JP4052844B2 - Navigation device and server device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device that performs route guidance from a departure place to a destination using map information received from a server device, and a server device that transmits map information to the navigation device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, navigation devices that receive map information, planned travel routes, and the like from a server device by communication have been developed for in-vehicle use and mobile phone use. According to this navigation device, a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM in which map information or the like is recorded is not required, and necessary information may be received from the server device in a timely manner, so that a low-cost navigation device can be provided. . In addition, it is only necessary to update the server device information to cope with changes in map information and the like that change in a short cycle.
[0003]
The navigation device receives and displays map information of a scale set in advance by the user. Whenever the user wants to change the scale of the map displayed during route guidance, the user operates the scale change key or the like to reset the scale to the desired scale.
[0004]
For example, when entering an expressway from an urban area during route guidance, detailed route guidance is not required, so the user often changes the setting to a map with a small scale (large scale). After that, when leaving the highway and approaching the destination, a detailed map is required, so the user has set the map again to a larger scale.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, manually changing the scale as described above is a burden on the user during operation. On the other hand, if map information with a large scale is always received without changing the scale, the amount of data increases and communication charges increase.
[0006]
In addition, the user himself / herself has only to roughly calculate how much map information at which scale is received and how much communication fee is charged. Therefore, in order to suppress useless communication charges, it is necessary to receive map information with a scale as small as possible by frequently changing the scale of the received map information so as to reduce the amount of received data.
[0007]
As described above, the operation of frequently changing the scale of the map information while worrying about the communication fee is a heavy burden on the driving user.
[0008]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation device that can know in advance the predicted communication fee for route guidance and that can be used safely and safely without the need to manually change the scale of the map during route guidance. .
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In view of the above points, the display device of the present invention is a navigation device that receives map information from a server device, displays a search route from a departure place to a destination on a display means, and performs route guidance.
Of the map information received from the server, a list showing combinations of types of areas that receive map information of a large scale is displayed on the display means, and route guidance is based on the map information of the combination selected in the list. It is characterized by performing.
[0010]
In addition, the combination selected from the list is any one of the vicinity of the destination or the combination of the vicinity of the destination and the city area.
[0011]
In addition, a predicted communication fee for each combination is received from the server device and displayed together with the list.
[0012]
In addition, a predicted reception capacity for each combination is received from the server device and displayed together with the list.
[0013]
In addition, a predicted reception time for each combination is received from the server device and displayed together with the list.
[0014]
In addition, it is possible to select whether or not to receive map information to which additional information is added.
[0015]
Further, in the server device that transmits the map information to the navigation device, the map device has a list indicating combinations of types of areas for transmitting the map information having a large scale among the map information to be transmitted to the navigation device. The list is transmitted in response to a request.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system using a navigation device and a server device of the present invention. 10 is a navigation device, 11 is a server device that communicates with the navigation device 10, and 12 is a database connected to the server device 11. The database 12 has map information 13 of each scale.
[0019]
In response to a request from the navigation device 10, the server device 11 reads the map information 13 from the database 12 and transmits it to the navigation device 10. The communication between the navigation device 10 and the server device 11 is not particularly limited as long as wireless communication is possible. For example, when communicating via the Internet, a telephone network such as a car phone or a mobile phone can be used.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the navigation device 10. Reference numeral 20 denotes a current position detection unit that obtains information such as a current position, a traveling direction, a speed, and an altitude using a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a speed sensor, a gyroscope, and the like, and 21 denotes communication with the server apparatus 11. Reference numeral 22 denotes a communication control unit that controls the antenna, and an antenna for wireless communication connected to the communication control unit 21.
[0021]
Reference numeral 23 denotes a display unit comprising a liquid crystal display or the like for displaying map information and the current position, 24 is an input unit for the user to input destination settings and the like, and 25 stores received map information, routes, and the like. A RAM 26 is a ROM that stores a program necessary for the operation of the navigation device 10, and a control unit 27 is configured by a microcomputer that controls the navigation device 10 based on the program in the ROM 26.
[0022]
Next, operations of the navigation device 10 and the server device 11 during route guidance will be described. When the user operates the input unit 24 of the navigation device 10 to input a destination and presses a route search execution key (not shown), the navigation device 10 transmits position information of the current position and the destination to the server device 11. To do. Receiving this position information, the server device 11 accesses the database 12 and calculates the planned travel route.
[0023]
Then, the server device 11 transmits the calculated planned travel route to the navigation device 10. At this time, if the navigation device 10 does not have map information on a scale that can display the planned travel route on one screen, appropriate map information is also transmitted.
[0024]
The navigation device 10 that has received the scheduled travel route and the like stores the received data in the RAM 25 and displays it on the display unit 23 so as to overlap the current position. Accordingly, the user can know a rough route from the current position to the destination.
[0025]
Subsequently, the navigation apparatus 10 displays a list 30 of display modes for setting a combination of scales of map information as shown in FIG. FIG. 3 also shows a predicted communication fee when map information is received up to the destination in each mode. The user can select a desired display mode with reference to the predicted communication fee.
[0026]
When the display mode is selected, the navigation apparatus 10 requests the server apparatus 11 for timely map information of a scale corresponding to the selected display mode. In response to this, the server device 11 reads the map information from the database 12 in a timely manner and transmits it to the navigation device 10. The navigation device 10 performs route guidance by displaying the planned travel route and the current position on the received map information.
[0027]
For example, when the No. 1 display mode is selected in FIG. 3, all the received map information is map information with a large scale, and the communication fee is predicted to be the highest a circle. In addition, when the No. 2 display mode is selected, map information with a large scale is received when passing through the city and near the destination, map information with a small scale is received for other map information, and the communication fee is a. It is predicted to be b yen cheaper than yen. When the No. 3 display mode is selected, map information with a large scale is received only near the destination, map information with a small scale is received for other map information, and communication charges are lower than b yen. Expected to be a yen. When the No. 4 display mode is selected, all the received map information is map information with a small scale, and the communication charge is predicted to be d yen lower than c yen.
[0028]
The vicinity of the destination is not particularly limited as to how far away from the destination, and for example, it can be a map area within a predetermined radius (2 km, etc.) centered on the destination. The above-mentioned urban area is not particularly limited, and for example, a map area corresponding to the production of the navigation device may be set and registered in advance, and the number of buildings, traffic lights, or intersections per unit area, etc. May be a map area having a predetermined number or more.
[0029]
Although the predicted communication fee is displayed in FIG. 3, the predicted reception capacity and the predicted reception time may be displayed in addition. The predicted reception capacity is the total amount of map information to be received and serves as a reference for calculating communication charges. The reception capacity increases as map information with a larger scale is received. The predicted reception time is the time required to receive all the map information to be received, and is proportional to the reception amount. The reception time increases as the reception amount increases as the large-scale map information is received.
[0030]
In this way, the display mode list 30 allows the user to know in advance the predicted communication fee for route guidance and use the navigation device 10 with peace of mind. In addition, since the scale of the displayed map is automatically switched by selecting a desired display mode, it is not necessary to manually change the map scale during route guidance as in the past, and it is possible for a driving user. A safe navigation device 10 that does not impose a burden can be provided.
[0031]
In the above embodiment, the case where the navigation apparatus 10 has a display mode program has been described, but in the following embodiment, a case where the server apparatus 11 has a display mode program will be described.
[0032]
First, the planned travel route is calculated by the server device 11 in the same manner as described above, and the current position and the destination are displayed on the display unit 23 of the navigation device 10 so as to overlap the planned travel route. Subsequently, the navigation device 10 requests the server device 11 for a display mode list 30 (FIG. 3) for setting a combination of scales of map information. In response to this, the server device 11 transmits a list 30 of display modes that have been set and registered in advance to the navigation device 10. The navigation apparatus 10 that has received the display mode list 30 stores the received data in the RAM 25 and displays it on the display unit 23. The display mode list 30 received here is stored until the power of the navigation apparatus 10 is turned off, and can be repeatedly read from the RAM 25 until then.
[0033]
When the display mode is selected by the user, the navigation device 10 transmits the selected display mode to the server device 11 and requests the map information from the server device 11 in a timely manner when the next map information is required. In response to this, the server device 11 determines a scale corresponding to the display mode in consideration of the current position of the navigation device 10, reads map information of the scale from the database 12, and transmits it to the navigation device 10. The navigation device 10 performs route guidance by displaying the planned travel route and the current position on the received map information.
[0034]
As described above, the server device 11 has the display mode list 30, and the navigation device 10 receives the display mode list 30 from the server device 11 and uses it as needed to change the display mode contents. It is only necessary to change the program of the device 11, and since there is no need to change any of the individual navigation devices 10, the contents can be easily changed and no labor is required.
[0035]
In the present invention, the display mode list 30 of FIG. 3 can be further divided in detail by dividing the scales that can be selected in the display mode into several stages. In the present invention, the display mode can be changed in a timely manner. Thereby, it is possible to change to a desired display mode even during route guidance.
[0036]
The larger the map information received, the more time is required for communication and the higher the cost. Therefore, in the above-described example, the information received on the scale is selected on the assumption that the information on the detailed map having a large scale has a large capacity. Can be made. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, additional information (service information) such as sightseeing information, hotels, highway guidance, gas stations, transportation, telephone numbers, traffic information is also part of the map information received for route guidance. Yes, the map information received for this additional information may be selected. Further, the selection method may be a combination of selection of presence / absence of additional information as shown in FIG.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the scale of the displayed map is automatically switched by providing the function of selecting in advance the combination of the scales of the map information to be received. Therefore, it is possible to provide a safe navigation device that does not impose a burden on a driving user.
[0038]
Further, according to the present invention, since the navigation apparatus has a list of combinations of scales of received map information, it is possible to easily set functions simply by selecting a desired combination of scales from this list.
[0039]
Further, according to the present invention, the navigation device receives a list of scale combinations of the received map information from the server device, so that the list of the latest contents is always used even when the contents of the list are changed. Can do.
[0040]
In addition, according to the present invention, the navigation device displays each predicted communication fee, predicted reception capacity, or predicted reception time together with a list of scale combinations of the received map information, so that the user can predict the route guidance. The communication fee, predicted reception capacity, or predicted reception time can be known in advance, and the navigation device can be used with peace of mind.
[0041]
Further, according to the present invention, the server device has a list of map information scale combinations, and the navigation device receives the list from the server device at any time and uses it to change the contents of the list. It is only necessary to change the program, and since there is no need to change any of the individual navigation devices, the contents can be easily changed and no labor is required.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system using a navigation device and a server device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a navigation device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a list of display modes.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a list of other display modes.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 navigation device 11 server device 13 map information 30 list of display modes (list of combinations of scales)

Claims (7)

In a navigation device that receives map information from a server device, displays a search route from a departure place to a destination on a display means, and performs route guidance.
Of the map information received from the server , a list showing combinations of types of areas that receive map information of a large scale is displayed on the display means, and route guidance is based on the map information of the combination selected in the list. A navigation device characterized by Said set combined the navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is what Re or destination or near the destination near the city center.   The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predicted communication fee for each combination is received from the server apparatus and displayed together with the list.   The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a predicted reception capacity for each combination is received from the server device and displayed together with the list.   The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a predicted reception time for each combination is received from the server device and displayed together with the list.   6. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not to receive map information to which additional information is added can be selected. In the server device that transmits the map information to the navigation device, the map device has a list indicating combinations of types of areas for transmitting the map information having a large scale among the map information to be transmitted to the navigation device, in response to a request from the navigation device. In response, the server device transmits the list.

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