a display, by displaying only one selection item, the display area can be made larger, making the display easier to see. Furthermore, for example, the selection items and the tourist route information may be displayed on separate display screens, allowing the user to simultaneously grasp the selection items and the corresponding tourist route information.

[0017] The present system may be, for example, an in-vehicle system. In this case, the control means may be provided entirely within or outside the vehicle, or a portion of the control means may be provided within the vehicle and the remaining portion may be provided outside the vehicle. The control means may be realized by, for example, one control unit or multiple control units. Furthermore, the display means may be capable of displaying information that can be visually recognized by vehicle occupants. For example, from the viewpoint of application to various in-vehicle systems, the display means may be a display screen.

[0018] (2) The tourist route information is grouped by the length of stay at the tourist spot, and the control means displays the length of stay on the display means, and when the control means receives a selection of the length of stay from the user, controls the display means to display the tourist route information belonging to that length of stay.

[0019] In this way, tourist route information grouped by the length of stay at tourist spots is acquired, so when selecting tourist route information, the user can be made aware of the length of stay at tourist spots included in the tourist route information. This allows the user to select tourist route information after taking into consideration their own convenience, etc. Furthermore, by making the user aware of the length of stay at tourist spots, the user can tour the tourist spots with peace of mind when actually sightseeing according to the tourist route information.

[0020] Any configuration is acceptable as long as it is possible to acquire tourist route information grouped by the duration of stay at tourist spots, but it is particularly preferable to store tourist route information grouped by the duration of stay at tourist spots in advance and acquire the tourist route information grouped by the duration of stay at the stored tourist spots. This acquisition can be performed, for example, by storing tourist route information grouped by the duration of stay at tourist spots in a storage means of a server and acquiring the information from the storage means of the server via a network, but it is also preferable to provide a storage means in the on-board electronic device that stores tourist route information grouped by the duration of stay at tourist spots and acquire the information from the storage means in the on-board electronic device.

[0021] (3) The tourist route information is grouped by genre of tourist content, and the control means displays the genre on the display means, and when it receives a selection of the genre from the user, it controls the display means to display the tourist route information belonging to that genre.

[0022] In this way, tourist route information grouped by tourist spot genre is acquired, so when selecting tourist route information, the user can be made aware of the genre of the information, allowing the user to select tourist route information according to their own preferences, etc.

[0023] The genre of tourist spots may have a hierarchical structure with multiple genres, for example, with higher-level genres such as shrines and temples, art galleries and museums, and restaurants and diners, and a lower level of restaurants and diners such as soba restaurants, etc. The information indicating these genres may be text information including the genre name or image information that is representative of the genre.

[0024] (4) The control means may be configured to switch between displaying the required time, the duration of stay, and / or the genre. By switching between displaying the required time and at least one of the duration and genre, these items can be selected in sequence, and the tourist route information desired by the user can be gradually narrowed down and displayed. Also, by displaying the required time, duration and genre in sequence, the display area for each item can be enlarged, making the required time, duration and genre displays easier to see.

[0025] The order in which the display of required time, duration, and genre is switched may be freely selected by the user, and tourist route information may be displayed while reflecting the user's priorities among required time, duration, and genre. Also, to reduce the burden of selection operations on the user, the display may be automatically switched in a predetermined order.

[0026] (5) The tourist route information should be configured so that it cannot be rewritten by the user. Because the tourist route information cannot be rewritten by the user, the user does not need to edit the tourist route information at all, and can simply select the time or genre. This makes it possible to quickly display tourist route information, and satisfies the needs of users who are satisfied as long as they can visit the main tourist spots in the tourist area.

[0027] Furthermore, the present invention may be configured as follows (6) to (17), for example. (6) A system for controlling the display of a tourist route on a display means, the system comprising control means for controlling the display of summary information of the tourist route on the display means.

[0028] A tourist route is, for example, a route that includes tourist spots, but even if a user has come to a tourist spot, they may not be familiar with the tourist spots in detail. In such a situation, if the user has to set tourist spots while referring to a guidebook, it is a heavy burden and inconvenient for the user. Furthermore, even if a user who is not familiar with tourist spots tries to use a system that displays tourist routes, they will not be interested in displaying tourist routes because they do not know the tourist spots, making it difficult to use.

[0029] Therefore, this system displays summary information of tourist routes to help users recognize the summary information. This makes users aware of the tourist routes from the perspective of the summary information, arouses their interest in the tourist routes, and makes it easier for users to use the tourist route display.

[0030] The summary information of a tourist route is like the "XX" part of the "XX set meal" on a restaurant menu, and may be, for example, information that succinctly expresses the contents of the tourist route from a certain perspective.

[0031] The summary information of the tourist route should, for example, help the user visualize the regional characteristics including the tourist route. The regional characteristics can be displayed in a general name that expresses the regional characteristics, such as the display of the words "urban route" or "sea route," or a representative image that expresses the regional characteristics.

[0032] Furthermore, the summary information of the tourist route should, for example, be such that it is easy for the user to imagine the degree of recommendation of the tourist route. The degree of recommendation of the tourist route should, for example, be set based on an objective or subjective index. The display mode showing the degree of recommendation of the tourist route can be, for example, a catchphrase-like message such as "A must-go" or "A must-visit," or a symbol showing the degree of recommendation of the tourist route, such as "◎, ○, △" or the number of "A, B, C," or "☆."

[0033] The summary information of the sightseeing route may also be information that can be used as a basis for the user's decision, such as the total amount of money required for the sightseeing route, including admission fees to tourist spots, and such information may be displayed as a number, for example.

[0034] The display means may be, for example, a means capable of displaying information that can be visually recognized by the user. For example, from the viewpoint of application to various systems, the display means may be a display screen. The system may be, for example, an in-vehicle system. The control means may be provided entirely within or outside the vehicle, or part of the control means may be provided within the vehicle and the remaining part may be provided outside the vehicle. Furthermore, the control means may be realized by, for example, one control unit or multiple control units.

[0035] (7) The system according to (6), characterized in that the tourist route is set in advance. Even if the tourist spots included in the route are not what the user desires, by setting the tourist route in advance, the user can be relieved from the task of setting the tourist route, and a large number of users can be given a sense of satisfaction.

[0036] For example, a tourist route may be set as a route that includes at least one location that is generally recognized as a tourist spot in the area that includes the tourist route. The tourist route may be set as a fixed route that cannot be edited by the user. By not allowing the user to edit the tourist route, the user is not forced to perform tedious editing tasks, making it easier for the user to use the tourist route display.

[0037] (8) The system described in (6) or (7) is characterized in that the control means causes the display means to display the required time for the tourist route or time information regarding the required time as summary information for the tourist route. By displaying the required time for a tourist route as summary information of the tourist route, the user is made aware of the content of the tourist route from the perspective of required time, and is prompted to display a tourist route with the required time desired by the user. By viewing the display of a tourist route with the required time desired by the user, the user can follow the tourist route within the specified required time.

[0038] Many users are satisfied if they can follow a tourist route within a specified time, so by helping users follow a tourist route within a specified time, it is possible to provide a high level of satisfaction to many users. The time required for a tourist route is particularly useful for users who are not familiar with tourist spots as a basis for making decisions when displaying a tourist route.

[0039] Furthermore, by displaying the required time for the sightseeing route as summary information of the sightseeing route, the user is made aware of the displayed required time, so there is no need for the user to set the required time, and this cumbersome setting operation can be omitted. Furthermore, since the user can follow the sightseeing route while being aware of the required time for the sightseeing route, the user is not made to hurry or panic along the sightseeing route, and safety when proceeding along the sightseeing route is improved.

[0040] The required time for a sightseeing route may include, for example, the time spent at tourist spots along the sightseeing route. Furthermore, the required time for a sightseeing route may be grouped, for example, by required time slots having a predetermined range. By grouping the required time for a sightseeing route by required time slot, the user does not need to worry about the required time down to the minute unit, such as seconds. Therefore, the user can roughly grasp the required time for a sightseeing route, providing a good user experience.

[0041] The required time period for a grouped tourist route can be, for example, in days or hours, with time units such as "3 hours," "5 hours," and "7 hours." For example, if the required time period for a tourist route is set to "3 hours," this is suitable for cases where a user wishes to sightsee from the time they arrive at a tourist spot until they check into the hotel, or from the time they check out of the hotel until they head to their next destination. Also, if the required time period is set to "5 hours," this is suitable for cases where a user wishes to sightsee for about half a day, and if the required time period is set to "7 hours," this is suitable for cases where a user wishes to sightsee for a full day.

[0042] Furthermore, the time information regarding the required time for the sightseeing route may be, for example, the elapsed time since the start of the sightseeing route, or the remaining time until the required time ends. By displaying such time information, the user can be made aware of the elapsed time or remaining time for the required time. This can help the user adjust the speed of the sightseeing route, allowing the user to travel the sightseeing route efficiently.

[0043] Furthermore, the time information regarding the required time for the sightseeing route may be, for example, information indicating that the required time for the sightseeing route has ended. By displaying the required time end information, if the required time for the sightseeing route has ended before the end of the sightseeing route, the user is prompted to decide whether to continue the sightseeing route or to discontinue the sightseeing. The display format of the required time, elapsed time of the required time, and remaining time may be, for example, an analog time display or a digital time display, and it is possible to select whether to display or not.

[0044] (9) The system described in any one of (6) to (8) is characterized in that the control means causes the display means to display the length of stay or time information regarding the length of stay at tourist spots on the tourist route as summary information of the tourist route.

[0045] By displaying the length of stay at tourist spots as summary information for the tourist route, users are made aware of the content of the tourist route from the perspective of length of stay, which encourages users to display tourist routes with a predetermined length of stay. By viewing a display of a tourist route with their desired length of stay, users can follow the tourist route while spending the desired length of stay at tourist spots. Many users are satisfied with spending a certain amount of time at a specific tourist spot, so encouraging users to follow a tourist route with a predetermined length of stay can provide a sense of satisfaction to many users. Furthermore, simply by making users aware of the displayed length of stay, there is no need to set the length of stay at tourist spots, improving operability.

[0046] The length of stay at tourist spots may be grouped and displayed by time period within a predetermined range. By displaying the length of stay at tourist spots by time period, the user does not need to worry about minute units such as seconds for the length of stay, but can get a rough idea of ​​the length of stay at tourist spots, improving usability.

[0047] Examples of the time period for staying at a tourist spot include "30 minutes," "1 hour," and "1.5 hours." For example, if the time period for staying at a tourist spot is "30 minutes," it is suitable for narrowing down the places you want to visit at the tourist spot. Also, if it is "1 hour," it is suitable for when there are multiple places you want to visit at the tourist spot, and if it is "1.5 hours," it is suitable for when you want to eat at the tourist spot.

[0048] Furthermore, information regarding the length of stay at a tourist spot may be, for example, the time elapsed since the start of the stay or the time remaining until the end of the stay. By displaying such time information, the user is made aware of the elapsed or remaining time of the stay, and is encouraged to adjust the time spent sightseeing at the tourist spot. This allows for efficient sightseeing at tourist spots.

[0049] Furthermore, the information regarding the stay time at a tourist spot may be, for example, end of stay information indicating that the stay time at the tourist spot has ended. By displaying the end of stay information, when the stay time ends before the user has finished seeing the tourist spot, the user can be prompted to decide whether to continue sightseeing at the tourist spot or to stop sightseeing. The display format of the stay time, elapsed time of the stay time, and remaining time may be, for example, an analog time display or a digital time display, and it is also possible to select whether to display or not.

[0050] (10) The system described in any one of (6) to (9) is characterized in that the control means causes the display means to display information indicating the genre of tourist spots included in the tourist route as summary information of the tourist route.

[0051] By displaying information indicating the genre of tourist spots included in a tourist route, the user is made aware of the content of the tourist route from the perspective of genre, and is encouraged to view tourist routes of a specific genre. By displaying tourist routes of the user's desired genre, the user can follow a tourist route of a genre that matches their preferences, giving the user a high level of satisfaction.

[0052] The genres of tourist spots may have a hierarchical structure, for example, with higher-level genres such as shrines and temples, art galleries and museums, and restaurants and diners, and a lower level of restaurants and diners such as soba restaurants, etc. Information indicating these genres may be, for example, text information including the genre name or image information that generally represents the genre.

[0053] (11) The system according to any one of (6) to (10), characterized in that the summary information is configured not to accept editing by the user. By configuring the summary information so that it cannot be edited by the user, There is no need to perform tedious editing work, and the simple task of displaying summary information is all that is required, greatly improving workability.

[0054] The summary information that cannot be edited may be one or more. In other words, if the user eats lunch or lingers at a favorite spot, the remaining time at the tourist spot will naturally be shorter. Since the user knows how to spend their time, the time spent at the tourist spot can be treated as a guideline only, and the summary information can be fixed.

[0055] For example, if the required time for the tourist route and the duration of stay at tourist spots are set as summary information for a fixed tourist route that cannot be edited, then if the required time for the tourist route is "3 hours," the duration of stay at tourist spots can be fixed to "30 minutes." If the required time for the tourist route is "5 hours," the duration of stay at tourist spots can be fixed to "1 hour." If the required time for the tourist route is "7 hours," the duration of stay at tourist spots can be fixed to "1.5 hours." In this case, the task of selecting the duration of stay can be omitted. Furthermore, by matching the length of the required time and the duration of stay, it is possible to travel around a tourist route that is balanced between the two.

[0056] (12) A system described in any one of (6) to (11) above, characterized in that it has an input receiving means for receiving input, and the control means causes the display means to display the summary information or the tourist route in accordance with the input from the input receiving means. The input receiving means receives the input and displays the summary information or sightseeing route according to the input, which makes it easy to display the summary information or sightseeing route.

[0057] Furthermore, for example, when the input received by the input receiving means is summary information, by receiving input of multiple pieces of summary information in stages, tourist routes corresponding to the multiple pieces of summary information are displayed. For example, if the input receiving means receives from the user "3 hours" as the required time for the tourist route and further receives "1 hour" as the staying time at tourist spots, tourist routes that satisfy these summary information, i.e., tourist routes with a required time of "3 hours" and a staying time of "1 hour", are displayed.

[0058] The input receiving means may receive, for example, summary information or information for selecting a sightseeing route. Input may be performed, for example, by using buttons on the electronic device, a touch panel on the display means, or a remote control. Input may also be performed, for example, by directly entering the summary information using characters or alphanumeric characters, or by touching the area where the summary information is displayed.

[0059] (13) The system according to any one of (6) to (12), wherein the control means switches between displaying a plurality of types of the summary information on the display means. By switching between and displaying a plurality of types of summary information, the proportion of the display area for summary information in the display means increases, making the summary information easier to see.

[0060] The switching of the summary information may be performed, for example, by simultaneously displaying multiple types of summary information on the same display means and accepting a selection of the type of summary information from the user to switch the displayed summary information, thereby increasing the user's freedom of choice. Alternatively, for example, the order in which the types of summary information are displayed may be fixed, and when a selection of the type of summary information is accepted from the user, the display may automatically switch to the next piece of summary information, thereby improving operability.

[0061] (14) The system according to any one of (6) to (13), wherein the control means causes the display means to display the existence of the tourist route. By displaying the existence of tourist routes, users can be made aware of the existence of tourist routes and can be made interested in them, which makes it easier for users to use the display of tourist routes.

[0062] The display indicating the existence of a tourist route may be, for example, a display including the words "Tourist Information." For example, if the "Tourist Information" display is flashing or lit, it may indicate that a tourist route exists, and if the "Tourist Information" display is off, it may indicate that no tourist route exists.

[0063] Furthermore, the timing of displaying the display indicating the existence of a tourist route may be, for example, in response to an inquiry from the user, or, for example, in conjunction with the current location detection process, the presence of a tourist route may be displayed when the current location approaches a point on the tourist route by a predetermined distance or more, or when the current location reaches the tourist route.

[0064] (15) The system described in any one of (6) to (14) is characterized in that the control means causes the display means to display the tourist route including a predetermined major spot in priority to the tourist route that does not include the major spot. The predetermined major spots are, for example, facilities or places that are well-known in tourist destinations. Furthermore, there may be one or more major spots on a tourist route. Examples of how the major spots are displayed include text information including the name of the major spot, location information, and image information of the major spot.

[0065] By displaying tourist routes that include such major spots with priority over tourist routes that do not, it is more likely that users will notice tourist routes with well-known major spots, even if they have little prior knowledge about tourist routes, and this can provide users with high levels of satisfaction.

[0066] (16) A system described in any one of (6) to (15) characterized in that it has a current location detection means for detecting the current location, and when the current location is a predetermined major spot, it displays a tourist route excluding the major spot. If the current location where the user has already arrived is a major spot, it is not necessary to display a route to that major spot, so by displaying a tourist route excluding that major spot, the efficiency of displaying the tourist route can be improved.

[0067] (17) The system according to any one of (6) to (16), further comprising a tourist route guidance control means for providing guidance on the tourist route. By providing tourist route guidance, the user can travel around the tourist route smoothly. For example, the tourist route guidance may be provided while displaying the entire tourist route. By displaying the entire tourist route in this way, the user can understand how far along the tourist route they have traveled.

[0068] In addition, the tourist route guidance may, for example, only guide the journey from one tourist spot on the tourist route to the next, and when the user arrives at the tourist spot that is the end of the journey, guide the user from that tourist spot to the next tourist spot. By displaying a portion of the tourist route in this way, a portion of the tourist route can be displayed in a larger size, providing good visibility.

[0069] Furthermore, the present invention may be configured as follows (18) to (28), for example. (18) The system according to any one of (1) to (17), wherein the required time is divided into five or less time periods, and the control means displays the time periods. By displaying five or fewer time slots for the required sightseeing time, the number of options is narrowed down to five or fewer, allowing the user to easily select the time slot for the desired required time. The number of time slots displayed is preferably two or three, which allows the user to quickly make a selection.

[0070] (19) The system according to any one of (1) to (18), wherein the time slots for the required time are set every two hours. In the following embodiment, the time slots for the required time are set to 3 hours, 5 hours, and 7 hours, which are suitable for the following cases: Displaying tourist route information with a required time slot of "3 hours" is suitable for cases where you wish to sightsee between the time you arrive at a tourist spot and check into your hotel, or when you wish to sightsee in your free time after checking out of your hotel.

[0071] Also, displaying sightseeing route information for "5 hours" is suitable for cases where the user wishes to do sightseeing for about half a day, and displaying sightseeing route information for "7 hours" is suitable for cases where the user wishes to do sightseeing for a full day. In this way, by setting the time required in two-hour intervals, it is possible to suggest to the user how to allocate their time for sightseeing.

[0072] (20) The system according to any one of (1) to (19), wherein the staying time is divided into five or less time periods, and the control means displays the time periods. The number of options is narrowed down by displaying five or fewer time slots for the duration of stay at tourist attractions. This allows users to easily select the desired time slot. The number of time slots displayed is preferably two or three, allowing users to quickly make their selection.

[0073] (21) The system according to any one of (1) to (20), wherein the time slots of the stay time are set every 30 minutes. By setting the time slots for stay in 30-minute increments, users can be made aware of the approximate time they will be spending at a tourist spot. For example, setting the time slots to 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 1.5 hours is suitable for the following cases:

[0074] That is, displaying tourist route information with a stay time of "30 minutes" is suitable for cases where the user wishes to stay for a short period of time with few sightseeing spots, etc. Displaying tourist route information with a stay time of "1 hour" is suitable for cases where the user wishes to take a certain amount of time for sightseeing, etc. Displaying tourist route information with a stay time of "1.5 hours" is suitable for cases where the user wishes to stay for a long period of time, including meals, etc.

[0075] (22) The system according to any one of (1) to (21), wherein the length of stay at the tourist spot is fixed in accordance with the required time. Naturally, the remaining time spent at a tourist spot will be shorter if the user eats lunch or lingers at a favorite spot. It is up to the user to know how to spend their time at such a tourist spot. Therefore, by treating the time spent at a tourist spot as a guideline only and fixing the time spent at the tourist spot according to the required time, the operation of "selecting the time spent" can be eliminated.

[0076] When fixing the length of stay at a tourist spot according to the required time, for example, if the required time is "3 hours," the stay time should be "30 minutes," if the required time is "5 hours," the stay time should be "1 hour," and if the required time slot is "7 hours," the stay time should be "1.5 hours." In this case, the length of the required time and the length of stay are proportional, allowing for sightseeing with a good balance between the required time and the stay time.

[0077] (23) The system described in any one of (1) to (22), wherein the control means, after accepting the selection of the required time, switches the display of the required time to the display of the tourist route information. By switching to and displaying tourist route information after accepting the selection of the required time, the display area for the required time and tourist route information can be enlarged, making the required time and tourist route information easier to see.

[0078] (24) A system described in any one of (1) to (23) is characterized in that it has a current location detection means for detecting a current location, and when the current location corresponds to a tourist spot included in the tourist route information, it displays tourist route information excluding the tourist spot.

[0079] If the user's current location is a tourist spot, the user is unlikely to use tourist route information that leads to that tourist spot. Therefore, if the user's current location is a tourist spot included in the tourist route information, tourist route information that excludes such tourist spots is displayed. This improves the efficiency of displaying tourist route information.

[0080] (25) The system according to any one of (1) to (24), characterized in that it controls route guidance for the tourist route indicated by the tourist route information. By controlling the route guidance of the sightseeing route, a smooth sightseeing experience is possible. For example, route guidance may be provided while displaying the entire sightseeing route. By displaying the entire sightseeing route, the user can easily grasp how far along the sightseeing route they have traveled.

[0081] Also, for example, guidance may be provided only from one tourist spot on a sightseeing route to the next, and when the user arrives at the tourist spot that is the end of the route, guidance may be provided from that tourist spot to the next tourist spot. By displaying a portion of the sightseeing route in this way, a portion of the sightseeing route can be displayed in a larger size, providing good visibility.

[0082] (26) The system according to any one of (1) to (25), wherein the control means displays that the tourist route information exists. By displaying the presence of tourist route information, the user can be made aware of the presence of tourist route information and can be made interested in the tourist route information, thereby making it easier for the user to use the display of tourist route information.

[0083] The display indicating the presence of tourist route information may be, for example, a display including the words "Tourist Information." For example, if the "Tourist Information" display is flashing or lit, it may indicate that tourist route information is present, and if the "Tourist Information" display is off, it may indicate that tourist route information is not present.

[0084] In addition, the timing of displaying the display indicating the existence of tourist route information may be, for example, in response to an inquiry operation from the user, or, for example, in conjunction with the current location detection process, the existence of tourist route information may be displayed when the current location approaches a point where tourist route information exists by a predetermined amount or more, or when the current location reaches the point on the tourist route information.

[0085] (27) The system described in any one of (1) to (26) is characterized in that the tourist route information includes tourist spots to which display priorities are set, and the control means displays the tourist route information based on the priorities. The system sets display priorities for tourist spots in advance, and displays tourist route information including tourist spots with high priority over tourist route information including tourist spots with low priority. High-priority tourist spots are, for example, famous tourist spots in a tourist area. This allows users to visit famous tourist spots even if they have little prior knowledge of the tourist area, resulting in high satisfaction.

[0086] (28) The program of the present invention may be configured as a program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the control means in the system according to any one of (1) to (27) above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0087] According to the present invention, for example, the setting work related to tourist spots and tourist route generation conditions is eliminated, and there is no need to generate tourist routes, so tourist route information can be displayed simply and quickly, improving usability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0088] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a radar detector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radar detector. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a standby screen displayed on a display device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a warning screen displayed on a display device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of tourist route information. [Figure 6] 3 is a flowchart of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on the display unit when a map display function is performed. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a start screen of a navigation function on the display unit. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a time zone display button on a display unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a tourist route display button on a display unit. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a sightseeing route on a display unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a sightseeing route on a display unit. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen on a display unit during sightseeing route guidance. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen on the display unit when arriving at a tourist spot. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when selecting a sightseeing time on the display unit. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when selecting a sightseeing time on the display unit. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display in which genres of tourist routes are displayed on a display unit. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display in which genres of tourist routes are displayed on a display unit. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display on the display unit when the required time has passed. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when a tourist information start button is displayed on the display unit. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when a "Like!" button is displayed on the display unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0089] [Electronic device configuration] Figures 1 and 2 show a radar detector 1, which is a preferred embodiment of an electronic device that constitutes the system of the present invention. Figure 1(a) is a perspective view of the front side (the side facing the rear of the vehicle (the driver's side)) of the radar detector 1, and Figure 1(b) is a perspective view of the rear side. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the radar detector 1.

[0090] The radar detector 1 has a thin rectangular case body 2, and is attached and fixed to the dashboard of a vehicle or the like using a bracket 3 attached to the lower rear side of the case body 2.

[0091] A display 5 is provided on the front surface of the case body 2 (the surface facing the rear of the vehicle (driver's side)). The display 5 is a 3.2-inch color TFT LCD display. A touch panel 6 is provided on this display 5 to detect which part of the display 5 has been touched. A volume adjustment button 7 is also provided on the right side of the front surface of the case body 2, and various operation buttons 8 are provided on the left side.

[0092] The right side of the case body 2 is provided with a card insertion slot 9 for inserting a memory card 11 as a removable recording medium, and a memory card reader 10 is built into the card insertion slot 9 inside the case body 2. By inserting the memory card 11 through this card insertion slot 9, the memory card 11 is attached to the memory card reader 10. The memory card reader 10 takes in the data stored in the attached memory card 11. More specifically, the data stored in the memory card 11 includes updated information such as information on new alarm targets (location information such as longitude and latitude, type information, etc.), and this updated information is stored (downloaded) into a database 19 built into the device under the control of the control unit 18, thereby updating the data.

[0093] The database 19 can be realized by a non-volatile memory (for example, an EEPROM) inside the microcomputer of the control unit 18 or externally attached to the microcomputer. Note that map data and information on certain alarm targets are registered in the database 19 at the time of shipment, and data on alarm targets that are added later is updated as described above.

[0094] A GPS receiver 13 is placed inside the upper center of the back side of the case body 2, and a microwave receiver 14 and a radio receiver 15 are placed next to it. The GPS receiver 13 receives GPS signals from GPS satellites and outputs current position (longitude and latitude) information. The microwave receiver 14 receives microwaves of a predetermined frequency emitted from the speed measurement device. The radio receiver 15 receives incoming radio waves of a predetermined frequency. A speaker 16 is also built into the bottom of the case body 2. The speaker port of the speaker 16 is located on the bottom of the case body 2.

[0095] A DC jack 12 is disposed on the lower side of the side of the case body 2. This DC jack 12 is for connecting a cigarette lighter plug cord (not shown), and is connected to a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle via the cigarette lighter plug cord to receive power supply.

[0096] In addition to the above-mentioned display 5, a lamp 31, a remote control receiver 32, and an infrared communication device 34 are arranged on the front of the case main body 2 (omitted from FIG. 1). The lamp 31 warns by shining in various colors depending on the type and urgency of the alarm. The remote control receiver 32 communicates data with a remote control (portable device: slave device) 33 via infrared rays and performs various settings for the device. The infrared communication device 34 sends and receives data to and from a communication device with a built-in infrared communication device, such as a mobile phone 35.

[0097] The case body 2 also contains a geomagnetic sensor 36 and an acceleration sensor 37. The geomagnetic sensor 36 detects geomagnetism to determine which direction north is relative to the vehicle's direction of travel. The acceleration sensor 37 detects the vehicle's acceleration in the forward / backward, left / right, and up / down directions.

[0098] The radar detector 1 of this embodiment also includes a connection cable 22 that connects to an OBD-II (II is the Roman numeral "2," and hereinafter "OBD-II" will be referred to as "OBD2") connector installed in the vehicle. A connector terminal 23 that can be detachably attached to the OBD2 connector of the vehicle is attached to the tip of this connection cable 22. The OBD2 connector is also called a fault diagnosis connector, and is connected to the vehicle's ECU to output various vehicle information.

[0099] The other end of the connection cable 22 is provided with a connector terminal 25 for connection to a socket 24 provided on the side of the case body 2 of the radar detector 1, so that the connection cable 22 can be attached and detached to the radar detector 1. Of course, the connection cable 22 may also be connected directly to the radar detector 1.

[0100] By connecting connector terminal 23 attached to connection cable 22 with the OBD2 connector on the vehicle body, control unit 18 acquires various types of vehicle information every 0.5 seconds. This vehicle information includes, for example, vehicle speed, engine speed, engine load factor, throttle degree, ignition timing, remaining fuel percentage, intake manifold pressure, intake air flow rate (MAF), injection open time, engine coolant temperature (coolant temperature), temperature of air taken into the engine (intake air temperature), air temperature outside the vehicle (outside air temperature), amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank (remaining fuel amount), fuel flow rate, instantaneous fuel consumption, accelerator opening, turn signal information (operation (ON / OFF) of left and right turn signals), brake opening, steering wheel rotation angle information, etc.

[0101] The control unit 18 is a computer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, non-volatile memory, I / O, etc., and is connected to the above-mentioned units to execute predetermined processing based on information input from various input devices (touch panel 6, GPS receiver 13, microwave receiver 14, wireless receiver 15, etc.), and output predetermined warning messages using output devices (display 5, speaker 16, etc.). These basic configurations can be basically the same as conventional ones. For example, for audio output, audio PCM data is stored in EEPROM, which is non-volatile memory, and the control unit 18 reproduces this PCM data and outputs the audio from the speaker 16.

[0102] [Basic functions of electronic devices] The functions of the radar detector 1 of this embodiment are stored in the EEPROM of the control unit 18 as programs executed by the computer that is the control unit 18, and are realized by the computer executing these programs. Functions realized by the computer through the programs stored in the control unit 18 include a GPS log function, a standby screen display function, a map display function, a GPS warning function, a radar wave warning function, a wireless warning function, and a navigation function.

[0103] [GPS log function] The GPS log function is a function in which the control unit 18 associates the current position detected by the GPS receiver 13 every second with the time of detection and the speed (vehicle speed) and stores the result in a non-volatile memory as a position history. This position history is recorded in, for example, NMEA format.

[0104] [Standby screen display function] The standby screen display function is a function for displaying a predetermined standby screen on the display device 5. Fig. 3(a) shows an example of the standby screen, which shows the speed, latitude, longitude, and altitude of the vehicle detected by the GPS receiver 13.

[0105] [Map display function] As shown in Fig. 3(b), the map display function is a function that accesses the database 19 based on the current position detected by the GPS receiver 13, and reads and displays the map data stored therein. The map display function also has a function that searches for objects to be warned about around the current position based on the position information stored in the database 19, and if an object to be warned about is found in the vicinity, displays information indicating the object to be warned about (such as a target icon 112) superimposed on the corresponding position on the map. Specific display modes are as follows:

[0106] The control unit 18 displays the map so that the vehicle's traveling direction always faces upward in the main display area R1 that occupies almost the entire surface of the display device 5. The control unit 18 displays the map so that the current vehicle position is at the center of the lower side of the main display area R1, and also displays the vehicle icon 111 at that position.

[0107] The control unit 18 displays status information in a status area R2 set above the main display area R1. The status information displayed in the status area R2 includes, from left to right, a current time 121 (in the figure, "15:10"), a GPS radio wave reception level display icon 122 (in the figure, three parallel lines of different lengths indicate the maximum reception level), a no-parking area icon 123 (displayed when the vehicle is in a most important parking area or a priority parking area), a reception sensitivity mode display icon 124 indicating the radar reception sensitivity (in the figure, "SE" indicates the highest sensitivity), a vehicle speed 125 (in the figure, "30 km / h"), and a compass 126. The status area R2 is a transparent area and is positioned using a layer above the main display area R1. This allows the map located below to be seen in places within the status area R2 where no status information is displayed.

[0108] The control unit 18 displays the current scale information (reduction scale) in a scale display area R3 set on the left side of the main display area R1. The scale is set such that the vehicle position is 0 m, and the distance from the vehicle position to the vertical center position of the main area R1 ("500" in the figure) and the distance to the upper position ("1000" in the figure) are displayed in units of "m." When the control unit 18 detects that the main display area R1 has been touched twice consecutively, it displays a map scale change button (not shown) at a predetermined position in the main display area R1 (a position along the scale display area R3) and changes the map scale in response to the touch on the map scale change button. In other words, the control unit 18 changes the scale of the map displayed in the main display area R1 to match the scale of the changed map scale, and also changes the scale information displayed in the scale display area R3.

[0109] When the control unit 18 detects a single touch on the display unit 5 while the standby screen display function is being executed as shown in Fig. 3(a), the control unit 18 displays a menu screen. When the control unit 18 detects that a screen switching button provided on the menu screen has been touched, the control unit 18 switches to the map display function as shown in Fig. 3(b). Similarly, when the control unit 18 detects a single touch on the display unit 5 while the map display function is being executed, the control unit 18 displays a menu screen. When the control unit 18 detects that a screen switching button provided on the menu screen has been touched, the control unit 18 performs processing to switch to the standby screen display function.

[0110] While the standby screen display function or map display function (hereinafter these functions are collectively referred to as the standby functions) is being executed, the control unit 18 executes processing to realize each function such as the GPS warning function, radar wave warning function, wireless warning function, navigation function, etc. in response to an event that has occurred, and returns to processing the original standby function when the processing of the function has ended. The priority of each function is set in descending order as follows: radar wave warning function, wireless warning function, GPS warning function, navigation function.

[0111] [GPS alarm function] The GPS warning function is a process executed at a predetermined time interval (1 second interval) in response to an event from a timer in the control unit 18. The process calculates the distance between the object of warning stored in the database 19 and the object of warning based on the latitude and longitude of the object of warning stored in the database 19 and the latitude and longitude of the object's current position detected by the GPS receiver 13. When the calculated distance reaches a predetermined approach distance, the display 5 displays a GPS warning display 130 (showing a schematic diagram of the object of warning, the remaining distance, etc.) as shown in FIG. 4(a), and outputs an approach warning sound from the speaker 16 to that effect.

[0112] Such warning targets include locations of drowsy driving accidents, speed measurement devices (radar type, loop coil type, H system, LH system, photocell type, mobile type, etc.), speed limit change points, enforcement areas, checkpoint areas, no parking monitoring areas, N system, traffic monitoring systems, intersection monitoring points, red light ignorance prevention systems, police stations, accident-prone areas, areas with high rates of vehicle theft, sharp / continuous curves (expressways), branching / merging points (expressways), ETC lane advance guidance (expressways), service areas (expressways), parking areas (expressways), highway oases (expressways), smart interchanges (expressways), gas stations in PAs / SAs (expressways), tunnels (expressways), highway radio receiving areas (expressways), prefectural border announcements, roadside stations, view point parking, etc. Information on the types of these targets, latitude and longitude information indicating their positions, schematic diagram or photograph data to be displayed on the display 5, and audio data are associated with each other and stored in the database 19.

[0113] FIG. 4(a) shows an example of a display of the radar wave warning function. This radar wave warning function is an alarm function that displays a GPS warning display 131 as an alarm screen on the display 5 and outputs an alarm sound from the speaker 16 when the microwave receiver 14 detects a signal corresponding to microwaves in a frequency band emitted by a speed measurement device (such as a mobile radar (hereinafter simply referred to as "radar")). For example, when the microwave receiver 14 detects microwaves in the frequency band emitted by a radar, as shown in FIG. 4(b), a schematic diagram or photo of a radar stored in the database 19 is displayed as an alarm screen on the display 5, and audio data stored in the database 19 is read and an audio message saying "This is radar. Watch your speed" is output from the speaker 16. The distance to be displayed may be, for example, a distance estimated from the electric field strength.

[0114] [Wireless alarm function] The radio alarm function is a function that issues an alarm when radio waves emitted by an emergency vehicle or the like are received by radio receiver 15 so as not to interfere with the vehicle's travel, etc. The radio alarm function scans frequencies for police radio, car location radio, digital radio, special small radio, police station activity radio, police telephone, police activity radio, tow truck radio, helicopter radio, fire helicopter radio, fire radio, emergency radio, highway radio, security radio, etc., and when a radio signal is received at a scanned frequency, a schematic diagram indicating that a radio signal corresponding to that frequency, stored for each radio type in database 19, has been received is displayed on display 5 as an alarm screen, and audio data stored for each radio type in database 19 is read out and an audio alarm indicating the type of radio signal is output from speaker 16. For example, when a police radio signal is received, an audio signal such as "This is a police radio signal. Watch your speed" is output.

[0115] [Navigation function] The navigation function generates a route to a destination set by the user and provides guidance along this route. In the navigation function, the GPS receiver 13 receives GPS signals from GPS satellites and sends the received signals to the control unit 18 as one piece of data for detecting the current location. The control unit 18 detects the current location by receiving the GPS signals from the GPS receiver 13.

[0116] The control unit 18 reads out map information stored in the database 19 and displays a map of the area around the current location and a mark indicating the current location on the display screen of the display unit 5. When the user sets a destination by touching a destination setting button displayed on the touch panel 6, the control unit 18 uses the road network information stored in the database 19 and performs a predetermined calculation to generate a route from the current location to the destination. Furthermore, the control unit 18 provides guidance on this route using the display unit 5 and the speaker 16. The radar detector 1 has a navigation function and therefore functions as a car navigation device.

[0117] [Tourist information function] In addition to the basic functions described above, the radar detector 1 of this embodiment also realizes a tourist guide function that provides tourist route guidance by executing a program in the control unit 18. The tourist guide process is a process of guiding a vehicle from a predetermined starting point to multiple tourist spots as destinations along a predetermined route.

[0118] The control unit 18 displays a button labeled "Tourist Information" (hereinafter referred to as the "Tourist Information button") on the touch panel 6. When it is determined that the user has touched the Tourist Information button, the control unit 18 starts the tourist information processing. The database 19 stores preset tourist route information, and the control unit 18 acquires the tourist route information from the database 19 and performs the tourist information processing using the tourist route information.

[0119] The contents of the tourist route information will be explained using Figure 5. As shown in Figure 5, a plurality of pieces of tourist route information are set in advance for a specific tourist area (Okazaki City in Figure 5) and stored in database 19. The tourist route information includes course names given to the tourist routes (Course A, Course B, etc.) and general names of tourist spots (Okazaki Castle, Takiyama Toshogu Shrine, etc.).

[0120] The tourist route information also includes the time required to travel around the tourist route. The time required to travel around the tourist route is the amount of time expected to be spent traveling around the tourist route. The tourist information function of this embodiment focuses on the length of the time required to travel along the tourist route, groups the required times into several time slots, and stores the tourist route information in advance in the database 19.

[0121] In this embodiment, the required travel time for a sightseeing route is classified into three groups of two hours each. That is, the required travel time for a sightseeing route is classified into a "3-hour" required time period for two hours or more but less than four hours, a "5-hour" required time period for four hours or more but less than six hours, and a "7-hour" required time period for six hours or more but less than eight hours.

[0122] The required time for a sightseeing route includes the sightseeing time at each tourist spot on the route. The sightseeing time at each tourist spot is the amount of time the user is expected to spend at that tourist spot sightseeing. In other words, the required time is {(number of tourist spots x sightseeing time) + (travel time between tourist spots)}.

[0123] The length of the sightseeing time is fixed for each required time slot. In this embodiment, the sightseeing time is set to "30 minutes" for a required time slot of "3 hours," and is set in 30-minute increments from there. In other words, the sightseeing time is set to "60 minutes" for a required time slot of "5 hours," and "90 minutes" for a required time slot of "7 hours."

[0124] Tourist route information with the above content is configured so that it cannot be edited by the user, so that the tourist spots on the tourist route, the order in which to visit the tourist spots, the required time for the tourist route, etc. cannot be changed arbitrarily by user input operations.

[0125] First of all, this embodiment is intended to eliminate the hassle of creating a sightseeing route by the user himself, and is based on the premise that the user has no intention of actively setting tourist spots. Therefore, in this embodiment, the sightseeing route is set in advance and cannot be edited. In this regard, if the route to be guided is likened to a meal menu, the sightseeing route according to this embodiment is like a "set meal" in which the food to be eaten is set in advance.

[0126] In contrast, routes generated by users by selecting the destinations they want to go to are like "a la carte" where users can choose only the food they want to eat. Although tourist route information cannot be edited by users, it is possible to import the latest tourist route information from an external source into the database and update the tourist route information data, just like the information about the warning targets mentioned above.

[0127] When the control unit 18 acquires tourist route information classified by required time period from the database 19, it displays only the information representing the required time period from the acquired tourist route information in a row on the touch panel 6. Specifically, the control unit 18 displays display buttons such as "3 hours," "5 hours," and "7 hours" on the touch panel 6. The display screen for these display buttons serves as a selection screen for the required time period as seen by the user.

[0128] When the user selects a desired time period using the touch panel 6, the control unit 18 accepts the selection of the desired time period and displays multiple tourist routes that belong to the accepted desired time period side by side on the touch panel 6. Specifically, the control unit 18 displays the course name of the tourist route and the tourist spots included in that course on the touch panel 6. From the user's perspective, this tourist route display screen becomes a tourist route selection screen.

[0129] When the user selects a tourist route by touching the touch panel 6, the control unit 18 accepts the selection of the tourist route and switches the display screen to display an overview of the selected tourist route and information about tourist spots on the display device 5. At the same time, the control unit 18 displays a tourist route guidance start button, and previous course selection buttons and next course selection buttons located before and after the displayed tourist route on the touch panel 6. When the user touches the guidance start button using the touch panel 6, the control unit 18 accepts the start of guidance and can start guidance of the tourist route using display output from the display device 5 and audio output from the speaker 16.

[0130] [Operation to process tourist information] In this embodiment, the operation for performing the tourist information processing is selected from the screen for performing the navigation processing. The tourist information processing will be specifically described below using the flowchart in Fig. 6 and the screen display examples in Figs. 7 to 15.

[0131] Fig. 7 is an example of a screen display when the map display function is being executed. As shown in Fig. 7, the control unit 18 displays a navigation button 40 for selecting the navigation function on the touch panel 6 on the left side of the screen when the map display function is being executed. When the user touches the navigation button 40 on the touch panel 6, the control unit 18 switches the screen display on the display device 5 to display a location search button 41 for searching for a desired location, a nearby facilities button 42 for searching for nearby facilities, and a tourist information button 43, which becomes the start screen for the navigation function (see Fig. 8).

[0132] [Navigation Processing] When the control unit 18 detects that the user has touched the location search button 41 displayed on the touch panel 6 on the start screen of the navigation function, the control unit 18 starts the location search process in response to the touch and searches for a route from the current location to the search location.

[0133] Furthermore, when it is detected that the user has touched the peripheral facility button 42 on the touch panel 6, the control unit 18 starts a search process for the peripheral facility in response to the touch and searches for a route from the current location to the peripheral facility. The control unit 18 implements a navigation function by providing guidance along the route thus searched.

[0134] [Tourist information processing] When it is detected that the user has touched the tourist information button 43 on the touch panel 6, the control unit 18 starts the tourist information process. First, the control unit 18 acquires tourist route information from the database 19, and displays information relating to the required time period on the touch panel 6 (see S11 in FIG. 6 and FIG. 9). In the screen display example of FIG. 9, time period display buttons 44 to 46, each showing the required time period as "3 hours," "5 hours," or "7 hours," are displayed on the touch panel 6.

[0135] Next, when it is detected that the user has touched one of the time zone display buttons 44 to 46 on the touch panel 6, the control unit 18 accepts this and determines the required time zone (S12 in FIG. 6), and displays multiple tourist routes that belong to the required time zone desired by the user (S13 in FIG. 6). For example, when it is detected that the "5 hours" display button 45 in FIG. 9 has been touched, the content of the tourist route information shown in FIG. 5 is read from the database 19, and tourist route display buttons 47 to 49 that indicate the content of the tourist route information for three tourist routes with a required time zone of 5 hours are displayed on the touch panel 6 (see FIG. 10).

[0136] The fact that there are three tourist routes is displayed by these tourist route display buttons 47 to 49. In the display area of ​​the tourist route display buttons 47 to 49, the control unit 18 displays the course name of each tourist route and the names of tourist spots included in the course, as well as the travel distance and detailed required time for each course.

[0137] When it is detected that the user has touched any of the tourist route display buttons 47 to 49 on the touch panel 6, the control unit 18 accepts the user's touch operation and determines the tourist route (S14 in FIG. 6), reads out the information content of the determined tourist route from the database 19, and displays the details of the tourist route on the touch panel 6 (S15 in FIG. 6). When the tourist route display button 47 in FIG. 10 is touched, the display screen of the display unit 5 switches from the screen display example in FIG. 10 to the screen display example shown in FIG. 11.

[0138] 11, the control unit 18 reads out the course outline of the tourist route including destinations 1 to 3 and the content of information related to tourist spots from the database 19, and displays the read-out course outline and the content of information on the display screen of the display device 5. Also, in the screen display example of FIG. 11, the control unit 18 displays a tourist route guidance start button 50, a previous course selection button 51, and a next course selection button 52 on the touch panel 6.

[0139] The example screen display shown in Figure 11 shows an example in which it is detected that the user has touched the next course selection button 52, and as a result of detecting this touch operation, the screen display switches to course B shown in Figure 12. As already mentioned, a starting point is set for the sightseeing route, so when guidance on the sightseeing route begins, the user drives the vehicle to the starting point of the sightseeing route.

[0140] At this time, it is also possible to use the navigation function to travel from the current location to the starting point of the sightseeing route. In this case, the starting point of the sightseeing route can be set as the destination, a route can be searched, and the user can head there while receiving route guidance. After the vehicle arrives at the starting point of the sightseeing route, the user touches the guidance start button 51 on the touch panel 6.

[0141] This operation causes the control unit 18 to start providing guidance on the tourist route (see S16 in FIG. 6 and FIG. 13). The guidance on the tourist route is similar to route guidance provided by a normal navigation function. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 18 displays, on the display screen of the display device 5, the vehicle position, map information about the area around the vehicle position, and the position of the tourist spot that is the first destination 1, and provides guidance on the route from the current location to the first destination 1 on the tourist route.

[0142] As the vehicle travels along the tourist route, the control unit 18 detects from information obtained from the GPS receiver 13, etc., that the vehicle has reached the tourist spot that is the destination (Yes in S17 of FIG. 6), and after confirming that this is not the final destination of the tourist route (No in S18 of FIG. 6), displays a message that the tourist spot has been reached and the sightseeing time at the tourist spot on the display screen of the display 5 (see S19 of FIG. 6 and FIG. 14).

[0143] When the user gets off the vehicle to head to a tourist spot, upon detecting that the user has touched the key-off button 58, the control unit 18 accepts this and begins measuring the time that has elapsed since the user touched the key-off button 58, i.e., the interruption time of the tourist information processing. When the control unit 18 detects that the user has finished sightseeing at the tourist spot and returned to the vehicle to perform a predetermined operation to restart the radar detector 1, it stops measuring the interruption time of the tourist information processing and determines whether or not this interruption time is within a predetermined time (S20 in FIG. 6). The predetermined time here is the sightseeing time at the tourist spot (one hour in FIG. 14).

[0144] If the interruption time is within a predetermined time (Yes in S20 in FIG. 6), the control unit 18 determines that the user has finished sightseeing at the tourist spots within the preset time period and returned to the vehicle, and continues the sightseeing guidance process and returns to S17. If the interruption time exceeds the predetermined time period (No in S20 in FIG. 6), the control unit 18 displays a message on the display screen of the display 5 to confirm with the user whether or not to continue the sightseeing guidance (for example, a screen such as that shown in FIG. 19, which will be described later, can be displayed), and determines whether or not the user wants to continue the sightseeing guidance based on an input from the user (S21 in FIG. 6). If the control unit 18 receives a signal from the user indicating that the sightseeing guidance will not be continued (No in S21 in FIG. 6), the control unit 18 ends the sightseeing guidance midway (S23 in FIG. 6).

[0145] When the control unit 18 receives a signal from the user to continue the sightseeing guidance (Yes in S21 of FIG. 6), the control unit 18 displays map information about the area around the vehicle's position and the location of the tourist spot that is the next destination 2 on the display screen of the display device 5, continues the sightseeing route guidance, and returns to S17. Then, when the control unit 18 detects that the vehicle has reached the tourist spot that is the next destination, it again displays an arrival message and sightseeing time on the display screen.

[0146] In this way, steps S18 to S21 in Fig. 6 are repeated to sequentially guide the user along the sightseeing route from the tourist spot that has been reached to the next tourist spot. When the user has arrived at the final tourist spot on the sightseeing route (Yes in S18 in Fig. 6), the control unit 18 displays information about the user's arrival at the tourist spot, the sightseeing time, and the end of the sightseeing route (S22 in Fig. 6), and then ends the sightseeing route guidance process.

[0147] The flow of the tourist information processing can be summarized as follows: "Display of required time period (S11) → Decide required time period (S12) → Display multiple tourist routes (S13) → Decide tourist route (S14) → Display detailed tourist route (S15) → Start tourist route guidance (S16) → Display arrival at tourist spot (S19) → Confirm interruption time of tourist information (S20) → Confirm continuation of tourist information (S21) → Display arrival at final tourist spot and end of tourist route (S22)."

[0148] [Action and effect] According to this embodiment, since tourist route information grouped by required time period is acquired, the user does not need to take the trouble of selecting tourist spots to generate a tourist route, and the user can be freed from the tedious task of setting a destination. Therefore, even if a user knows only famous tourist spots, they can efficiently tour the area without having to thoroughly consult a guidebook or the like.

[0149] As mentioned above, many tourists find it sufficient to simply try a consistently popular course, such as a "set meal," rather than having to choose tourist spots one by one, as is the case when ordering a meal "à la carte." In other words, many people find it troublesome to choose tourist spots one by one while looking at a guidebook, etc. For such people, this embodiment, which presents a sightseeing route simply by selecting a required time period, is particularly convenient.

[0150] In addition, in this embodiment, when a user arrives at a tourist spot, the sightseeing time at that tourist spot is displayed as a guide, which makes the user aware of the time spent at the tourist spot and enables the user to travel around the sightseeing route efficiently.

[0151] However, the sightseeing time included in the required time for a sightseeing route is only a guideline, so how much time you spend at a tourist spot will vary depending on the situation at the time. In other words, users may not necessarily finish sightseeing in the estimated sightseeing time, and if they eat lunch at a tourist spot or linger at a place they like, their sightseeing time will be longer. Conversely, if the tourist spot is empty and they finish sightseeing quickly, their sightseeing time will be shorter.

[0152] Such situations cannot be known until one arrives at a tourist spot and actually begins sightseeing. Therefore, even if the user selects a sightseeing time when starting the sightseeing guidance process, the selected sightseeing time is often not utilized as is. Therefore, in this embodiment, the sightseeing time included in the required time is not selectable, but is instead fixed.

[0153] In other words, in this embodiment, rather than ensuring freedom of selection of sightseeing time, the priority is given to reducing the selection work by eliminating the effort required for the user to select the sightseeing time. Moreover, since the tourist route information according to this embodiment does not accept editing by the user, the user only needs to select the required time period. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the selection work can be reduced as much as possible, and tourist route information can be displayed quickly.

[0154] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the required time period for a sightseeing route is set to "3 hours," "5 hours," and "7 hours" in two-hour intervals. This allows the user to roughly grasp the required time for a sightseeing route without having to worry about minute units such as seconds or minutes, providing a good user experience.

[0155] These required time periods are also suitable as options for the required time period for a day's sightseeing. In other words, if "3 hours" is selected as the required time period for the sightseeing route, it is suitable for sightseeing in the morning or from after lunch until the evening. If "5 hours" is selected as the required time period for the sightseeing route, it is suitable for sightseeing that includes time for one meal. If "7 hours" is selected as the required time period for the sightseeing route, it is optimal for when the user wishes to sightsee during the day.

[0156] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sightseeing time is fixed in proportion to the length of the required time, such as "30 minutes" if the required time period is "3 hours," "60 minutes" if the required time period is "5 hours," and "90 minutes" if the required time period is "7 hours." In other words, the shorter the required time period, the shorter the sightseeing time, and the longer the required time period, the longer the sightseeing time. Therefore, a sightseeing route with a good balance between sightseeing time and required time can be provided.

[0157] Furthermore, the tourist route guidance in this embodiment provides guidance on the route from one tourist spot on the tourist route to the next tourist spot, and when the user arrives at the tourist spot that is the end point of the route, guidance on the route from that tourist spot to the next tourist spot is provided. Therefore, the tourist route is displayed divided by tourist spots, and a portion of the tourist route can be displayed large on the display screen of the display device 5, providing good visibility.

[0158] In this embodiment, multiple tourist routes are displayed as shown in the display screen of FIG. 10, and then the display screen of FIG. 11 is switched to, and tourist information begins. This allows the user to take a certain amount of time to consider the contents of the tourist route. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the user can be provided with the tourist information they desire accurately.

[0159] [Other embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but also includes other embodiments such as the following. (1) Example of selecting sightseeing time In the above embodiment, when implementing the tourist information function, the sightseeing time at each tourist spot is fixed, but this may be made selectable. In this case, for example, the tourist route information may be grouped and displayed by sightseeing time, which is the length of stay at the tourist spot, and the user's selection may be accepted.

[0160] In this embodiment, the control unit 18 displays the sightseeing time on the display 5, and when it receives a selection of the sightseeing time from the user, it controls the display 5 to display the sightseeing route information belonging to the selected staying time. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, on a screen that receives the user's desired required time period, a sightseeing time selection button 53 indicating "Select sightseeing time" is displayed on the touch panel 6.

[0161] When the control unit 18 detects that the user has touched the sightseeing time selection button 53, it accepts this and opens a separate screen displaying multiple sightseeing times, and displays sightseeing time display buttons 54 to 56 on the touch panel 6, each displaying "30 minutes," "60 minutes," and "90 minutes" (see FIG. 16).

[0162] Next, the control unit 18 accepts the selection of the required time period and sightseeing time by touch operation of the user (in Figure 16, the required time period is selected as "5 hours" and the sightseeing time period is selected as "30 minutes"), and the control unit 18 can display on the touch panel 6 a sightseeing route that simultaneously meets both selection conditions (i.e., a sightseeing route with a required time period of "5 hours" and a sightseeing time of "30 minutes" at each tourist spot).

[0163] In the above embodiment, the tourist route information grouped by sightseeing time is acquired, so that the tourist route information can be provided to the user as a basis for deciding on a tourist route. This allows the user to select tourist route information based on the sightseeing time, taking into consideration their own convenience.

[0164] In such an embodiment, the user can be strongly impressed with the time spent at the tourist spots, allowing the user to effectively utilize the time spent at the tourist spots that they have decided on themselves, and thus the user can enjoy the tourist spots at their own leisure without being rushed or tied down by the sightseeing time that someone else has decided on for them.

[0165] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to expand the options for not only the sightseeing time but also the sightseeing route itself to suit the user's needs. In other words, if a user wants to take their time to see the tourist spots, they can increase the sightseeing time and visit fewer tourist spots. Conversely, if a user wants to see as many tourist spots as possible, they can shorten the sightseeing time and visit more tourist spots.

[0166] In addition, in this embodiment, the sightseeing time spent at tourist spots is presented in units of "30 minutes," making it possible to appropriately respond to user needs. For example, displaying tourist route information with a sightseeing time of "30 minutes" is suitable for cases where the user wishes to limit the number of sightseeing points at tourist spots and stay for a short time.

[0167] Also, displaying tourist route information with a sightseeing time of "60 minutes" is suitable for cases where the user wants to take a certain amount of time for sightseeing, etc. Furthermore, displaying tourist route information with a sightseeing time of "90 minutes" is suitable for cases where the user wants to stay for a long time, including meals at tourist spots, etc.

[0168] The above embodiment focuses on sightseeing time, which is the time spent at tourist spots, and selects a sightseeing route by setting options related to sightseeing time, but is the same as the previous embodiment in that it does not generate a sightseeing route by researching each tourist spot one by one. Therefore, it is possible to select a sightseeing route that suits the user's preferences with a simple operation, and it is highly user-friendly.

[0169] (2) Implementation of selecting a genre of sightseeing route The present invention also includes an embodiment in which genres are set for tourist routes and the user can select one of them. In this embodiment, tourist route information is grouped by genre of sightseeing content, and the control unit 18 displays the tourist route genres on the touch panel 6. When the control unit 18 receives a genre selection from the user, it controls the display unit 5 to display tourist route information belonging to the received genre.

[0170] The genre of a tourist route may be determined, for example, by the type of facilities at the tourist spots included in the tourist route. In other words, if the tourist spot is "shrines and temples," the genre of the tourist route will be "shrines and temples," and if the tourist spot is "art museums and museums," the genre of the tourist route will be "art museums and museums." The screen display example in Figure 17 shows an example in which genres such as "shrines and temples," "art museums and museums," "restaurants and diner," and "scenic spots" are displayed. Note that the display format of the genres is not limited to textual or symbolic information, and may also be, for example, image information, as long as it can express the content.

[0171] It is not necessary for all tourist spots included in a tourist route to be of the same genre. For example, if about half of all tourist spots are of the same genre, the tourist route may be defined as being of that genre. For example, if two tourist spots are the same on a tourist route that visits three tourist spots, the genre of those tourist spots may be set as the genre of the tourist route itself.

[0172] In addition, genres may be displayed in a hierarchical structure, stepwise from top to bottom. For example, "Restaurant / Dining Room" may have sub-genres such as "Soba Restaurant" and "Local Cuisine." In this case, when the user selects "Restaurant / Dining Room" by touch operation, the screen display changes and the sub-genres "Soba Restaurant" and "Local Cuisine" are displayed on the display 5 (see FIG. 18).

[0173] Alternatively, "famous places" may be set as a higher-level genre of "shrines and temples," and a sub-genre of this "famous places" may be set up alongside "shrines and temples," such as "historic sites and castles." Also, for example, "cultural facilities" may be set up as a higher-level genre of "art museums and museums," and a sub-genre of this may be set up alongside "concert halls and theaters." In such an embodiment, tourist route information is grouped by genre, allowing users to select tourist route information according to their own preferences, etc.

[0174] In this embodiment, the number of genres, the number of layers, the number of groups based on the required time period and sightseeing time, etc. can be selected as appropriate, but one of the purposes of the present invention is to reduce the work of selecting a sightseeing route. Therefore, it is desirable to keep these numbers to a minimum, and it is appropriate to keep them to 5 or less, preferably around 2 to 3.

[0175] (3) An embodiment in which tourist route information options are switched and displayed The control unit 18 may be configured to switch between required time, sightseeing time, and genre as options for tourist route information and display them on the display 5. In this embodiment, tourist routes can be narrowed down based on required time, sightseeing time, and even genre. In such an embodiment, required time, sightseeing time, and genre can also be displayed alternately in any order. This has the advantage of making it possible to enlarge the display area for each item, making the display of required time, sightseeing time, and genre easier to see.

[0176] The order in which the display of required time, sightseeing time, and genre is switched may be freely selected by the user, allowing the user to select a sightseeing route while reflecting the user's priorities among required time, sightseeing time, and genre. Also, to reduce the burden of the user's selection operation, the display of required time, sightseeing time, and genre may be automatically switched in a predetermined order.

[0177] (4) Embodiments for restricting the display of tourist routes However, if the user has already arrived at a famous tourist spot, it is unlikely that the user will head to that tourist spot. Therefore, if the GPS log function detects that the vehicle's current location is a tourist spot, it is unnecessary to display a tourist route from the current location to that tourist spot. Therefore, an embodiment can be proposed in which, when the current location is a tourist spot, the display of a tourist route with the tourist spot as the destination is omitted. This embodiment can improve the efficiency of displaying tourist routes.

[0178] (5) Displaying summary information of tourist route information Furthermore, the present invention also includes an embodiment in which control is performed to display summary information of a tourist route on the display device 5, rather than the required time for the tourist route. While the above genres are determined based on specific facilities, summary information of a tourist route is determined based on the image and impression of the tourist route, and succinctly evokes an overall picture of the tourist route with a small amount of display.

[0179] The summary information of the tourist route may be, for example, a representation of the regional characteristics of the tourist route, such as "urban route" or "sea route," and the specific display format is not limited to text information but may be, for example, image information. Furthermore, the summary information of the tourist route may suitably be, for example, the recommendation level of the tourist route or the cost associated with the tourist route.

[0180] The recommendation level of a tourist route is set based on the recommendation level, and suitable display modes include, for example, displaying catchphrases such as "A must-go," "A must-see," or "A must-visit," or symbols indicating the recommendation level of the tourist route, such as "◎, ○, △," or the number of "A, B, C," or "☆." The cost of a tourist route may be, for example, the total amount required for the tourist route, such as admission fees to tourist spots, or information indicating the availability of coupons, etc.

[0181] (6) Embodiments with different time display modes The display mode of the required time for the sightseeing route may be the elapsed time or remaining time since the start of the sightseeing guidance process. In this embodiment, the elapsed time or remaining time of the sightseeing guidance is notified to the user while traveling around the sightseeing route, so that the user can travel around the sightseeing route efficiently.

[0182] Furthermore, the display mode for the sightseeing time at a tourist spot may be such that the elapsed time from arrival at the tourist spot or the remaining time until the end of the sightseeing time is displayed. In the above embodiment, the user who is touring the tourist spots can be made aware of the elapsed time and the remaining time for sightseeing. Therefore, this is effective for efficiently sightseeing at tourist spots.

[0183] The time display format may be, for example, analog time display or digital time display, and display or non-display can be selected. The time display format is not limited to numbers, and may be, for example, text information or image information as long as it can express the length of time.

[0184] Furthermore, the display mode for the required time for the sightseeing route may be, for example, to indicate that the required time for the sightseeing route has ended while the sightseeing guide is in the middle of the sightseeing. For example, as shown in Fig. 19, when the required time for the sightseeing route has ended before the sightseeing tour is completed, the control unit 18 can display a screen that asks the user whether to continue the sightseeing tour or to end the sightseeing tour. According to this embodiment, it is possible to prompt the user to decide whether to continue sightseeing.

[0185] (7) An embodiment in which the device according to the present embodiment can be removed from the vehicle This embodiment may be made into a device that can be removed from the vehicle by making the radar detector 1 detachable from the bracket 3. In such an embodiment, the user can carry the radar detector with them into the area of ​​a tourist spot after getting out of the vehicle.

[0186] Therefore, while touring tourist spots, users can be informed of the elapsed time and remaining time of sightseeing. Furthermore, it is possible to not only display this information but also to display detailed tourist information within the tourist spots. For this reason, it is particularly effective in theme parks and other tourist spots with large areas.

[0187] (8) An embodiment in which the tourist information button is displayed in a different manner The control unit 18 may change the size, shape, and timing of display of the tourist information button 43, and may display it on a screen where a map display function is being performed, for example. In this case, when the control unit 18 detects that the vehicle's position has entered a preset tourist area, the control unit 18 may cause the tourist information button 43 to flash or light up to be displayed on the display 5 (see FIG. 20). According to this embodiment, the flashing or lighting of the tourist information button 43 can make the user aware of the existence of tourist routes. This can attract the user's interest in the tourist routes.

[0188] In addition to the current location detection process, the tourist information button 43 may be automatically displayed when the current location approaches a point on a tourist route by a predetermined distance or more, or when the current location reaches the tourist route. These embodiments make it easier to use tourist information, further improving convenience.

[0189] Furthermore, the timing of displaying the tourist information button 43 may be determined based on an inquiry from the user, for example. In this case, the user makes the tourist information button 43 appear of their own volition, so the user can be aware that the drive will include sightseeing, and the user can enjoy the start of sightseeing.

[0190] Furthermore, if there are no tourist routes near the current location, the tourist information button 43 may be set to not be displayed. In this embodiment, the user does not need to operate the tourist information button 43 from the start screen of the navigation function to check whether the tourist route is available. This prevents the user from performing a wasteful operation when they start operating the tourist information button 43 in the hope of finding a tourist route, only to find that there is no tourist route.

[0191] (9) Embodiments in which the timing of starting tourist information is different The timing at which the control unit 18 starts the tourist guidance may not be after switching from the display screen of Fig. 10 to the display screen of Fig. 11 as described above, but may be by, for example, pressing and holding the tourist route display buttons 47 to 49 of Fig. 10. According to such an embodiment, the number of touches on the touch panel 6 can be reduced, and tourist guidance can be provided quickly without causing stress to the user.

[0192] (10) Implementation example in which priority is set for tourist spots Display priorities may be set in advance for tourist spots, and the control unit 18 may display tourist route information including tourist spots with a high priority in preference to tourist route information including tourist spots with a low priority.

[0193] A high-priority tourist spot is, for example, a major tourist spot that is extremely famous in a tourist area. This allows users to visit well-known tourist spots even if they have little prior knowledge of the tourist area, resulting in high satisfaction. There may be one or more high-priority tourist spots on a tourist route.

[0194] (11) An embodiment for displaying the popularity rating of a tourist route The control unit 18 may acquire the user's preference rating for a sightseeing route that has been used in the past and display it on the display device 5. As a display mode of the preference rating, the control unit 18 may, for example, display a "Like!" button 57, and below that, display the number of users who pressed the "Like!" button 57 for this sightseeing route (see FIG. 21).

[0195] According to this embodiment, the user can refer to the displayed preference rating when selecting a sightseeing route. Therefore, this is particularly suitable when the vehicle is a rental car. The preference rating may be obtained via the Internet or may be stored in the database 19.

[0196] (12) An embodiment in which only the tourist route is displayed and no tourist route navigation is performed The control unit 18 may only display the tourist route and not perform navigation of the tourist route. In this embodiment, since information for guiding the tourist route is not required, the amount of data stored in the database 19 can be significantly reduced, and tourist routes can be quickly presented to the user.

[0197] (13) The calculation method for calculating the required time for a sightseeing route can be selected as appropriate, and the required time periods can also be grouped freely. The sightseeing time, which is the time spent at a tourist spot, is calculated by accumulating past data, but if the congestion situation changes due to factors such as the season, such parameters can also be taken into account.

[0198] (14) The screen display when selecting a sightseeing route may not only rely on text information such as displaying the course names in a row, but may also use image information that allows the user to intuitively grasp the characteristics of the course. For example, tourist spots may be likened to dishes, and multiple dishes may be displayed in a row so that the user can understand that the sightseeing route is like a "set meal" menu.

[0199] (15) When providing tourist guidance, the tourist route may be displayed from one tourist spot on the tourist route to the next. By displaying a portion of the tourist route in this manner, a portion of the tourist route can be displayed enlarged, providing good visibility. Tourist route guidance may also be provided while displaying the entire tourist route. By displaying the entire tourist route, the user can easily grasp how far along the tourist route they have traveled.

[0200] (16) Examples of the display format of tourist spots included in the tourist route include text information including the name of the tourist spot, location information, and image information of the tourist spot. The display format of the various display buttons displayed on the display 5 can be changed as needed. For example, the tourist information button may be replaced with a start button.

[0201] (17) The display screen size, various time settings, etc. may be set arbitrarily within the scope of the effects of the present invention. In addition, the control unit may be provided with a function for setting the priority of each function and alarm based on instructions from the user via a remote control or the like, and the control unit may be configured to perform processing according to the set priority.

[0202] (18) Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the device includes a database storing various types of information, and the control unit accesses the database to read the necessary information and perform various processes. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, some or all of the information to be registered in the database can be registered in a server. The radar detector and other electronic devices and devices can also be equipped with a function to communicate with the server, and the control unit can access the server as needed to obtain the necessary information and execute the processes. Furthermore, the system can also include a system in which at least some of the functions of the control unit are stored in the server, the server executes the functions, and the user's electronic device obtains the execution results.

[0203] (19) The functions of the control system in the above-described embodiment are configured as a program to be implemented by a computer provided in the control unit, but the program may also be distributed among multiple computers for distributed processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0204] 1. Radar detector 2 Case body 3 Bracket 5 Display 6 Touch Panel 7 Volume adjustment button 8 Work Buttons 9 Card slot 10 Memory Card Reader 11. Memory Card 13 GPS receiver 14 Microwave receiver 15 Radio receiver 16 speakers 18 Control Unit 19 Databases 22 Connection cable 23 Connector terminal 24 sockets 25 Connector terminal 31 Lamp 32 Remote control receiver 33 Remote Control 34 Infrared communication device 35 Mobile Phones 36 Geomagnetic sensor 37 Acceleration Sensor 40 Navigation button 41 Location search button 42 Nearby facilities button 43 Tourist Information Button 44~46 Time zone display button 47~49 Tourist route display button 50 Guidance start button 51 Previous course selection button 52 Next course selection button 53 Sightseeing time setting button 54~56 Sightseeing time display button 57 "Like" button 58 Key-off button

Claims

1. In a system that displays information about tourist routes, It has a control means that acquires user satisfaction ratings for tourist routes used in the past and displays them on a display means. The control means displays a button pressed by the user to indicate the user's preference for the tourist route, and the number of users who pressed the button for that tourist route. system.

2. The aforementioned button is a "Like" button. The system according to claim 1.

3. The control means displays below the button the number of users who pressed the button for the tourist route. The system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The control means displays the button and the number of users, along with an overview of the selected sightseeing route and information about the sightseeing spots included in the route. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The control means displays a previous course selection button and a next course selection button on the screen that displays the buttons and the number of users, for selecting tourist routes before and after the displayed tourist route. The system according to claim 4.

6. When the control means receives an operation on the previous course selection button or the next course selection button, it switches the displayed sightseeing route. The system according to claim 5.

7. The control means displays a "Start Tourist Route Guidance" button on the screen that displays the buttons and the number of users, and when it receives an operation on the "Start Guidance" button, it starts guiding users through the displayed tourist route. The system according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

8. A program for a computer to implement the function of the control means of the system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images