Navigation device, navigation method, and program

Abstract

The present invention provides a navigation device, a navigation method, and a program that can grasp the shape of the entire route. [Solution] The system includes a route search unit 31 that searches for a guidance route from the starting point or current location to the destination, a display control unit 33 that displays a partial route guidance image showing all or part of the guidance route on a display unit 15 at a scale specified by the user, and a generation unit 32 that generates an overall guidance route diagram representing the overall shape of the guidance route. The display control unit 33 displays the entire overall guidance route diagram together with the partial route guidance image on the display unit 15.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a navigation device, a navigation method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a navigation device or the like that displays a route to a destination and guides a user is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation device that displays a simple route map in a polygonal line shape according to the elevation difference of a route and guides a user.

[0003] According to the technology of Patent Document 1, a user can grasp the elevation difference in the entire route to the destination by looking at the simple route map.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose a technique for displaying a shape other than the elevation difference of the entire route, and it is not possible to grasp the entire guiding route to the destination while receiving route guidance. [[ID=B1]]

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a navigation device, a navigation method, and a program that can grasp the entire guiding route to a destination while receiving route guidance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a navigation device comprising: a route search unit that searches for a guidance route from a starting point or current location to a destination; a display control unit that displays a partial route guidance image showing all or part of the guidance route at a scale specified by the user on a display unit; and a generation unit that generates an overall guidance route diagram representing the overall shape of the guidance route. The display control unit displays the entire overall guidance route diagram together with the partial route guidance image on the display unit.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a navigation method that includes a route search step of searching for a guidance route from a starting point or current location to a destination; a display control step of displaying a partial route guidance image showing all or part of the guidance route at a scale specified by the user on a display unit; and a generation step of generating an overall guidance route diagram representing the overall shape of the guidance route, wherein the display control step displays the entire overall guidance route diagram together with the partial route guidance image on the display unit.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is a program executable by a computer capable of exchanging information with an input / output device, which includes a route search step for searching for a guidance route from a starting point or current location to a destination; a display control step for displaying a partial route guidance image showing all or part of the guidance route on a display unit at a scale specified by the user; and a generation step for generating an overall guidance route diagram representing the overall shape of the guidance route, wherein the display control step displays the entire overall guidance route diagram together with the partial route guidance image on the display unit, thereby causing the computer to perform the following processing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the shape of the entire path can be determined. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of the navigation device 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the route guidance display process 1. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the overall guidance path L1 and the overall guidance path diagram R1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a partial path guidance image. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a full path guidance image. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the overall guidance path L2 and the overall guidance path diagram R2. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a partial path guidance image. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a full path guidance image. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a modified example of a full path guidance image. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the path guidance display process ②. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the partial path guidance image generation process. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of the partial path guidance image generation process. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of the partial path guidance image generation process. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a partial path guidance image. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a full path guidance image.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0012] [One Embodiment] Hereinafter, the navigation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0013] (Configuration Example of Navigation Device 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the navigation device 1. The navigation device 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and executes a process (hereinafter referred to as navigation process) of searching for and guiding a travel route to a destination of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the host vehicle) on which the navigation device 1 is mounted.

[0014] The navigation device 1 is not limited to an integrated type embedded in the dashboard of the host vehicle, and can also be applied to a portable type that can be carried and other installation methods. Further, the navigation device 1 is not limited to the navigation device 1 that can be mounted on an automobile, and can also be applied to the navigation device 1 that can be mounted on a moving body such as a two-wheeled vehicle, a ship, a small mobility, or the navigation device 1 used by a pedestrian while being carried.

[0015] The communication unit 11 communicates with an information processing device on the network side such as a server (both not shown) via a network.

[0016] The input unit 12 includes some or all of various keys, buttons, switches, a touch panel formed integrally with the display unit 15, a mouse, and the like.

[0017] The current location acquisition unit 13 receives the current location information of the host vehicle using, for example, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System / Global Positioning Satellite System).

[0018] The storage unit 14 has, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a non-volatile memory. The storage unit 14 stores user setting information 21, map data 22, a control application program executed by the control unit 16, various data necessary for the execution thereof, and information generated by the process.

[0019] The user setting information 21 is information set by the user and registration information registered by the user, and is stored as the user setting information 21 when the user registers a destination in the navigation device 1.

[0020] The map data 22 includes map data relating to roads, represented by links indicating roads necessary for navigation and nodes connected by links, as well as map data 22 expressed in latitude and longitude, and data of registered facilities, etc. The map data 22 may be provided by the navigation device 1, or it may be provided at a designated external site and accessed as appropriate by the communication unit 11.

[0021] The display unit 15 is a liquid crystal or organic EL (electroluminescence) display device, and displays the route to the destination, etc.

[0022] The control unit 16 consists of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory units (ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), non-volatile memory, etc.), hardware, and other elements. The control unit 16 functions as a route search unit 31, a generation unit 32, and a display control unit 33 by executing a control application program (not shown) stored in the memory unit 14, and performs navigation processing.

[0023] The route search unit 31 searches for the entire guidance route from the point set in the input unit 12 or the current location to the destination based on the map data 22 which records map information, and the display control unit 33 performs navigation processing to guide the user to the destination using guidance images etc. displayed in the display unit 15 based on the searched guidance route.

[0024] The generation unit 32 extracts the entire guidance route searched by the route search unit 31 as a graphic and generates an overall guidance route diagram. The overall guidance route diagram is generated by plotting the information of each point on the overall guidance route from the point set in the input unit 12 or the current location to the destination and visualizing it as a single line. The overall guidance route diagram may also be generated by acquiring information used when the navigation device 1 displays guidance route information, for example, information generated as a route diagram layer to be superimposed on a map.

[0025] The display control unit 33 generates an image from the map data 22 that is displayed on the display unit 15 within a range corresponding to the scale set by the user, showing the vehicle's current location and all or part of the overall guidance route (hereinafter referred to as a partial route guidance image). The display control unit 33 superimposes the entire overall guidance route map generated by the generation unit 32 onto the partial route guidance image to generate a full route guidance image. The display control unit 33 displays the generated full route guidance image on the display unit 15. This process is hereinafter referred to as the route guidance display process.

[0026] (Route guidance display processing 1) An example of route guidance display processing (hereinafter referred to as route guidance display processing 1) will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 2, and a specific example will be explained with reference to Figures 3 to 8.

[0027] When the navigation process is executed, in step S1, the generation unit 32 obtains the vehicle's current location, extracts the guidance route from that location to the destination as a graphic, and generates an overall guidance route diagram.

[0028] Specifically, the route search unit 31 acquires the vehicle's current location, searches for a guidance route from that location to the destination based on the map data 22, and stores the data of the searched guidance route in the storage unit 14. The generation unit 32 generates an overall guidance route diagram based on the guidance route data stored in the storage unit 14.

[0029] In step S2, the display control unit 33 generates a partial route guidance image from the map data 22, which is an image displayed on the display unit 15 within a range corresponding to the scale set by the user, and which shows the current location of the vehicle and all or part of the overall guidance route.

[0030] Specifically, the route search unit 31 reads map data, road data, etc., from the map data 22 and stores them in the storage unit 14. Based on the map data, road data, and searched guidance route data stored in the storage unit 14, the display control unit 33 creates a partial route guidance image of the area around the vehicle's current location, according to the scale set by the user. In this example, the partial route guidance image is generated so that the vehicle's current location is located in the lower center of the partial route guidance image.

[0031] In step S3, the display control unit 33 superimposes the entire overall guidance route diagram generated by the generation unit 32 in step S1 onto the partial route guidance image generated in step S2 to generate a full route guidance image. Then, in step S4, the display control unit 33 displays the generated full route guidance image on the display unit 15. Route guidance to the destination is performed for the user based on the full route guidance image displayed on the display unit 15.

[0032] The above process is executed repeatedly until, for example, the vehicle arrives at its destination and the user instructs the user to end the navigation process via the input unit 12.

[0033] (Specific example) Next, we will explain a specific example of the route guidance display process 1 described above.

[0034] When the route search unit 31 finds the overall guidance route L1 shown in Figure 3A, the generation unit 32 generates the overall guidance route diagram R1 as shown in Figure 3B (step S1). Figure 3A is a drawing of a predetermined area of ​​the map data 22 stored in the storage unit 14, drawn north-up, to explain the process of the route search unit 31. Figure 3B is a drawing of the overall guidance route diagram R1 generated by the generation unit 32, drawn north-up, to explain the process of the generation unit 32.

[0035] Next, the display control unit 33 extracts the area within the dashed frame in Figure 4A from the map drawn by the route search unit 31 and generates the partial route guidance image shown in Figure 4B (step S2). The partial route guidance image is a detailed map image covering a range corresponding to the scale set by the user, and is a detailed map that allows the user to accurately determine, for example, which direction to proceed in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle's current location. Figure 4B is a diagram of a part of the overall guidance route L1, showing that the vehicle's current location is at a predetermined position (in this example, the lower center).

[0036] Then, the display control unit 33 superimposes the entirety of the overall guidance route diagram R1 (Figure 3B) onto the partial guidance image (Figure 4B) to generate a full guidance image as shown in Figure 5 (step S3). Specifically, the display control unit 33 superimposes the entirety of the overall guidance route diagram R1 onto the partial guidance image so that one end of the overall guidance route diagram R1 on the current location side overlaps with the triangular mark indicating the vehicle's current location, which is located in the lower center of the partial guidance image. In this full guidance image, the top of the image indicates the north side.

[0037] The display control unit 33 displays the generated full route guidance image on the display unit 15 (step S4).

[0038] As the vehicle moves toward its destination, for example, when the route search unit 31 searches for the overall guidance route L2 from the current location to the destination, as shown in Figure 6A, the generation unit 32 generates the overall guidance route diagram R2 shown in Figure 6B (step S1).

[0039] Next, the display control unit 33 extracts the area within the dashed frame shown in Figure 7A from the map drawn by the route search unit 31 and generates the partial route guidance image shown in Figure 7B (step S2).

[0040] Then, the display control unit 33 superimposes the entirety of the overall guidance route diagram R2 (Figure 6B) onto the partial guidance image (Figure 7B) to generate a full guidance image as shown in Figure 8 (step S3). Specifically, the display control unit 33 superimposes the overall guidance route diagram R2 onto the partial guidance image so that one end of the overall guidance route diagram R2 on the current location side overlaps with the triangular mark indicating the vehicle's current location, which is located in the lower center of the partial guidance image. In this full guidance image, the top of the image indicates north.

[0041] The display control unit 33 displays the generated full route guidance image on the display unit 15 (step S4).

[0042] In this way, the complete route guidance image is generated and displayed.

[0043] By displaying the overall guidance route map, users can easily understand which direction to head in the immediate vicinity, as shown in Figure 5, by referring to a detailed map, and can grasp the direction of their final destination and the route they will take to reach it. For example, in the example shown in Figure 5, the final destination is to the north of the current location, but the route guidance immediately leads in a different direction from the destination. This could cause anxiety for the user. However, if the overall guidance route map is displayed, the user can grasp the overall picture of the route to the destination, thus alleviating such anxiety.

[0044] In the example described above, north-up was used as an example, but the same applies when the direction of travel is upwards in the image displayed on the display unit 15.

[0045] (modified version) ((Size of the overall guidance route diagram)) In the route guidance display process 1 described above, as shown in Figures 5 and 8, the full route guidance image was generated so that the overall guidance route diagram would be the largest possible size that fits within the display screen of the display unit 15, but it is not limited to this. That is, as shown in Figure 9A, the overall guidance route diagram may be reduced in size compared to the case in Figure 5. In a modified example, for example, if a partial route guidance image displays map information above a predetermined level, and it is determined that further superimposing the overall guidance route diagram would worsen visibility, the overall guidance route diagram may be displayed in a reduced size. Also, if a partial route guidance image displays map information above a predetermined level, and it is determined that further superimposing the overall guidance route diagram would worsen visibility, the display color, display brightness, and transparency of the overall guidance route diagram may be controlled to improve the visibility of the partial route guidance image.

[0046] ((How to display the overall guidance route map)) In the route guidance display process 1, as shown in Figures 5 and 8, the overall guidance route map is superimposed on the partial route guidance image and displayed on the display unit 15. However, for example, as shown in Figure 9B, the overall guidance route map R1 can also be displayed by placing it on a side panel that is displayed in parallel with the partial route guidance image showing the overall guidance route L1. In a modified example, for example, if the partial route guidance image displays map information above a certain level, and it is determined that further superimposing the overall guidance route map would worsen visibility, the overall guidance route map may be placed on a side panel and displayed.

[0047] [Other embodiments] (Route guidance display processing 2: Expansion of the overall guidance route map) In a full route guidance image where the vehicle's current location is displayed at the bottom center, if one end of the overall guidance route map on the current location side overlaps with the vehicle's current location, as shown in Figure 8, the overall guidance route map may be densely packed only on the left side of the display screen, causing inconveniences such as difficulty in seeing the area of ​​the partial route guidance image in that portion. Therefore, it is sometimes desirable to display the overall guidance route map so that it is as spread out as possible. The process for this case (hereinafter referred to as route guidance display process 2) will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 10.

[0048] When the navigation process is executed, in step S11, similar to step S1 in Figure 2, the generation unit 32 obtains the current location of the vehicle, extracts the guidance route from that location to the destination as a graphic, and generates an overall guidance route diagram.

[0049] In step S12, the display control unit 33 generates a partial route guidance image from the map data 22, which is an image displayed on the display unit 15 within a range corresponding to the scale set by the user, and which shows the current location of the vehicle and all or part of the overall guidance route.

[0050] The process for generating partial route guidance images here will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 11.

[0051] In step S31, the display control unit 33 places the overall guidance route diagram within the map image range (hereinafter referred to as the map image range) such that the entire overall guidance route diagram fits within the range corresponding to the scale set by the user. When the overall guidance route L1 shown in Figure 6A is searched and the overall guidance route diagram R1 shown in Figure 6B is generated, the display control unit 33 draws the overall guidance route diagram R1 so that it fits within the map image range W, as shown in Figure 12A.

[0052] Next, in step S32, the display control unit 33 identifies the left and right edges and the top and bottom edges of the overall guidance route diagram placed within the map image area. For example, as shown in Figure 12B, the display control unit 33 identifies the left edge Px1 and the right edge Px2, and the top edge Py1 and the bottom edge Py2 of the overall guidance route diagram within the map image area W.

[0053] In step S33, the display control unit 33 calculates the magnification ratio when the overall guidance route diagram is enlarged so that both of the identified left and right ends are located at the edges of the horizontal width of the map image range (Figure 13A). The display control unit 33 also calculates the magnification ratio when the overall guidance route diagram is enlarged so that both of the identified top and bottom ends are located at the edges of the vertical width of the map image range (Figure 13B).

[0054] In step S34, the display control unit 33 compares the magnification ratio in the left-right direction with the magnification ratio in the up-down direction and determines the smaller of the two as the magnification ratio of the overall guidance path diagram. In the example in Figure 13, the magnification ratio of the overall guidance path diagram is determined by magnifying the overall guidance path diagram so that both ends of the identified upper and lower ends Py1 and Py2 are located at the ends of the height-direction width of the map image range.

[0055] In step S35, the display control unit 33 enlarges the overall guidance path diagram arranged in step S31 by the magnification ratio determined in step S34 (Figure 13B).

[0056] Next, in step S36, the display control unit 33 extracts an area from the map data 22 that corresponds to the map image range, with one end of the overall guidance route map enlarged in step S35 on the current location side being the current location of the vehicle (Figure 14A), and generates a partial route guidance image (Figure 14B).

[0057] Then, returning to Figure 10, in step S13, the display control unit 33 superimposes the overall guidance route map, which was enlarged in step S35, onto the partial guidance image generated in step S36, aligning one end of the overall guidance route map on the current location side with the vehicle's current position, thereby generating a route guidance image (Figure 15). Then, in step S14, the display control unit 33 displays the generated route guidance image on the display unit 15.

[0058] In route guidance display process 1, the position of the vehicle's current location on the partial route guidance image was predetermined to be the lower center (Figure 6). However, as described above, in route guidance display process 2, the vehicle's current location is determined in such a way that the overall guidance route map expands (Figure 15), thus enabling the overall guidance route map to be displayed in a wider view.

[0059] (modified version) In the route guidance display process 2 described above, priority was given to displaying the overall guidance route map in a way that makes it easier to see. However, for example, the display control unit 33 can also determine the centroid of the area consisting of the overall guidance route map connecting the vehicle's current location and destination, and superimpose the overall guidance route map onto the partial guidance image so that the centroid coincides with the center point of the partial guidance image.

[0060] In the route guidance display processes 1 and 2 described above, one end of the overall guidance route map on the current location side was aligned with the vehicle's current position, and the overall guidance route map was superimposed to generate a route guidance image. However, it is also possible to shift the position of the overall guidance route map on the partial route guidance image.

[0061] [Supplementary explanation of the embodiment] The embodiments described above are all preferred examples of the present invention. The numerical values, components, arrangement positions and connection configurations of the components, and processing order in the flowcharts shown in the embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, the figures are not necessarily strictly illustrative.

[0062] The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or by software. When the series of processes are executed by software, the programs that make up the software are installed from a program storage medium onto a computer that is built into dedicated hardware, or onto an information processing device such as a general-purpose personal computer that can perform various functions by installing various programs.

[0063] The programs executed by the computer may be programs that are processed chronologically in the order described herein, or they may be programs that are processed in parallel or at necessary times, such as when a call is made.

[0064] Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0065] [Note] The contents described in some of the embodiments above can be understood, for example, as follows:

[0066] (1) Overlay of the overall map In the navigation device described above, A route search unit 31 searches for a guidance route from the starting point or current location to the destination, A display control unit 33 displays a partial route guidance image showing all or part of the guidance route on the display unit 15 at a scale specified by the user, A generation unit 32 generates an overall guidance path diagram that represents the overall shape of the aforementioned guidance path, Equipped with, The display control unit 33 displays the entire overall guidance route diagram together with the partial route guidance image on the display unit 15. It is characterized by the following:

[0067] The display control unit 33 overlays the entire overall guidance route diagram onto the partial route guidance image, regardless of scale. This allows the user to view the guidance route at a predetermined scale that is easy to navigate while understanding the overall shape of the guidance route. By understanding the overall shape of the guidance route, the user can easily grasp, for example, how many right and left turns are required to reach the destination, the complexity of the route, and so on.

[0068] (2) Overlay on the current location In the navigation device described above, The display control unit 33 can position one end of the overall guidance route diagram at a location corresponding to the current location.

[0069] This configuration makes it easier for users to visualize the route that follows from their current location.

[0070] (3) Adjusting current location In the navigation device described above, The display control unit 33 can adjust the current location based on the direction of the destination or the shape of the overall guidance route diagram.

[0071] This configuration allows for a balanced arrangement of the entire path shape and enables the arrangement to be maximized and expanded as much as possible.

[0072] (4) Adjusting the current location for maximization In the navigation device described above, The display control unit 33 can adjust the position of the current location based on the direction of the destination or the shape of the overall guidance route diagram in order to maximize the scale of the overall guidance route diagram.

[0073] This configuration allows for the largest possible expansion and placement. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0074] 1. Navigation system 11 Communications Department 12 Input section 13 Current Location Acquisition Section 14 Storage section 15 Display 16 Control Unit 21. User Settings Information 22 Map data 31 Route Search Unit 32 Generation part 33 Display Control Unit

Claims

1. A route search unit that searches for a guidance route from the starting point or current location to the destination, A display control unit that displays a partial route guidance image showing all or part of the guidance route at a scale specified by the user, A generation unit that generates an overall guidance path diagram representing the overall shape of the aforementioned guidance path, Equipped with, The display control unit displays the entire overall guidance route diagram together with the partial route guidance image on the display unit. A navigation device characterized by the following features.

2. A navigation device according to claim 1, The display control unit positions one end of the overall guidance route diagram at a location corresponding to the current location. A navigation device characterized by the following features.

3. A navigation device according to claim 2, The display control unit adjusts the current location based on the direction of the destination or the shape of the overall guidance route diagram in order to maximize the scale of the overall guidance route diagram. A navigation device characterized by the following features.

4. A route search step that searches for a guided route from the starting point or current location to the destination, A display control step includes displaying a partial route guidance image showing all or part of the guidance route at a scale specified by the user on the display unit, A generation step to generate an overall guidance path diagram representing the overall shape of the aforementioned guidance path, Includes, In the display control step, the entire overall guidance route diagram is displayed on the display unit along with the partial route guidance image. A navigation method characterized by the following features.

5. In a program that can be executed by a computer capable of exchanging information with an input / output device, A route search step that searches for a guided route from the starting point or current location to the destination, A display control step includes displaying a partial route guidance image showing all or part of the guidance route at a scale specified by the user on the display unit, A generation step to generate an overall guidance path diagram representing the overall shape of the aforementioned guidance path, Includes, In the display control step, the entire overall guidance route diagram is displayed on the display unit along with the partial route guidance image. A program that causes a computer to perform a process, characterized by the following features.

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