JP4885645B2 - In-vehicle information terminal - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an in- vehicle information terminal that can be operated by selecting a menu item .

A navigation apparatus capable of reaching a menu item for executing a desired function by alternately selecting menu items having a hierarchical structure is known as a conventional technique (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-2005-207966

  In a conventional navigation device such as Patent Document 1, when a menu item for executing a desired function is provided in a deep hierarchy, it is in a lower hierarchy displayed when a menu item in an upper hierarchy is selected. It is often difficult to imagine the word of a menu item just by looking at the word of a menu item at a higher level, so it is not possible to reach or execute a menu item that performs a desired function at a deep level. Takes time. Also, it is difficult for the user to imagine what functions the navigation device has by simply looking at the menu items in the upper hierarchy.

The in-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1 includes a noun area in which a plurality of buttons are arranged corresponding to a plurality of nouns and a plurality of particles or words including particles in a display monitor having a touch panel. Phrase display control means for dividing a particle area in which buttons are arranged and a verb area in which a plurality of buttons are arranged corresponding to a plurality of verbs into respective areas and aligning each area in the order of words in a sentence and simultaneously displaying them on the same screen. Selecting a noun by designating any one button in the noun area, selecting a particle or a word including a particle by designating any one button in the particle area, and the verb area a phrase selecting means for selecting a verb by specifying any one of the buttons of the inner, by the phrase selecting means, a noun that is selected from the noun area, the And words containing the selected particle or particle than lyrics areas, and searching means for searching a menu item by combination of the verb selected verb from area, display the search menu item by said search means on said display monitor And a menu item processing control means for executing processing defined for the menu item selected from the menu items displayed by the search result display control means.

According to the present invention, a menu item for executing a desired function can be searched by selecting a noun displayed on a display monitor, a particle or a word including a particle, and a verb .

  FIG. 1 shows a navigation device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the navigation device 1, menu items can be searched by selecting a noun area button, a particle area button, and a verb area button displayed on the display monitor 16. A desired function of the navigation device 1 can be executed by pressing the searched menu item. The navigation device 1 includes a control circuit 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a current location detection device 14, an image memory 15, a display monitor 16, a speaker 17, an input device 18, a touch panel 19, a VICS (road traffic information system) information receiving unit 111, and a communication device. 112 and a disk drive 113. The disk drive 113 is loaded with a DVD-ROM 114 in which map data is stored.

  The control circuit 11 includes a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits, and performs various controls by executing a control program stored in the ROM 12 using the RAM 13 as a work area. When the control circuit 11 performs a predetermined route search process based on the map data stored in the DVD-ROM 114, the processing result is displayed on the display monitor 16 as a recommended route.

  The current location detection device 14 is a device that detects the current location of the vehicle. The current location device 14 includes a vibration gyro 14a, a vehicle speed sensor 14b, a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor 14c, and the like. The vibration gyro 14a detects the traveling direction of the vehicle, the vehicle speed sensor 14b detects the vehicle speed, and the GPS sensor 14c detects a GPS signal from a GPS satellite. The navigation device 1 determines a map display range, a route search start point, and the like based on the current location of the vehicle detected by the current location detection device 14, and displays the current location on the map.

  The image memory 15 stores image data to be displayed on the display monitor 16. This image data includes road map drawing data and various graphic data, which are appropriately generated based on the map data stored in the DVD-ROM 114. The navigation device 1 can perform map display and the like by using the image data generated in this way.

  The disk drive 113 reads map data from the DVD-ROM 114. The map data includes map display data, route search data, and the like. The map display data and the route search data include road link information and node information stored in the map data. The map display data has map data of a plurality of scales from wide areas to details, and the scale of the display map can be changed according to a user request. The map data may be read from a recording medium other than the DVD-ROM 114, such as a CD-ROM or a hard disk.

  The display monitor 16 provides the user with various information such as a road map near the vehicle position as a screen display based on various information such as map data. In addition, menu items in which various processes are defined are displayed as a list. The speaker 17 outputs sound for instructing the user to perform various input operations and for guiding the route. The input device 18 has an input switch for a user to set various commands, and is realized by an operation panel, a remote controller, or the like. The user manually sets the destination by manually operating the input device 18 in accordance with an instruction on the display screen of the display monitor 16 or a voice instruction from the speaker 17.

  The touch panel 19 is a transparent touch switch laminated on the surface of the display monitor 16, and an image displayed on the display monitor 16 is displayed through the touch panel 19. The touch panel 19 sends a signal corresponding to the operation position on the touch panel 19 to the touch panel control unit 110. Touch panel control unit 110 calculates the pressed position of touch panel 19 based on the signal.

  When the display screen of the display monitor 16 is pressed, the touch panel 19 is pressed. When the touch panel 19 is pressed at the display position of the map screen, various buttons, menu items, etc., the following processing is performed. That is, the pressed position is set as the destination, or processing defined for various buttons and menu items displayed at the pressed position is executed.

  When the destination is set by the user, the navigation apparatus 1 performs a route calculation from the current location detected by the GPS sensor 14c to the destination based on a predetermined algorithm. The route thus obtained (hereinafter referred to as a recommended route) is displayed on the screen in a manner different from other roads by changing the display form, for example, the display color. Thereby, the user can recognize the recommended route on the map on the screen. In addition, the navigation device 1 instructs the user in the direction of travel using a screen or voice so that the vehicle can travel according to the recommended route, thereby guiding the route of the vehicle.

  The VICS information receiving unit 111 receives VICS information such as traffic jam information supplied from a VICS information center (not shown) and outputs it to the control circuit 11. This VICS information is transmitted mainly by radio beacons installed on highways, optical beacons installed mainly on general roads, or FM multiplex broadcasting. Radio wave beacons and optical beacons transmit VICS information to vehicles passing near the installation site, and FM multiplex broadcasting covers a wider communication area. The navigation apparatus 1 receives the VICS information transmitted by them by the VICS information receiving unit 111.

  The communication device 112 can perform data communication using wireless means of the mobile terminal. The communication device 112 can connect to an information center (not shown) via a network and acquire traffic information from the information center.

  Next, the menu item search operation in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the embodiment of the present invention, a sentence related to a function that the user wants the navigation device 1 to execute is completed by selecting a word displayed on the display screen. A menu item having a desired function can be searched from the sentence.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a menu item search screen. When a menu item search screen display item is selected from a predetermined menu, a menu item search screen is displayed. The menu item search screen 20 includes a text display area 21, a noun area 22, a particle area 23, a verb area 24, and a single function selection area 25.

  In the text display area 21, a text display field 21a, a candidate button 21b, and a correction button 21c are displayed. In the text display field 21a, words inputted by operating buttons displayed in the noun area 22, the particle area 23, and the verb area 24 are displayed. The candidate button 21b is a button for executing a search using words input before completing a sentence to be described later and displaying the search result. The correction button 21c is a button for canceling the input by the button pressed immediately before and redoing the button. It is also possible to cancel the input with the button by pressing the pressed button again. The “corresponding xx items” displayed on the left side of the candidate button 21b displays the number of searched items “xx”.

  In the noun area 22, a “destination” button 22a, a “route” button 22b, a “map” button 22c, and a “traffic information” button 22d are displayed. These buttons 22a to 22d are buttons for inputting nouns of sentences to be created for searching. When the “destination” button 22a is pressed, the word “destination” is input, and when the “route” button 22b is pressed, the word “route” is input and displayed in the text display field 21a. When the “map” button 22c is pressed, the word “map” is input, and when the “traffic information” button 22d is pressed, the word “traffic information” is input and displayed in the character display field 21a.

  In the particle area 23, a “how to guide” button 23a, a “to” button 23b, and a “how to display” button 23c are displayed. These buttons 23a to 23c are buttons for inputting a particle particle or a word including a particle to be created for searching. When the “no guidance method” button 23a is pressed, a word including the particle “no guidance method” is input, and when the “o” button 23b is pressed, the particle “no” is input and displayed in the text display field 21a. Is done. When the “display method” button 23c is pressed, a word including the particle “display method” is input and displayed in the character display field 21a.

  Here, when the “Guidance method” button 23a is pressed, the words of the buttons 21a to 21d in the noun area 21 function as words that modify the “guidance method”. When the “O” button 23b is pressed, the words of the buttons 21a to 21d in the noun area 21 function as objects of the words of the button in the verb area described later. When the “display method” button 23c is pressed, the words of the buttons 21a to 21d in the noun area 21 function as words that modify the “display method”.

  In the verb area 24, a “search” 24a, a “register” button 24b, a “change” button 24c, a “view” button 24d, a “delete” button 24e, and an “add” button 24f are displayed. These buttons 24a to 24f are buttons for inputting a verb of a sentence to be created for searching, that is, a predicate. When the “search” 24a is pressed, the word “search” is input, and when the “register” button 24b is pressed, the word “register” is input and displayed in the character display column 21a. When the “change” button 24c is pressed, the word “change” is input, and when the “view” button 24d is pressed, the word “view” is input and displayed in the character display field 21a. Further, when the “Erase” button 24e is pressed, the word “Erase” is input, and when the “Add” button 24f is pressed, the word “Add” is input and input to the character display field 21a.

  In the single function selection area 25, buttons 25a to 25c relating to functions having only one combination of words are arranged.

  In order to search for a menu item for executing a desired function, the user performs the following operation. A description will be given assuming that the user wants to display a menu item for displaying traffic information.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the “traffic information” button 22 d is selected from the buttons 22 a to 22 d displayed in the noun area 22 and pressed. As a result, the contrast between the characters of the buttons 22a to 22c displayed in the noun area 22 other than the “traffic information” button 22a and the background changes. In addition, the contrast between the characters and the background of the buttons 23a, 24a, 24b, 24e, and 24f in the particle area 23 and the verb area 24 that cannot be selected from the “traffic information” button 22d changes.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the “O” button 23 b is selected and pressed from the buttons 23 a to 23 c displayed in the particle area 23. As a result, the contrast between the character of the “display method” button 23c and the background changes, and when the “traffic information” button 22d and the “to” button 23b are selected, the character of the button 24c in the particle area 23 that cannot be selected. The background contrast changes.

  Finally, by pressing the “view” button 24d displayed in the particle area 24, a sentence relating to the function to be executed by the navigation device 1 is completed. When the sentence is completed, menu items related to the completed sentence, that is, menu item candidate items 31 a to 31 e for displaying traffic information are displayed as a list on the search result display screen 30 as shown in FIG. . The user can operate the function of a desired menu item by pressing the candidate items 31a to 31e.

  On the search result display screen 30, list scroll buttons 32a and 32b and related buttons 33a to 33c are displayed. The list scroll buttons 32a and 32b are buttons for scrolling the list of candidate items 31a to 31e. The related buttons 32a to 33c are buttons for items related to the candidate items 31a to 31e. Here, the traffic information is displayed because there is a possibility of seeing the VICS emergency information or setting the VICS display.

  Next, search for menu items will be described. In the embodiment of the present invention, combinations of the buttons 22a to 22d in the noun area 22, the buttons 23a to 23c in the particle area 23, and the buttons 24a to 24f in the verb area 24 are predetermined. Depending on the combination, what kind of menu item is to be searched is also determined in advance. These pieces of information are stored in the ROM 12 as search data.

  For example, the “traffic information” button 22d will be described as an example with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the search data 41 for menu items. The item menu search data 41 has a combination of “O” and “View” and a combination of “Change display method” and “Change” for “Traffic information”. But there are no other combinations. When the “traffic information” button 22d is pressed, the contrast between the characters of the buttons 23a, 24a, 24b, 24e, and 24f that are not related to the combination and the background changes. Furthermore, when the “O” button 23b is pressed, the contrast between the character and the background of the “Change” button 24c that is not related to the combination of “Traffic information” and “O” changes. As shown in FIG. 4, in the search data 41 of menu items, candidate items 31a to 31e to be displayed when “Traffic information”, “O”, and “View” are selected are determined in advance. Therefore, when the “view” button 24d is finally pressed, the candidate items 31a to 31e are displayed based on the search data 41 of the menu item. Similarly, regarding the related buttons 33a to 33c, the related buttons 33a to 33b are displayed based on the search data 42 of the related buttons in FIG.

The navigation device 1 according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention has the following operational effects.
(1) The buttons 22a to 22c of the noun area 22 displayed on the menu item search screen 20, the buttons 23a to 23c of the particle area 23, and the buttons 24a to 24f of the verb area 24 are selected. Thereby, it is possible to search for a menu item that performs a desired function by a combination of a noun, a particle or a word including a particle and a verb. Therefore, a menu item provided in a deep hierarchy can be easily executed in a menu item having a hierarchical structure.

  By combining a noun, a particle or a word including a particle and a verb, most menu items of the navigation device 1 can be searched. Therefore, by using this search, almost all functions of the navigation device 1 can be operated, and convenience is improved. In addition, since the words of the menu items in the lower hierarchy that are displayed when the menu item in the upper hierarchy is selected, it is difficult to imagine just looking at the words of the menu items in the upper hierarchy. Menu items with convenient functions that were not noticed because they were set to can be activated.

  Since the search can be performed by selecting the buttons 22a to 22c of the noun area 22, the buttons 23a to 23c of the particle area 23, and the buttons 24a to 24f of the verb area 24, it is necessary to worry about what words should be used for the search. Absent.

(2) By viewing the nouns displayed simultaneously, particles or particles containing particles, and verbs, the user can easily imagine what functions the navigation system has without exploring a deep hierarchy. It becomes possible.

(3) When the buttons 22a to 22c in the noun area 22 are pressed, the contrast between the characters of the buttons 23a to 23c in the particle area 23 and the buttons 24a to 24f in the verb area 24 that cannot be selected changes, and these buttons It becomes impossible to press. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a search from becoming impossible by creating a sentence that is not established in Japanese. Moreover, the function regarding the pressed button can be grasped | ascertained among the functions which the navigation apparatus 1 has, and the convenience improves. For example, in the case of FIG. 3A, it can be understood from the display screen that the navigation device 1 has a function of viewing traffic information and a function of changing the display method of traffic information.

(4) Since the buttons 22a to 22c in the noun area 22, the buttons 23a to 23c in the particle area 23, the buttons 24a to 24f in the verb area 24, and the buttons 25a to 25c in the single function selection area 25 are displayed on one screen, navigation The user can grasp all functions of the device 1 at a time, and convenience is improved.

(5) The nouns of the buttons 22a to 22c in the noun area 22 include “destination”, “route”, “map” and “traffic information”, and the words including the particles or particles of the buttons 23a to 23c in the particle area 23 Includes “how to guide”, “to”, and “how to display”, and the verbs of the buttons 24a to 24f in the verb area 24 are “search”, “register”, “change”, “ Include "View", "Erase" and "Add". Therefore, most menu items of the navigation device 1 can be searched by combining these nouns, particles, or words including verbs and verbs.

The above embodiment can be modified as follows.
(1) The buttons 22a to 22c of the noun area 22, the buttons 23a to 23c of the particle area 23, and the buttons 24a to 24f of the verb area 24 displayed on the menu item search screen 20 are not limited to the embodiment. For example, the “destination” button may be provided in place of the “destination” button 22 a in the buttons 22 a to 22 c in the noun area 22. Instead of the “route” button 22b, a “direction” button, a “route” button, and a “how to” button may be provided. A “map” button may be provided instead of the “map” button 22c. With the buttons 23a to 23c in the particle area 23, a “no guide method” button may be provided instead of the “no guide method” button 23a. With the buttons 24a to 24f in the verb area 24, the “change” button is added instead of the “change” button 24c, the “confirm” button is replaced instead of the “view” button 24d, and the “add” button 24f is “added”. ”Button may be provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a “ni” button 23 d and a “de” button 23 e may be added to the particles in the particle area 23. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, a “return” button 24 g and a “return” button 24 h may be added to the buttons in the verb area 23. In this way, by changing or increasing buttons, it is possible to search more accurately and narrow down candidate items.

  For example, a user who wants to find a destination by scrolling a map can search for a sentence “search by map” as shown in FIG. On the other hand, on the menu item search screen 20 of FIG. Therefore, it is possible to search with an accurate sentence according to the user's purpose.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a modification area 26 for modifying words in the noun area 22 may be provided, or the number of buttons may be increased.

(2) The button may be changed by pressing the button displayed on the menu item search screen 20 twice. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, when the “O” button 23b is pressed, “O” is displayed in the character display field 21a. When the “O” button 23b is pressed again, as shown in FIG. 9B, the “O” button 23b changes to the “NI” button 23d, and the characters displayed in the character display field 21a also change from “O” to “NI”. Changes to. Accordingly, the verb may be changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the “to” button 23b changes to the “ni” button 23d, the “search” button 24a changes to the “to” button 24g, and the “see” button 24d changes to the “return” button 24h. By doing so, the types of buttons to be displayed can be increased without increasing the number of buttons displayed on the menu item search screen 20.

(3) First, the noun area button was pressed, then the particle area button was pressed, and finally the verb area button was pressed. However, the order of the buttons to be pressed is not limited to the embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, the button 23d in the particle area 23 may be pressed first. In this case, in the search data 41 of the menu item, the contrast between the characters of the buttons 22d, 24a, 24c to 24e, 24g, which do not have a combination with the “ni” button 23d, and the background changes. Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, the button 24a in the verb area 24 may be pressed first. In this case, in the search data 41 of the menu item, the contrast between the characters of the buttons 22d, 23a, 23c, and 23d that do not have a combination with the “search” button 24a and the background changes.

(4) When the buttons 22a to 22c in the noun area 22, the buttons 23a to 23c in the particle area 23, and the buttons 24a to 24f in the verb area 24 are pressed, the letters and backgrounds of the buttons that cannot be combined with the pressed button The contrast was changed. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment as long as the display mode can recognize buttons that cannot be combined. Furthermore, buttons that can be combined and buttons that cannot be combined may be recognized by changing the display mode of buttons that can be combined, such as by changing the display color of buttons that can be combined.

(5) As a result of pressing the buttons 22a to 22c of the noun area 22 and the buttons 23a to 23c of the particle area 23, there may be only one button 24a to 24f of the verb area 24 that can be combined. In such a case, the words of buttons that can be combined may be displayed lightly in the character display field 21a. It is easy to recognize that there is only one button that can be selected, and convenience is improved.

(6) The language of the button displayed on the menu item search screen 20 is not limited to Japanese. For example, English may be used as shown in FIG. In the case of Japanese, the noun area 22, the particle area 23, and the verb area 24 are displayed in order from the left as shown in FIG. However, in the case of English, the verb area 24, the preposition area 27 (substitute for the particle area 23), and the noun area 22 are displayed in order from the left in accordance with the word order of the language as shown in FIG.

(7) The buttons 22a to 22c in the noun area 22, the buttons 23a to 23c in the particle area 23, and the buttons 24a to 24f in the verb area 24 may be selected by voice input. For example, answer “traffic information” to the voice of “Please select a noun” in the navigation device 1 and “yes” to the voice of “Please select a particle or a word that includes particles”. To do. In response to the voice "Please select a verb", answer "see". Then, the search result of FIG. 3C may be displayed.

  The above description is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

The correspondence between the elements of the claims and the embodiments will be described.
The phrase display control means of the present invention corresponds to the control circuit 11, and the phrase selection means corresponds to the control circuit 11, the touch panel 19 and the touch panel control unit 110. Search means, search result display control means, and menu item processing control means correspond to the control circuit 11. In addition, the above description is an example to the last, and when interpreting invention, it is not limited to the correspondence of the component of said embodiment and the component of this invention at all.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating a menu item search screen. It is a figure for demonstrating operation for searching the menu item which displayed the traffic information. It is a figure for demonstrating the search data of a menu item. It is a figure for demonstrating the search data of a related button. It is a figure for demonstrating other embodiment of a menu item search screen. It is a figure for demonstrating the search by the menu item search screen of other embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating other embodiment of a menu item search screen. It is a figure for demonstrating the change of the button by pushing twice. It is a figure for demonstrating the menu search screen when the button of a particle area or a verb area is pressed first. It is a figure for demonstrating the menu item search screen displayed in English.

Explanation of symbols

1 Navigation device 11 Control circuit 12 ROM
16 Display Monitor 18 Input Device 19 Touch Panel 110 Touch Panel Control Unit 111 VICS Information Receiving Unit 112 Communication Device 113 Disk Drive 114 DVD-ROM

Claims (4)

A noun area in which a plurality of buttons are arranged corresponding to a plurality of nouns on a display monitor having a touch panel, a particle area in which a plurality of buttons are arranged in correspondence with a plurality of particles or words including particles, and a plurality of verbs A verb area in which a plurality of buttons are arranged correspondingly, and a phrase display control means for displaying each area simultaneously on the same screen according to the word order of the sentence by dividing each area ,
Selecting a noun by designating any one button in the noun area, selecting a particle or a word including a particle by designating any one button in the particle area, Phrase selection means for selecting a verb by designating any one button ;
Retrieval means for retrieving a menu item by a combination of a noun selected from the noun area by the word selection means , a particle selected from the particle area or a word including a particle, and a verb selected from the verb area . When,
Search result display control means for displaying the menu item searched by the search means on the display monitor;
An in-vehicle information terminal comprising: menu item processing control means for executing processing defined in a menu item selected from the menu items displayed by the search result display control means. The in-vehicle information terminal according to claim 1,
The phrase display control means, when the phrase selection means selects any of the noun, the particle or the word including the particle, and the verb, the button corresponding to the selectable phrase together with the selected phrase And a display mode of a button corresponding to a phrase that cannot be selected together with the selected phrase, and displaying the same. The in-vehicle information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 2 ,
The plurality of nouns include “destination”, “route”, “map”, and “traffic information”, and the words including the plurality of particles or particles include “indication of guidance”, “in” and “indication”. The in-vehicle information terminal characterized in that the plurality of verbs include “search”, “register”, “change”, “view”, “delete”, and “add” . The in-vehicle information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 2 ,
The plurality of nouns include “destination”, “route”, “map”, and “traffic information”, and the plurality of particles or words including particles include “on”, “ni”, “de”, “no” The plurality of verbs include “find”, “register”, “change”, “return”, “view”, “delete”, “add” and “ add ” In- vehicle information terminal characterized by including “return” .

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