JP2001074485A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system where existing map information can be added with, deleted, or changed, etc. SOLUTION: A map is displayed, based on map information, and a course up to a destination is searched for course guide. Here, there are provided a reference point setting means for setting a plurality of reference points to be the start point or the end point of a road, a position detecting means for detecting a vehicle position, a map information generating means wherein, when a vehicle moves from any one first reference point among the plurality of reference points to a different second point by way of a road not in the map information, a road information is generated, based on the position information detected by a position detecting means, and an additional map information storage means where the road information generated by the map information generating means is stored as a part of the map information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation system for guiding a traveling route of a vehicle, and more particularly to a navigation system capable of adding, deleting, and changing existing map information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a navigation system for guiding a traveling route of a vehicle, the position of the vehicle is detected by a GPS system or the like, and collated with map information (road data) recorded on a CD-ROM or the like. The present location is specified, and a traveling route to a designated destination is searched for and guidance is provided.

[0003]

In a conventional navigation system, when map information recorded on a CD-ROM or the like is fixed and cannot be changed, a new road is opened or a facility is opened. Has the latest CD
-There was a problem that a ROM or the like had to be purchased.

[0004] Further, it is impossible to record roads and facilities below the standard in a CD-ROM or the like due to the capacity, and although it is not generally necessary, information that is highly necessary for some users is sufficient. There was a problem that can not be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation system capable of adding, deleting, and changing map information.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention displays a map based on map information,
In a navigation system for searching for a route to a destination and performing route guidance, reference point setting means for setting a plurality of reference points serving as a starting point or an end point of a road; position detecting means for detecting a position of a vehicle; Moves from a first reference point of any one of the plurality of reference points to a different second point on a road that does not exist in the map information, based on the position information detected by the position detection unit. A map information generating means for generating information, and an additional map information storing means for storing the road information generated by the map information generating means as a part of the map information.

Each time the vehicle passes on a road corresponding to the map information stored in the additional map information storage means, the corresponding road information stored in the additional map information storage means is replaced with the position information. It is characterized in that a correction means for correcting based on the position information detected by the detection means is provided.

Further, when displaying a road based on the road information stored in the additional map information storage means, the road is displayed in a form different from other roads.

[0009] The present invention is characterized in that an information deleting means for selectively deleting a part of the road information stored in the additional map information storing means is provided.

[0010] The present invention is also characterized in that there is provided road information selecting means for selecting road information used for a route search from the road information stored in the additional map information storage means.

[0011] Further, there is provided a road information selecting means for selecting road information to be used for map display from the road information stored in the additional map information storage means.

In a navigation system for providing route guidance to a destination and providing facility guidance based on facility information stored in facility information storage means, a part of the facility information stored in the facility information storage means is provided. And a facility information deleting means for selectively deleting the information.

Further, in a navigation system for providing route guidance to a destination and providing facility guidance based on facility information stored in facility information storage means, the facility information storing new facility information in the facility information storage means. It is characterized by having additional means.

Further, in a navigation system for displaying a map based on map information and searching for a route to a destination to provide route guidance, a road information stored in a map information storage means is used to obtain road information used for the route search. A road information deleting means for selectively deleting a part is provided.

Further, in a navigation system for displaying a map based on the map information and searching for a route to a destination to provide route guidance, a road information stored in a map information storage means is used to obtain road information used for map display. A road information deleting means for selectively deleting a part is provided.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a GPS receiver that receives radio waves from artificial satellites (GPS satellites) and calculates position information from the signals. Reference numeral 12 denotes a direction sensor such as a gyro sensor for detecting the traveling direction of the vehicle. Reference numeral 13 denotes a distance sensor for detecting a traveling distance of the vehicle, which uses a signal from a speedometer of the automobile. Reference numeral 14 denotes a first map database including a CD-ROM or DVD (Digital Video Disk) on which map information is recorded, a reading device thereof, and the like. Reference numeral 15 denotes a second map database in which map information added, deleted, or changed by a user is recorded.
OM (electrically rewritable memory) and the like. Reference numeral 2 denotes a vehicle position based on the position information from the GPS receiver 11, the direction data of the direction sensor 12, the traveling distance data of the distance sensor 13, and the map information of the first map database 14 and the second map database 15. A microcomputer including a current position detecting unit 21 for performing a specifying process, a route searching unit 22 for searching for a traveling route to the input destination, and a route guiding unit 23 for guiding a vehicle along the searched route; This is a control unit including a RAM, a ROM, and the like. An input 31 is an operation switch (switch for various operation instructions including a setting switch, a deletion switch, an arrow moving button by a remote controller, etc.) for performing operations such as destination setting, addition, deletion, and change of map information. Department. 4
Reference numeral 1 denotes a display unit including a liquid crystal display panel for displaying map information based on a signal from the control unit 2. Reference numeral 42 denotes an audio output unit for synthesizing audio for guidance based on an instruction from the control unit 2 and performing audio guidance using a speaker or the like.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process performed by the control unit 2 of the navigation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a flowchart of a road data collection process, and FIG. 2B is a route search and guidance process. It is a flowchart of FIG. FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams for explaining a road data acquisition method of the navigation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of a reference point setting method, and FIG. FIG. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings.
This process is repeatedly executed together with other processes while the navigation system is operating.

First, the road data collection processing is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In step S11, the current position of the vehicle is detected by the navigation system, and the process proceeds to step S12. That is, the current position detection unit 21 detects the current position of the own vehicle based on the position data and the like calculated by the GPS receiver 11. GPS in the tunnel etc.
When the radio wave cannot be received, the current position is detected by the direction sensor 12 and the distance sensor 13.

In step S12, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has reached the reference point.
The processing is terminated if the reference point has not been reached.
That is, the vehicle is set at a predetermined reference point (starting point)
(In FIG. 3A, a plurality of points A, B,
It is determined whether the vehicle has reached the reference point A by comparing the current position of the vehicle with the map data in the first map database 14 to determine whether or not C and D have reached the preset positions. Do). It is assumed that the reference point is on a road stored in the first map database 14, and there is a road set by the user and not recorded in the first map database 14 starting from the reference point, for example. It is a point near. As a method of setting the reference point, for example, map information (roads) read from the first map database 14 is displayed on the display unit 41, and an arrow is set to a point to which an arrow is to be set by a remote controller (set separately). Press the setting switch.) In this way, the reference points A, B, C, and D are automatically set in the order in which the plurality of reference points are input. In FIG. 3A,
The reference point A and the reference point B are connected by a dotted line, but the line between A and B is not necessarily a straight road, and although not shown, the reference point A is used as a starting point and other reference points (for example, point C) ) May exist.

In step S13, the position data detected every predetermined time is stored, and the flow advances to step S14. In other words, the position of the vehicle is sequentially stored in the RAM of the control unit 2 at every predetermined time (the optimum time varies depending on the radius of curvature of the road and the speed of the vehicle, for example, one second). In this way, the position data detected at predetermined time intervals according to the traveling of the vehicle is collected as new road data (latitude and longitude data or node and link data at predetermined time intervals) (stored in the memory).
Is done.

In step S14, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has reached the reference point.
To step S13 if the reference point has not been reached.
Return to That is, whether the vehicle has reached any of the preset reference points (ending points) (a plurality of points A, B, C, and D are preset in FIG. 3A). The current position of the vehicle and the first map database 1
The determination is made by comparing the map data of No. 4 (point B in this case). Even if the determination is affirmative (Y), if the reference point is the same as the storage start point (point A), the stored data is invalidated because it has returned to the original position. Also, even in the case of a negative (N) determination, if the vehicle reaches the destination before reaching any of the reference points or if the operation of the navigation system is stopped, the processing is stopped and the stored position data is invalidated.

In step S15, the storage of the position data is terminated, and the RA of the control unit 2 is used as the road data between the reference points.
Then, the process proceeds to step S16. That is, since the vehicle has reached the reference point B (end point), the collection of the position data is terminated, and the position (traveling locus) of the vehicle detected by the GPS receiver 11 at every predetermined time is set between the reference points (in this case, A- B
(In FIG. 3 (b)).
Corresponding to curve AB).

In step S16, it is determined whether there is road data that has traveled on the route between A and B in the past, and if there is road data, the process proceeds to step S17. If there is no road data, the process proceeds to step S18. That is, the reference point A
It is determined whether or not the road data traveling between and the reference point B (between AB) is stored in the second map database 15. In addition, between the reference points, from the reference point B to the reference point A
The start point and the end point may be opposite (between B and A) as in the case where the vehicle has run.

In step S17, the average value of the past road data between A and B and the new road data is obtained, and the routine goes to step S18. That is, the position data obtained by GPS or DGPS (corrected by the error data obtained separately from the position data obtained by GPS) at predetermined time intervals while the vehicle is running is different from the map data recorded on a CD-ROM or the like. There are road curves (small curves cannot be detected with position data acquired every predetermined time) and measurement errors. Therefore, the accuracy is improved by acquiring the road data obtained each time the vehicle travels on the same road (between the routes A and B), reading out the past road data stored in the second map database 15, and averaging the read road data. . As the averaging process, a weighted averaging process, for example, a method of storing a route obtained by shifting the route of the past data by 10% to the route of the new data as new road data can be considered.

In step S18, the collected road data is used as the road data between the reference points (between AB), as the second road data.
In the map database 15 (HDD).

Next, the route search and guidance processing will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In step S21, existing road data (mainly the first map database 14) is read out, and the process proceeds to step S22.

At step S22, additional road data (mainly the second map database 15) is read out, and the routine goes to step S23.

In step S23, a search for a traveling route is performed, and the process proceeds to step S24. That is, based on the existing map information read from the first map database 14 and the added map information read from the second map database 15, the route to the destination is determined in a predetermined manner, for example, by the shortest travel distance. Search for a route to become.

In step S24, the road read out from the first map database 14 and the road read out from the second map database 15 are searched for in different shapes using different colors or dotted lines, or in different colors and shapes. Display and finish the process. That is, the road data read from the first map database 14 has high reliability, and the road data read from the second map database 15 is considered to be slightly low in reliability. The road read out from the first map database 14 is displayed in black, and the road read out from the second map database 15 is displayed in blue. It is easy to determine whether or not to search.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the existing map information, the road data collected while the vehicle is running can be used, so that a route search based on the latest map information can be performed. In addition, by displaying existing roads and roads collected while driving in different colors,
It is possible to appropriately cope with an abnormality such as a deviation from the route during traveling.

In addition to the processing for adding a new road, facilities such as newly opened stores, gas stations, etc.
May be stored in the map database 15 as facility information. For example, the position of the facility to be added on the map read from the first map database 14 and displayed on the display unit 41 is matched with the arrow of the remote controller to set the position. Then, by inputting data such as the type of facility using a remote controller, a key switch or the like, the position data and the facility content data are stored in the second map database 15 in a corresponding manner. When displaying the facility information, not only the data in the first database 14 but also the data in the second database 15 are used.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process performed by the control unit 2 of the navigation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a flowchart of a road data deletion process, and FIG. 4B is a route search and guidance process. It is a flowchart of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a road display example of the navigation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
(A) is a figure showing an example which does not display a deleted road, (b) is a figure showing an example which also displays a deleted road. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings. Note that the configuration of the system according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. The road data deletion processing is executed when an operation for deleting the road data is performed, and the route search / guidance processing is repeatedly executed together with other processing while the navigation system is operating.

First, FIG. 4 shows a process of deleting road data.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In step S31, existing road data is read out and displayed on the display unit 41, and the process proceeds to step S32. That is, the first map database 14,
Existing map information (road data) is read from the second map database 15 and displayed on the display unit 41.

In step S32, the designated road is input, and the flow advances to step S33. That is, a road to be deleted is set on the map displayed on the display unit 41. For example,
On roads that are constantly congested or that pass through railroad crossings with long waiting times, they do not want to pass even if the traveling distance is short. In addition, a narrow road that is recorded in the map database but does not normally pass through may be displayed on the display unit 41, making the screen complicated and difficult to see. Therefore, such a road is input as a deletion target. As an input method, for example, the map information (road) read from the first map database 14 is displayed on the display unit 41, and the arrow is matched with the road to be deleted by the remote controller, and the arrow is deleted (separately provided deletion). Switch). Alternatively, a touch panel or the like is superimposed on the display unit 41, and by tracing a road to be deleted on the touch panel, a corresponding road position is input to the control unit 2 due to a pressure change or a capacity change.

In step S33, it is determined whether or not the input road data is in the first database 14 (CD-ROM). If the input road data is in the first database 14, the process proceeds to step S34. If not, the process proceeds to step S35 (in the second database 15). That is, it is determined in which database the road data instructed to be deleted is recorded.

In step S34, the road data to be deleted is stored in the second map database 15 as deleted data, and the process is terminated. That is, the first database 14
Is composed of a CD-ROM, and the data cannot be changed (rewritten). Therefore, the road data to be deleted is stored in a rewritable memory (second map database 15) such as an HDD (hard disk). At this time, the deleted road is not used during route search, but is used (displayed) during route display.
A deletion condition such as not using the deleted road at the time of the route search or the route display is also added.

In step S35, the corresponding road data is changed / deleted in the second map database 15, and the process ends. That is, the second database 15 is stored in the HDD
(Hard disk) and the like, and the data can be changed (rewritten), so the contents of the memory are changed or deleted. At this time, deletion conditions are added such that the deleted road is not used in the route search but is used (displayed) in the route display, and the deleted road is not used in the route search or the route display. It is also possible to completely delete the road data itself.

Next, the route search and guidance processing will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In step S41, existing road data is read, and the process proceeds to step S42. In step S42, the deleted road data stored in the second map database 15 is read out, and the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S43, a search for a travel route is performed, and the flow advances to step S44. That is, map database 1
4. A route to a destination is determined based on data obtained by removing road data to be deleted from data to be used for route search read from the second map database 15 from existing map data read from the second map database 15. A route is searched for in a predetermined method, for example, to minimize the traveling distance. A route is searched for without ignoring (using) a road that is constantly congested or a road that passes a railroad crossing with a long waiting time.

In step S44, the search route is displayed on the display unit, and the process ends. Note that, when displaying, the road deleted during the route search is not displayed (see FIG. 5A).
And the road deleted during the route search is also displayed (FIG. 5
(Refer to (b)), which is performed based on the deletion condition set in advance in the process of step S34. When the deleted roads are excluded from the existing road data and displayed, thin roads and the like deleted in the route search are deleted from the display, and there is an advantage that the screen becomes simpler and easier to see. When all the road data read from the first map database 14 and the second map database 15 are displayed, the roads deleted in the route search are also displayed. There is no risk of damage.

As described above, in this embodiment, roads that are always congested or roads that do not want to pass even if the traveling distance is short, such as passing a railroad crossing with a long waiting time, are deleted from the route search. The travel time to the ground can be reduced. Also, thin roads and the like can be deleted from the display, making the map screen easier to see.

When the map information is changed, the process of adding road data according to the first embodiment and the process of deleting road data according to the second embodiment may be performed. By doing so, it is possible to deal with road route changes due to city planning and the like. In addition to the road data deletion processing, closed stores, gas stations and other facilities may be stored in the second map database 15 as facility information to be deleted. For example, the facility information is read by matching the arrow of the remote controller with the position of the facility to be deleted on the map read out from the first map database 14 and displayed on the display unit 41 (by pressing a separately provided delete switch), so that the facility information is obtained. Can be deleted.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a navigation system capable of adding, deleting, and changing map information used for route search and map display.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process performed by a control unit 2 of the navigation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data acquisition method of the navigation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process performed by a control unit 2 of the navigation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing a road display example of a navigation system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... GPS receiver, 21 ...
Current position detection unit, 12 direction sensor,
22 route search unit, 13 distance sensor, 23 route guidance unit, 14
..First map database, 31 .... input unit,
15 ... second map database, 41 ...
Display unit, 2 ... Control unit, 42
... Audio output unit.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Nakamura 1-2-2, Goshodori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo F-term in Fujitsu Ten Limited (reference) 2C032 HB11 HC22 HD03 HD16 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB09 AB13 AC02 AC09 AC14 AC16 AC20 AD05 5H180 AA01 BB13 EE02 FF04 FF05 FF22 FF27 FF33

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A navigation system for displaying a map based on map information and searching for a route to a destination to provide route guidance, wherein a reference point setting means for setting a plurality of reference points to be a starting point or an end point of a road. Position detecting means for detecting the position of the vehicle; and the vehicle has moved to a second point different from the first reference point of any one of the plurality of reference points on a road that does not exist in the map information. In the case, map information generating means for generating road information based on the position information detected by the position detecting means, and additional map information storage for storing the road information generated by the map information generating means as a part of the map information And a navigation system. 2. Each time the vehicle passes a road corresponding to the map information stored in the additional map information storage means,
2. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit configured to correct corresponding road information stored in the additional map information storage unit based on the position information detected by the position information detection unit. 3. The display according to claim 1, wherein a road based on the road information stored in said additional map information storage means is displayed in a form different from other roads. Navigation system as described. 4. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising information deletion means for selectively deleting a part of the road information stored in said additional map information storage means. 5. The navigation system according to claim 4, further comprising road information selecting means for selecting road information used for a route search from the road information stored in said additional map information storage means. 6. The navigation system according to claim 4, further comprising road information selecting means for selecting road information used for map display from the road information stored in said additional map information storage means. 7. A navigation system for providing route guidance to a destination and providing facility guidance based on facility information stored in facility information storage means, wherein part of the facility information stored in the facility information storage means. A facility information deleting means for selectively deleting the information. 8. A navigation system for providing route guidance to a destination and providing facility guidance based on facility information stored in facility information storage means, wherein facility information newly storing facility information in said facility information storage means. A navigation system comprising additional means. 9. A navigation system for displaying a map based on map information and searching for a route to a destination to provide route guidance, wherein the road information stored in the map information storage means is used to determine the road information used for the route search. A navigation system comprising road information deleting means for selectively deleting a part. 10. A navigation system that displays a map based on map information and searches for a route to a destination to provide route guidance. A navigation system comprising road information deleting means for selectively deleting a part.