JP4661336B2 - Navigation device, display method, and information retrieval method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device, a display method, and an information search method.

In recent years, navigation devices that search for a route from a departure point to a destination, display the route on a map, and perform guidance have been put into practical use. Conventionally, when information such as a destination is searched in this navigation device, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, a method for searching by inputting the name of a destination or the like to be searched for, and a target facility The search conditions are narrowed down by genre and area, and a list of candidates is displayed when the number of hits decreases.
Japanese Patent No. 2978985

  By the way, even if you find the nail salon that is the target facility in the navigation device, it actually moves by car, so if you do not have a parking lot in the desired nail salon, you must search for the location of the parking lot nearby Don't be. If there is no parking lot in the vicinity of the desired nail salon, the search must be further expanded by expanding the search range or searching for another nail salon. However, when the genre is used as a search condition, as shown in FIG. 2, the nail salon is generally classified into a genre called “beauty” and the parking lot is classified into a genre called “automobile”. Because it is impossible or requires complicated operations, it was necessary to repeat complicated operations only by searching for a nail salon and a parking lot.

  In addition, in information retrieval by character input, there are many pieces of information with the same name, and it is often impossible to narrow down by character input alone, and other conditions such as genre and region are often required. In particular, the fuzzy search tends to increase the number of hits, and it takes time and effort to narrow down the information.

  An object of the present invention is to enable a navigation device to simultaneously search for facilities included in different genres by a simple operation and display a search result.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1
Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination In a navigation device that displays route information on a display unit together with a map image based on map information,
Landmark display means for displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Search target item registration means for registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
A search target item list display means for distinguishing between a list of facility types registered as search target items by the search target item registration means and a list of facility types not registered as search target items; ,
Item addition means for additionally registering the designated facility type as the search target item among the facility types not registered as the search target item displayed in a list on the display unit;
When displaying the map image on the display unit, facility display means for displaying the facility type facility registered as the search target item on the map image of the display unit,
It is characterized by having.

The invention described in claim 2
Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination In a navigation device that displays route information on a display unit together with a map image based on map information,
Landmark display means for displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Search target item registration means for registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
Search target item list display means for displaying a list of facility types registered as search target items by the search target item registration means on the display unit;
A non-search target setting means for setting a facility type to be temporarily excluded from search targets from the displayed facility types;
Search means for searching for a facility of a facility type that is not temporarily excluded from the search target by the non-search target setting means from among the facility types registered as the search target item from the search target range of the map information;
Search result display means for displaying a search result by the search means on the display unit;
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 3
Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination In a navigation device that displays route information on a display unit together with a map image based on map information,
Landmark display means for displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Search target item registration means for registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
A search target item list display means for distinguishing between a list of facility types registered as search target items by the search target item registration means and a list of facility types not registered as search target items; ,
Item addition means for adding the designated facility type to the search target among the facility types that are not registered as the search target items displayed in a list on the display unit;
Search means for searching for facilities of the facility type registered and added as the search target item from the search target range of the map information;
Search result display means for displaying a search result by the search means on the display unit;
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 2 and 3 ,
An important item designating unit for designating a facility type to be an important item among the facility types displayed in a list by the search target item list display unit;
The search means expands the search target range until the facility type specified as the important item is searched when there is no facility of the facility type specified as the important item in the search target range. It is characterized by searching.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 2,
The search target item registration means registers the date and time information when the registration was performed,
A date and time range specifying means for specifying a range of date and time when the registration is performed;
The search means is characterized by searching from the search target range of the map information with the facility type registered in the specified date and time range as a search target.

The invention described in claim 6
Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination A display method of a map image in a navigation device that displays a map image based on map information on a display unit and performs route guidance,
Displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
Distinguishing and displaying the list of facility types registered as the search target items and the list of facility types not registered as the search target items on the display unit;
A step of additionally registering a designated facility type as the search target item among the facility types not registered as the search target item displayed in a list on the display unit;
Displaying the facility type registered as the search target item on the map image of the display unit when displaying the map image on the display unit;
It is characterized by including.

The invention described in claim 7
Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination An information retrieval method in a navigation device that displays a map image based on map information on a display unit and performs route guidance,
Displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
Displaying a list of facility types registered as the search target items on the display unit;
A step of setting a facility type to be temporarily excluded from search targets from the displayed facility types;
From the search target range of the map information, searching for facilities of the facility type that is not temporarily excluded from the search target among the facility types registered as the search target item;
Displaying the search result on the display unit;
It is characterized by including.

The invention according to claim 8 provides:
Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination An information retrieval method in a navigation device that displays a map image based on map information on a display unit and performs route guidance,
Displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
Distinguishing and displaying the list of facility types registered as the search target items and the list of facility types not registered as the search target items on the display unit;
Adding the designated facility type among the facility types that are not registered as the search target items listed in the display unit to the search target;
Searching for facilities of the facility type registered and added as the search target item from the search target range of the map information;
Displaying the search result on the display unit;
It is characterized by including.

  According to the present invention, in a navigation device, it is possible to simultaneously search for facilities included in different genres by a simple operation and display the search results.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.

  FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration example of a navigation device 1 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device 1 includes a CPU 11, a nonvolatile memory 12, a RAM 13, an input device 14, an information storage device 15, a position measurement device 16, a display device 17, a sound generation device 18, a speaker 19, and the like. Each part is connected via a bus 20.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 reads and executes various system programs stored in the non-volatile memory 12, and drives and controls each part of the navigation device 1. The CPU 11 reads various application programs for navigation stored in the nonvolatile memory 12 based on data input via the input device 14, the position measuring device 16, etc. Various processes such as a search process, a route search process, and a route guidance process are executed.

For example, the CPU 11 executes a search target item registration process A (see FIG. 3) described later, and controls each part of the display device 17 according to the operation of the input device 14 to thereby include a map image including landmark images of multipurpose facilities. When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is selected from the map image, the names of individual facilities included in the multipurpose facility are displayed in a list, and one or more facility names are displayed from the displayed facility names. Is specified, the facility type corresponding to each specified facility is determined, and the determined facility type is stored in the search target item storage unit 121 as a search target item when searching for a facility on the map. .
Further, when a destination or a detour point is set via the input device 14, the CPU 11 executes a search target item registration process B (see FIG. 6) described later and includes a destination (a stop point). ) Is stored in the search target item storage unit 121 as a search target item when searching for a facility on the map.
Further, the CPU 11 executes a search process (see FIG. 7) to be described later, and when “From Landmark” is selected as the search menu, the facility type data stored in the search target item storage unit 121 is read and displayed. When a facility type that is not displayed as a search target in the current search is selected from the list displayed by the device 17, a facility type other than the selected facility type is searched from the search target area, and the display device is displayed. The search result is displayed by 17.

  Further, when the facility searched by executing the search target item registration process and the search process described above is set as the destination and the route search is instructed, the CPU 11 executes the route search process and stores the information in the information storage device 15. From the stored map information, road information including node (nodes such as intersections, branch points, and inflection points) information and link (straight path) information is read, and the current information corresponding to various conditions is read based on the read road information. A route (for example, a standard route, a route with the shortest distance, a route with the lowest charge, a route with the shortest time, etc.) from the vehicle position to the destination is searched. When the route search process is completed, the CPU 11 causes the display 17g to display a selection screen for the user to select a guide route to be used for route guidance among the searched routes, and according to a selection input from the input device 14. One of the searched routes is set as a guide route to be used for route guidance, and is stored in the guide route memory 132 as a route search result.

  Further, when the route guidance is instructed via the input device 14, the CPU 11 executes route guidance processing, and based on the current vehicle position output from the position measurement device 16 and the search result of the route search processing, Data necessary for route guidance (map information, landmark information, guide map data, etc. near the vehicle position) is read from the information storage device 15, stored in each memory of the RAM 13, and route guidance is given to the display 17g by the display device 17. Display or output route guidance sound from the speaker 19.

  The non-volatile memory 12 is a rewritable memory such as FlashROM, a system program corresponding to the navigation device 1, a search target item registration process A program that can be executed on the system program, a search target item registration process B program, Various application programs for navigation including a search processing program, a route search processing program, a route guidance processing program, data processed by these programs, various setting data set by the user, and the like are stored. The non-volatile memory 12 has a search target item storage unit 121 and stores the facility type of the facility specified in the search target item registration process A or set as the destination.

  The RAM 13 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the CPU 11 and data related to these programs. The RAM 13 is a map information memory 131 that temporarily stores map information data read from the information storage device 15, and a guide that stores guide route data that is a route search result in a route search process executed by the CPU. From the route map 132 and the information storage device 15 that temporarily stores the guide map data read from the information storage device 15 (for example, image data such as an intersection enlarged view, a direction signboard, and a traveling direction arrow). A landmark memory 134 for temporarily storing the read landmark information data is provided.

  The input device 14 has an arrow key for designating eight directions (upper, upper right, right, lower right, lower, lower left, left, upper left), a set key, a character key, and a number arranged at the center of the arrow key. In addition to keys and search keys, various keys associated with various functions such as navigation use are provided, and operation signals for the operated keys are output to the CPU 11. Further, the input device 14 includes a touch panel provided so as to cover the display 17g, detects coordinates instructed by a touch reading principle such as an electromagnetic induction type, a magnetostriction type, and a pressure sensitive type, and detects the detected coordinates. Is output to the CPU 11 as a position signal. Or it is good also as a structure provided with input devices, such as a remote control and a microphone.

  The information storage device 15 includes an HDD (Hard Disc) 15a and an HDD control unit 15b that reads / writes data from / to the HDD 15a. The HDD 15a includes a map DB (Data Base) 151, guide map data 152, guidance voice data 153, a landmark DB 154, and the like, and stores data necessary for route search and route guidance in the navigation device 1.

The map DB 151 is a database that stores map information including road information, railway information, and river information. Road information includes nodes, links, road names, road types (highways, national roads, prefectural roads, general roads, arterial roads, toll roads, etc.), road widths, IC (interchange) names, and maps Information such as the coordinate position, the name of the SA (service area), and the coordinate position on the map.
The river information includes information such as the name of each river, a node (coordinate position on the map of a contact point such as a branch point with a tributary, a bending point), a link (a straight line portion of the river), and the like.
Railroad information includes the names and types of railway lines, nodes (coordinate positions on the map of points of contact such as stations and track inflection points), links (straight portions of railway lines), and station information (station names and types included in each railway line). (Terminal station, etc.)).

The guide map data 152 is guide map data (for example, image data such as an intersection enlarged view, a direction signboard, and a traveling direction arrow) for displaying a guide image at a point of route guidance.
The guidance voice data 153 is voice data of a message necessary for route guidance.
The landmark DB 154 stores various types of facility information to be displayed as landmarks, facility individual names, coordinate positions on the map, and individual names of individual facilities included in the facilities when the facility is a multipurpose facility such as a hotel or a building. It is a database that stores landmark information including information such as type information.

  Here, in this embodiment, the type information of each facility has a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 2, and includes information on genre and facility type. The facility type is a classification in which the contents of each facility can be specified by the user, and a landmark image corresponding to each facility type is prepared. As shown in FIG. 2, each facility type is classified into any genre based on its contents. Further, depending on the facility type, it is further classified into detailed types according to the contents.

The position measuring device 16 includes an autonomous navigation sensor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a position calculation CPU, and the like.
The autonomous navigation sensor includes various sensors such as an orientation sensor, an angle sensor, and a distance sensor. The azimuth sensor detects geomagnetism and outputs the absolute azimuth data of the vehicle, which is the detection result, to the position calculation CPU. The angle sensor detects an angular velocity (rotational speed per unit time) associated with traveling of the vehicle, and outputs an angular velocity signal proportional to the amount of change in the moving direction to the position detection CPU. The distance sensor generates a pulse signal for each unit travel distance according to the rotation of the wheel and outputs the pulse signal to the position calculation CPU.
The GPS receiver includes a GPS antenna (not shown). The GPS antenna receives GPS signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites launched into a low earth orbit. The GPS antenna receives GPS signals transmitted from at least three GPS satellites, detects the absolute current position (latitude, longitude) of the vehicle based on the received GPS signals, and outputs it to the position calculation CPU. To do.
The position calculation CPU calculates the current position of the vehicle based on signals input from the autonomous navigation sensor and the GPS receiver, and outputs the calculated position to the CPU 11.

The image display device 17 includes a display controller 17a, a video RAM 17b, a menu generation unit 17c, a guidance route generation unit 17d, a mark generation unit 17e, an image composition unit 17f, a display 17g, and the like.
The display controller 17a, based on the map information read into the map information memory 131 according to the control from the CPU 11, displays map image data, point name display data, distance from the current position, and direction on the display screen of the display 17g. Is generated and output to the image composition unit 17f. Further, in accordance with control from the CPU 11, the guide map data read out to the guide map memory 133 and displayed on the display screen of the display 17g is output to the image composition unit 17f.
The video RAM 17b is a memory that temporarily stores map image data generated by the display controller 17a.
The menu generation unit 17c generates various operation menus on the display screen of the display 17g according to the control from the CPU 11, and outputs them to the image composition unit 17f. The various operation menus include the screens shown in FIGS. 5, 8, 9, 10, 12 to 15 and operation buttons displayed on the map.
The guide route generation unit 17d generates image data of the guide route based on the route search result stored in the guide route memory 132 according to the control from the CPU 11, and outputs the image data to the image composition unit 17f.
The mark generation unit 17e generates a vehicle mark to be displayed at the current vehicle position, various landmark images, a scroll arrow for scrolling operation, a cursor circle, and the like according to control from the CPU 11, and outputs them to the image composition unit 17f. .
The image composition unit 17f performs image composition by superimposing each image data output from each of the menu generation unit 17c, the guide route generation unit 17d, and the mark generation unit 17f on the map image data generated by the display controller 17a. To the display 17g.

  The display controller 17a, the menu generation unit 17c, the guidance route generation unit 17d, the mark generation unit 17e, and the image composition unit 17f are realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU and a program stored in the ROM. It may be realized by dedicated hardware.

The display 17g is composed of a color liquid crystal display or the like, and an image composition unit 17f.
A map image, various operation menus, and the like are displayed on the display screen based on the data input from.

The voice generation unit 18 generates a route guidance voice and an operation guidance voice based on the guidance voice data stored in the information storage device 15.
The speaker 19 outputs the sound generated by the sound generator 18.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
Hereinafter, the search target item registration processing (search target item registration processing A and B) will be described with reference to FIGS. The search target item registration process searches the facility type of the facility to be searched before searching the facility that the user wants to set as the destination from the specified search area on the map as the search target item registration means. This is registered as a target item.

First, the search target item registration process A will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the search object item registration process A executed by the CPU 11 of the navigation device 1. This process is realized by a software process in cooperation with the CPU 11 and the search target item registration process A program stored in the nonvolatile memory 12, and a search when searching for information on a facility to be set as a destination is performed. The target item (facility type) is registered using the landmark information of the multipurpose facility displayed on the map.

  First, a map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility is displayed on the display screen of the display 17g of the display device 17 in accordance with the operation of the input device 14 by the user (step S1). Step S1 is performed in response to a user operation. In order for the user to display a map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display screen via the input device 14, first, by operating the input device 14, the landmark image to be displayed on the map image on the display 17g is displayed. A setting screen (not shown) for setting the type is displayed, and a multipurpose facility such as a hotel is set as a type to be displayed on the map image from this setting screen. Thereafter, the map image displayed on the display screen is enlarged / reduced and scrolled with respect to the map image, and the above operation is repeated until the landmark image of the multipurpose facility is displayed. The center of the city where the multipurpose facility exists may be registered in advance as a memory point, and may be called after setting as a landmark image for displaying the multipurpose facility from the setting screen described above.

  As a method for displaying a map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display screen in step S1, in addition to the above method, if the name of the multipurpose facility is known, a search is performed from a character search screen or the like. A map image including a multipurpose facility may be displayed.

  Next, when a landmark image of the multipurpose facility is designated on the displayed map image via the input device 14 (step S2), landmark information corresponding to the designated landmark image is received from the landmark DB 154. Are read into the landmark memory 134, and a list of individual facility names is displayed as individual facility information included in the designated multipurpose facility on the display screen of the display 17g (step S3).

  FIG. 4 shows a screen display example in step S1. In FIG. 4, a landmark image (H) indicating the hotel set in step S1 is displayed on the map image, and the landmark image (H) is designated. The facility name of the designated landmark image (here, “ABC hotel”) is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

  FIG. 5 shows a screen display example in step S3. As shown in FIG. 5, in step S3, the names of individual facilities included in the designated multipurpose facility are displayed as a list. In FIG. 5, the names of the individual facilities included in the ABC hotel, which is the landmark image specified in FIG. 4, are displayed in a list. On the left side of each facility name, a button for selecting the facility type of the facility as a search target item is displayed. By touching a button corresponding to each facility name, the facility type of the facility can be selected as a search target item. Here, an ABC nail salon, an ABC restaurant, and an ABC parking lot are selected. As described above, in this process, it is possible to easily select a plurality of facility types classified into different genres as search target items using landmark information. If there are many facilities included in the multipurpose facility and cannot be displayed at a time, an undisplayed facility name can be displayed by operating the scroll bar displayed on the right side of the screen.

  When the facility name is selected from the displayed list in step S4 of FIG. 3 (step S4), the type information of the selected facility name is read from the landmark DB 154 and stored in the search target item storage unit 121. (Step S5), the process is terminated. Thereby, the facility type corresponding to the selected facility name is registered as a search target item. The facility type facility registered as the search target item is displayed as a landmark image on the displayed map image when the map image is displayed on the display 17g on the display device 17 (facility display means).

  As described above, in the search target item registration process A, when the landmark image of the multipurpose facility displayed on the map is designated by the operation of the input device 14, each facility included in the multipurpose facility indicated by the landmark image is displayed. A list of facilities is displayed on the display screen, and the facility type of the facility selected from the displayed list is registered as a search target item. However, the landmark information can be used for easy selection.

Next, the search target item registration process B will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the search target item registration process B executed by the CPU 11 of the navigation device 1. This processing is realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU 11 and the search target item registration processing B program stored in the nonvolatile memory 12, and the facility type of the facility set as the destination is set as the future purpose. This is automatically registered as a search target item when searching for a facility to be set on the ground.

  When the destination is set (step S11; YES), the landmark DB 154 is referred to, the facility type of the facility set as the destination is determined, and the type information is stored in the search target item storage unit 121 (step). S12), this process ends. Thereby, the facility type corresponding to the facility set as the destination is registered as a search target item.

  By the search target item registration process B, the facility type of the facility set as the destination is automatically registered as the search target item, so that a search condition according to the user's usage pattern can be constructed.

  When a destination is set, a message and an instruction button for confirming whether or not to register the facility type of the set facility as a search target item are displayed and registered as a search target item. May be registered as a search target item.

  Hereinafter, the search process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing search processing executed by the CPU 11 of the navigation device 1. This processing is realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU 11 and the search processing program stored in the nonvolatile memory 12, and is a processing for searching for a facility that the user wants to set as a destination.

  First, a search top menu screen is displayed on the display 17g according to the operation of the input device 14 by the user (step S21). FIG. 8 shows an example of the search top menu screen. As shown in FIG. 8, on the search top menu screen, selection buttons ("From map" button, "From understanding" button, "From landmark" button) for selecting a search method are displayed. The user can specify a search method according to the touched button among the selection buttons.

  When the search “from landmark” is selected from the search top menu screen (step S22; YES), the landmark image corresponding to the facility type included in the type information stored in the search target item storage unit 121 is displayed on the display device 17. Is displayed as a list (step S23; search target item list display means).

  FIG. 9 shows a screen display example in step S23. FIG. 9 shows a list of landmark images of “Nail Salon”, “Restaurant”, and “Parking”, and “Nail Salon”, “Restaurant”, and “Parking” are registered as search target items. ing. As shown in FIG. 9, a “search start” button and a “return” button are displayed on the search target item list screen. When the “search start” button is operated, a search is performed from the search target area (search target range) using the facilities of all the displayed facility types (in FIG. 9, nail salon, restaurant, and parking lot) as search target items. Done. The search target area is, for example, an area around the own vehicle position or an area designated by area or information. When the facility of the search target item is searched from the search target area, the landmark image is displayed on the map image to be searched. For example, when “start search” is instructed from the screen of FIG. 9, landmark images of the searched nail salon and / or parking lot and / or restaurant are displayed on the map image. When the “return” button is operated, the screen of the search top menu shown in FIG. 8 can be returned.

  In FIG. 9, when a landmark image of a facility type to be temporarily excluded from the search target item is displayed, the facility type is selected by selecting the landmark image or character with the input device 14. Can be set to be excluded from the search target items. For example, in FIG. 9, when searching for “nail salon” and “parking lot”, if a landmark image or character of “restaurant” is selected and operated, a landmark image of “restaurant” as shown in FIG. Is displayed at the bottom of the screen, and it is possible to make a setting to temporarily exclude “restaurant” from the search target items.

  When the landmark image to be temporarily excluded from the search target items is selected and operated from the list screen displayed in step S23 of FIG. 7 (step S24; YES), the facility corresponding to the selected landmark image is displayed. The type is temporarily excluded from the search target items (step S25; non-search target setting means). When the search target item is confirmed and the “start search” button is operated to start search (step S26; YES), the facility type corresponding to the landmark image not excluded in step S25 is set as the search target item. Then, a search for a facility of the facility type selected as a search target item from the search target area of the map information is executed (step S27; search means), and if the corresponding facility exists as a result of the search, the searched facility is a map image. The landmark image is displayed on the top (step S28; search result display means). When the map image is enlarged / reduced or scrolled by the operation of the input device 14 and a change of the search target area is instructed (step S29; YES), the process returns to step S27, and the process in the changed search target area is performed. When a search is performed and the corresponding facility exists as a result of the search, a landmark image of the searched facility is displayed on the map image. If no change of the search target area is instructed (step S29; NO) and a desired landmark image is selected from the map image by the input operation 14 and set as a destination (step S30), the selected land is selected. The route search to the facility of the mark image is started (step S32), and this process ends. In step S22, when a search method other than “from landmark” is selected (step S22; NO), a search is performed using a search method according to the selected method (step S31), and the search result is based on the search result. The route search is started (step S32), and this process ends.

  FIG. 11 shows a screen display example of the search result screen displayed on the display 17g in step S28. As shown in FIG. 11, in the search result screen, the area name and map image near the area to be searched are displayed, and when the facility of the facility type as the search object item is searched from within the area to be searched. The landmark image of the searched facility is displayed on the map image. In FIG. 11, two landmark images of the nail salon and the parking lot are displayed, indicating that two are searched each. When a desired landmark is selected from this search result screen and the “Set” button is touched, the screen moves to a setting screen for setting the selected landmark point as a destination or memory point, and is selected. The landmark point can be easily set as the destination. When the setting is completed, the screen returns to the search result screen. When the “go to search” button is operated from FIG. 11, it is possible to return to the search screen shown in FIG. 10, and it is possible to continue searching with other search conditions.

  As described above, according to the navigation device 1, it is possible to simultaneously search for a plurality of facilities classified into the same or different genres and display the search results on the map image. Therefore, for example, it is possible to easily search for facilities of different genres such as destination facilities (for example, restaurants, etc.) and nearby parking lots by a simple operation, and search facility for each facility Since it is provided to the user including the geographical relationship between them, the user can set the destination accurately. In addition, for example, when it is desired to eat at a restaurant after going to a nail salon, it is possible to easily search for multiple purposes and conditions.

  In addition, it is possible to provide a user interface with good operability by minimizing character input. Further, since the search target items are narrowed down in advance to the user registration operation or the genre used by the user, it is possible to suppress providing unnecessary information to the user, and to provide a user interface that is easy to use.

  In addition, the facility type once registered as the search target item and the type information of the facility type of the facility set as the destination are accumulated in the search target item storage unit 121 and reused. It becomes possible to construct a search target item according to the usage pattern of the user.

In addition, the description content in the said embodiment is a suitable example of the navigation apparatus 1 which concerns on this invention, and is not limited to this.
For example, as an important item designating means for designating an important item from among the search target items displayed in a list, an “important button” is displayed in association with each search target item on the screen displayed in step S23, and in step S27. , If the search target item specified as an important item is not searched by operating the "important button", it is convenient to expand the search target area and search until it hits .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the screen displayed in step S23 may be able to set AND conditions and OR conditions for items to be searched. In FIG. 12, the AND condition can be set by pressing the “AND” button displayed at the bottom of the screen with the search target item for which the AND condition is to be set selected, and the search for which the OR condition is to be set. The OR condition can be set by pressing the “OR” button displayed at the bottom of the screen with the target item selected. If AND conditions are set for the nail salon and the parking lot as shown in the screen of FIG. 12, the nail salon and the parking lot are searched from the search target area, and if the corresponding facility exists, The landmark image is displayed on the screen. In addition, a multipurpose facility including a nail salon and a parking lot is searched, and if it exists, its landmark image is also displayed. For example, when a restaurant and a nail salon are AND conditions and a parking lot is an OR condition, a restaurant, a nail salon (including multipurpose facilities including these facilities) and a parking lot are searched from the search target area. If the restaurant and nail salon where the AND condition is set do not exist in the search target area, the search range is expanded, the search is performed until these facilities exist, and the landmark image is displayed on the map image. . For the parking lot for which the OR condition is set, the search is performed within the range of the search target area. If the parking lot exists within the search target area, the landmark image is displayed on the map image.

  Further, in the screen displayed in step S23, as shown in FIG. 13, a wild card may be set as a search condition. In FIG. 13, by selecting the search target item and pressing the “?” Button displayed at the bottom of the screen, a wild card “?” Can be set for the selected search target item. By pressing the “*” button displayed at the bottom of the screen with the target item selected, a wild card “*” can be set for the selected search target item. When the wild card “?” Is set, a facility having the same genre that is one level higher is set as a search target. For example, when “?” Is set for Japanese food, “Western food”, “Chinese food”, etc. included in “Restaurant”, which is one concept higher than Japanese food, are also searched. In addition, when the wild card “*” is set, “bento” included in “meal”, which is a higher-level genre, is also set as a search target. In addition, an item having a detailed type from the displayed item, for example, “restaurant”, “Japanese food”, etc., is displayed in association with a “↓” button, etc., and this button is pressed to display the details of the item. When instructed, a detailed type screen as shown in FIG. 14 may be displayed, and a search item may be selectable from the detailed type screen. FIG. 14 shows a detailed type screen displayed when the “↓” button displayed corresponding to the restaurant is pressed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, a list of landmark images of facility types that are not registered as search target items is displayed on the screen displayed in step S23, and is not registered as a search target item from this landmark list. You may make it provide the item addition means to add an item as a search object item. As a result, genres that are not yet stored in the search target item storage unit 121 can be added to the search target items with a simple operation.

  Further, when the type information is stored as the search target item in the search target item storage unit 121, the stored date and time, that is, the date and time information on which the search target item is registered is also stored, and the date and time range is set. As a means for designating, for example, an area for designating a date / time range is provided on the screen of FIG. 9, and search target items registered in the date / time range designated from the date / time range designation area are searched from the search target area. It may be. In this way, it becomes possible to narrow down the search target items based on the registered date.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of the navigation device 1 can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the navigation device 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the hierarchical structure of the classification information of a facility. It is a flowchart which shows the search object item registration process A performed by CPU11. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display in step S1 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display in step S3 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the search object item registration process B performed by CPU11. It is a flowchart which shows the search process performed by CPU11. It is a figure which shows an example of the search top menu screen displayed in step S21 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display in step S23 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display at the time of performing operation which temporarily excludes "restaurant" from a search object item on the screen shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the search result screen displayed in step S28 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the screen display in step S23 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the screen display in step S23 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the detailed classification screen displayed when detailed classification display is further instruct | indicated from the screen shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the screen display in step S23 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Navigation device 11 CPU
12 Non-volatile memory 121 Search target item storage unit 13 RAM
131 Map Information Memory 132 Guide Route Memory 133 Guide Map Memory 134 Landmark Memory 14 Input Device 15 Information Storage Device 15a HDD
151 Map DB
152 Guide map data 153 Guide voice data 154 Landmark DB
15b HDD controller 16 Position measuring device 17 Display device 17a Display controller 17b Video RAM
17c Menu generator 17d Guide route generator 17e Mark generator 17f Image synthesizer 17g Display 18 Audio generator 19 Speaker 20 Bus

Claims (8)

Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination In a navigation device that displays route information on a display unit together with a map image based on map information,
Landmark display means for displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Search target item registration means for registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
A search target item list display means for distinguishing between a list of facility types registered as search target items by the search target item registration means and a list of facility types not registered as search target items; ,
Item addition means for additionally registering the designated facility type as the search target item among the facility types not registered as the search target item displayed in a list on the display unit;
When displaying the map image on the display unit, facility display means for displaying the facility type facility registered as the search target item on the map image of the display unit,
A navigation device characterized by comprising: Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination In a navigation device that displays route information on a display unit together with a map image based on map information,
Landmark display means for displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Search target item registration means for registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
Search target item list display means for displaying a list of facility types registered as search target items by the search target item registration means on the display unit;
A non-search target setting means for setting a facility type to be temporarily excluded from search targets from the displayed facility types;
Search means for searching for a facility of a facility type that is not temporarily excluded from the search target by the non-search target setting means from among the facility types registered as the search target item from the search target range of the map information;
Search result display means for displaying a search result by the search means on the display unit;
A navigation device characterized by comprising: Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination In a navigation device that displays route information on a display unit together with a map image based on map information,
Landmark display means for displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Search target item registration means for registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
A search target item list display means for distinguishing between a list of facility types registered as search target items by the search target item registration means and a list of facility types not registered as search target items; ,
Item addition means for adding the designated facility type to the search target among the facility types that are not registered as the search target items displayed in a list on the display unit;
Search means for searching for facilities of the facility type registered and added as the search target item from the search target range of the map information;
Search result display means for displaying a search result by the search means on the display unit;
A navigation device characterized by comprising: An important item designating unit for designating a facility type to be an important item among the facility types displayed in a list by the search target item list display unit;
The search means expands the search target range until the facility type specified as the important item is searched when there is no facility of the facility type specified as the important item in the search target range. The navigation device according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein a search is performed. The search target item registration means registers the date and time information when the registration was performed,
A date and time range specifying means for specifying a range of date and time when the registration is performed;
The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the search means searches from the search target range of the map information, with the facility type registered in the designated date and time range as a search target. Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination A display method of a map image in a navigation device that displays a map image based on map information on a display unit and performs route guidance,
Based on the landmark information, displaying the map image including a landmark image of a multipurpose facility on the display unit;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, facility information of individual facilities included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
Distinguishing and displaying the list of facility types registered as the search target items and the list of facility types not registered as the search target items on the display unit;
A step of additionally registering a designated facility type as the search target item among the facility types not registered as the search target item displayed in a list on the display unit;
Displaying the facility type registered as the search target item on the map image of the display unit when displaying the map image on the display unit;
A display method comprising: Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination An information retrieval method in a navigation device that displays a map image based on map information on a display unit and performs route guidance,
Displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
Displaying a list of facility types registered as the search target items on the display unit;
A step of setting a facility type to be temporarily excluded from search targets from the displayed facility types;
From the search target range of the map information, searching for facilities of the facility type that is not temporarily excluded from the search target among the facility types registered as the search target item;
Displaying the search result on the display unit;
An information search method characterized by including: Stores map information and class information of each facility classified by genre, facility information of various facilities, position information on the map of various facilities, and individual facilities included in the facility if the facility is a multipurpose facility Information storage means for storing landmark information including facility information and type information, and setting a destination by information retrieval from the map information, and a guide route from the vehicle position to the set destination An information retrieval method in a navigation device that displays a map image based on map information on a display unit and performs route guidance,
Displaying the map image including the landmark image of the multipurpose facility on the display unit based on the landmark information;
When a landmark image of a multipurpose facility is designated from the map image, the facility information of each facility included in the multipurpose facility is displayed in a list on the display unit, and the facility selected from the displayed facility information Registering a plurality of facility types corresponding to information as search target items for information search;
Distinguishing and displaying the list of facility types registered as the search target items and the list of facility types not registered as the search target items on the display unit;
Adding the designated facility type among the facility types that are not registered as the search target items listed in the display unit to the search target;
Searching for facilities of the facility type registered and added as the search target item from the search target range of the map information;
Displaying the search result on the display unit;
An information search method characterized by including:

Images