JP2005189041A - Navigation device and location registration method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device for reducing unnecessary position registration such as a short-time stoppage.
When an on / off state of an ignition key switch is detected, and when the ignition key switch changes from an on state to an off state, registration point information including current position information and date / time is registered and stored in a first memory 14a, and a new ignition is generated. When the key switch is turned on, the elapsed time from the date / time of the previously stored registration point information to the current date / time is calculated. If the elapsed time is within a predetermined time, the previous registration point information is Delete from memory. Also, if the current position when the ignition key switch is switched from the ON state to the OFF state is different from the point of the manually set registered point information where the operator stores the position information of the specific point, or the current position When the spot genre is not included in the specific genre stored as the exclusion condition, the registered spot information including the current position information is stored in the first memory.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus, and more particularly, to a navigation apparatus and a position registration method for automatically registering a current position when a vehicle is stopped.

When a driver registers his / her home or office in the navigation device of his / her vehicle, the location registration mode is set, the address of the location registration memory is specified, and the current location is the location to be registered, the navigation device input unit The latitude and longitude information obtained by the GPS device can be registered as it is. When a location different from the current location is registered, the location can be registered by specifying an address in the location registration memory and searching for the location in the destination search mode.
In the latter case, it is necessary to perform operations such as pressing the registration switch so that the cursor on the map screen displayed on the display of the navigation device is operated to the desired position on the map by operating the input unit.

However, since such an operation is complicated and time-consuming, there is a problem that the driver tends to keep away. In addition, since only the location registered by the driver is stored and saved, it is convenient if you register the location on the spot when you want to know the location later in the past. Otherwise, we could not confirm.
It is also troublesome for the driver to always register at each location in consideration of the later.

In order to easily register the position, there has been proposed a navigation device that automatically stores and saves the position at the time when the ignition key switch is turned on / off as a registration point (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-10-176929

However, with the method of automatically storing and saving the position at the time when the ignition key switch is turned on / off as a registered point, for example, a short stop at a gas station or a convenience store, or a pick-up at a station, etc. There is a problem that a point unnecessary for the driver is registered.
In addition, there has been a request that unnecessary registration should be reduced from the capacity of the memory.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that reduces unnecessary location registration such as a short-time stoppage.

For this reason, the present invention detects the on / off state of the ignition key switch, and stores the registered location information including the current position information and the date and time in the first memory when the on / off state is changed to the new state. When the ignition key switch is turned on, the elapsed time from the date and time of the previously stored registration point information to the current date and time is calculated. If the elapsed time is within a predetermined time, the previous registration point information is Removed from memory.
Further, the position information of the point specified by the operator is stored in the second memory as manually set registered point information, and the current position when the ignition key switch is turned off and the manually set registered point information is stored. When the current position is not included within a predetermined distance from the point indicated by the manually set registered point information, the registered point information including the current position information is stored in the first memory. It was supposed to be memorized.
Further, the genre at the point specified by the operator is stored in the third memory as an exclusion condition, and stored in the map information storage unit based on the current position when the ignition key switch changes from the on state to the off state. The point data is searched, the genre corresponding to the current position is read, and when it is not included in the specific genre stored as the exclusion condition, the registered point information including the current position information is stored in the first memory. .

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent registration of points that have stopped for a one-time stop, points that have already been manually registered by the operator, and points of unnecessary genres that have been specified by the operator, thereby reducing unnecessary position registration. .
As a result, the capacity of the memory for location registration can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an in-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In this vehicle-mounted navigation device, a display 2 is mounted on the upper center of an instrument panel (not shown) of the vehicle, and an input unit 6 is attached to an operation panel (not shown) provided in the vicinity thereof. The display 2 displays a navigation image such as an operation menu or a map on the screen, and is connected to a navigation ECU 1 attached to a vehicle body base (not shown) via a signal line.

The in-vehicle navigation device searches for map data based on latitude data, longitude data, altitude data, etc. representing the current position of the vehicle, and centers the current position based on the map data. On the display 2, and search and set the destination, then search for the optimal route from the starting point or the current location to the destination, set the route, and provide appropriate guidance along with the map A navigation function of displaying on the display 2 is provided.
Such an in-vehicle navigation device includes an input unit 6, a display 2, an external storage device 3, a GPS device 4, a speaker 5, an input unit 6, an external storage device 3, and a GPS device 4. The navigation ECU 1 controls the display 2 and the speaker 5 based on the data.
This navigation device is configured to receive an on / off signal from the ignition key switch 7, and when the ignition key switch 7 is turned on, the internal components of the device are automatically activated. When the ignition key switch 7 is turned off, the internal components of the apparatus are automatically shut off after performing predetermined information processing.

The configuration of each part will be described in detail below.
The display 2 is a display device such as a CRT or LCD, and displays a road map and various messages. The speaker 5 outputs voice guidance and various message sounds.
The GPS device 4 receives radio waves from an artificial satellite (NAVSTAR) for GPS (Global Positioning System), and displays latitude data, longitude data, altitude data indicating the position of the reception point (ie, current position). Speed data representing the moving speed of the receiving point (that is, the traveling speed of the vehicle) and azimuth data representing the moving direction are calculated and input to a navigation control unit 11 (to be described later) of the navigation ECU 1.

  The input unit 6 is attached to an operation panel (not shown) and includes a switch used by an operator to input various instructions. For example, the current position is displayed on the display 2 together with the map, and the current position switch 6a for outputting a voice guidance from the speaker 5, the item indication position of the cursor on the operation menu screen during destination search / setting, etc. A cursor switch 6b to be moved, a decision switch 6c for inputting and operating a menu item selection instruction, a return switch 6d for canceling the decision operation and returning to the previous operation, a menu switch 6e for displaying the main menu on the display 2, A scale changeover switch 6f for instructing display of a wide area or details in map display, and other switches are provided.

  The external storage device 3 is composed of, for example, a DVD-ROM disk as a storage medium storing various data in advance and a DVD-ROM drive for reading data stored in the DVD-ROM disk. . Further, the DVD-ROM disc of the external storage device 3 stores map data for displaying a map on the display 2, address data representing information on the address of each point, and the like.

In addition, information on points registered in advance is classified by predetermined genre such as “transportation”, “food”, “accommodation”, “sports”, “shopping”, “leisure”, etc. Is remembered.
For such point data, the genre name is displayed as a menu on the display 2, index data for searching the genre-specific point name data classified for each genre, and the selected point name as a menu on the display 2. And point location information data for searching for map data for map display centered on the point.
Further, the index data of the point data is configured to be searchable from facility name, telephone number, address, etc. in addition to the search by genre.

The navigation ECU 1 includes a navigation control unit 11 including a CPU, a first memory 14a, a second memory 14b, and a third memory 14c, which are rewritable nonvolatile memories such as a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a backup RAM, or a flash memory. The display control unit 25 controls the display of information on the display 2, and the audio control unit 26 controls the conversion of audio output information to the speaker 5 into an audio signal.
The ROM 12 stores a program for the navigation device. The RAM 13 temporarily stores data being processed by the navigation control unit 11.

  The navigation control unit 11 executes a main routine (not shown) of the navigation control process in addition to the peripheral map display based on the current position information from the GPS device 4, and when the menu switch 6e of the input unit 6 is turned on, the navigation control unit 11 When the menu screen is displayed and an item is selected by operating the cursor movement switch 6b and the decision switch 6c in this state, auxiliary functions such as destination search / setting and travel route search / setting are executed.

In order to execute such an auxiliary function, the navigation control unit 11 searches for a destination from point data in the external storage device 3 when the operator operates the input unit 6 to perform a destination search. Unit 21, destination setting unit 22 for setting the searched destination as a destination of the travel route, searching for a travel route from the current position to the set destination, and presenting and selecting the selected travel to the operator A travel route setting unit 23 for storing and storing a route, a clock / calendar unit 24 for timing the current date and time, a current position to be registered or a point other than the current location to be registered, and registered in the second memory 14b as manually set registration point information A manual position registration unit 20 is provided.
Note that the manually set registration point information includes, for example, latitude and longitude data and a registered name input and set by the operator.

The navigation control unit 11 further includes an automatic position registration unit 31 and an exclusion condition setting unit 32.
When receiving an off signal from the ignition key switch 7, the automatic position registration unit 31 writes the registration point information in the first memory 14a in a predetermined format.
Information written as registration point information is (1) the date and time when the engine is stopped, and (2) current position information (latitude and longitude data) when the engine is stopped.

The exclusion condition setting unit 32 sets an exclusion condition on the operation menu screen by the operator operating the input unit 6 in advance so as not to automatically register the registration point information or to delete the registered information once. Then, it is registered in the third memory 14c.
The exclusion conditions are (1) a predetermined time T1 for determining a temporary stop, (2) a distance from a point already registered as manually set registration point information, and (3) a genre that does not require a specific registration of the point.

The flow of control for automatically registering and accumulating the current position information at the time of stopping as registered point information will be described below.
2 and 3 are flowcharts showing the flow of control for automatic storage of registration point information. This control is mainly processed as a program in the automatic position registration unit 31 in the navigation control unit 11.

In step 101, the navigation device detects that the ignition key switch 7 has been turned on, proceeds to step 102, and activates the internal components. If it is not detected that the ignition key switch 7 is turned on, step 101 is repeated.
In step 103, the previous registration point information is read from the first memory 14a.
In step 104, the current position is acquired from the GPS device 4, and in step 105, the elapsed time Δt is calculated from the current date and time and the date and time of the previous registration point information.

In step 106, it is checked whether or not the elapsed time Δt is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time T1 and the same position as the previous registration point information. If it is within the predetermined time T1 stored in the third memory 14c at the same position, the process proceeds to step 107, and if not, the process proceeds to step 108.
The predetermined time T1 is, for example, 30 minutes in consideration of a little shopping or a restroom. Further, whether the current position is the same is determined by considering the position calculation accuracy, for example, if the difference is within 10 m, the position is the same.

In step 107, the previous registration point information stored in the first memory 14a is deleted as a temporary stop for the previous engine stop. After step 107, the process proceeds to step 1110.
In step 108, it is checked whether or not the current position is the same as the position of the previous registration point information. If they are the same, the process proceeds to step 109, and if they are different, the process proceeds to step 110.
In step 109, the elapsed time Δt is additionally written as the stop time in the previous registration point information. After step 109, the process proceeds to step 110.

Steps 103-106 and 107 determine the registration point information stored at the time of the previous stop, whether it is a temporary stop or arrival at the destination from the elapsed time (stop time) from the engine stop to the next engine start. In the former case, it is deleted, and in the latter case, it is stored as it is.
As a result, for example, if you go to a supermarket and only stop for about 15 minutes, the registration point information stored in the first memory 14a at the time of stopping about 15 minutes ago is deleted as unnecessary location registration. Will not be saved. On the other hand, for example, if you arrive at a tourist hotel at 21:00 on September 12, turn off the ignition key switch 7, and turn on at 10:00 on September 13, the elapsed time will be 13 hours. The registration point information stored when the vehicle stopped the night before is stored in the first memory 14a as it is.

In step 110, it is checked whether or not the ignition key switch 7 is turned off. If not turned off, step 110 is repeated. If the ignition key switch 7 is turned off, the process proceeds to step 111.
In step 111, the current position information is acquired from the GPS device 4, and the current date and time are acquired from the clock / calendar unit 24.

In step 112, the manually set registration point information stored in the second memory 14b is searched, and the current position is not included within a predetermined distance, for example, within 100 m from any point of the already registered manual setting registration point information. Check whether or not.
If not included, the process proceeds to step 113. If included, the process proceeds to step 116.
As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), when the home location is manually set and registered as the home position, and when the car is actually in the monthly parking lot 30m away, it is returned from the company and parked. Suppose you parked your car at the parking lot. As the manually set registration point information, the registered place name and the latitude and longitude data as position information as shown in FIG. 4B are registered, so the home near the current position from the registered manual set registration point information. The latitude and longitude data are searched to check whether the distance between the current position and the registered home position is within 100 m. In this case, since it is included within 100 m, the process proceeds to step 116 without being stored as the registration point information.

In step 113, a genre such as a facility or a store corresponding to the current position is searched from the point data associated with the current position of the map data in the external storage device 3.
In step 114, it is checked whether or not the genre corresponding to the current position searched in step 113 is included in the genre stored in the third memory as an exclusion condition. If it is included, the process proceeds to step 116, and if it is not included, the process proceeds to step 115.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, it is assumed that the vehicle stops in front of a convenience store (convenience store). Based on the current position, the map data of the external storage device 3 checks whether there is a facility or store corresponding to a genre that does not require registration within a circle at a predetermined distance from the current position, for example, a radius of 10 m. The predetermined distance of 10 m is preferably set according to the positional accuracy of the navigation device.

The registration genre setting method may be set in a large category such as “restaurant”, “retail store”, “gas station”, or “family restaurant (family restaurant)” in restaurants. The middle classification, or a small classification such as a specific chain store name such as “XX restaurant” may be used. The setting is set by the user in accordance with the contents of creation of the genre division index of the information registered as the point data in the external storage device 3 and the size that the user wants to exclude as the registration unnecessary genre.
FIG. 5B shows an example of setting the registration-unnecessary genre in the case of major classification, middle classification, and minor classification.
Here, since a convenience store (convenience store) is included as a genre that does not require registration, the registration point information is not stored when the vehicle stops, and the process proceeds to step 116.

In step 115, the current position information and date / time are stored in the first memory as registered point information. After step 115, the process proceeds to step 116.
In step 116, the internal components of the navigation device are shut off.
As described above, when the engine is stopped, the navigation device detects that the ignition key switch 7 is turned off, writes registration point information as necessary, and then automatically shuts off the navigation device.

The registered spot information stored in this way is displayed on the display 2 by operating the input unit 6 and selecting one item “driving history” of the operation menu screen.
At this time, first, the date and position information (latitude and longitude data) of the registration point information in the first memory 14a is read out. The navigation control unit 11 searches the map data, point data, and the like in the external storage device 3 based on the position information, and acquires the address, the name of the facility around it, and the store name.
Finally, the date / time, day of the week, place, name of surrounding facility, store name (peripheral facility), and stop time of each registered point information are displayed in a list. An example of the display is shown in FIG.
When specific registered spot information is instructed by moving the cursor, a map around the registered spot information is displayed, and the registered spot is indicated by a marker M therein.
This display can be selected either in order of date and time or in order of the distance from the current location.

  The external storage device 3 of the present embodiment constitutes a map information storage unit of the present invention, and the GPS device 4 constitutes a current position detection unit. Also, steps 101 and 110 in the flowchart constitute on / off detection means of the present invention, and steps 103 to 109 and steps 111 to 115 constitute position registration means. In particular, step 105 constitutes time calculation means, step 107 constitutes registered spot information deleting means, and step 112 constitutes registered spot comparison means.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the stop time at the same point is confirmed from the position information and date / time of the registration point information when the ignition key switch 7 was previously turned off and the position information and date / time when the ignition key switch 7 was turned on this time. When the stop time is shorter than the predetermined time T1, since it is deleted from the registered point information as a temporary stop, accumulation of useless registered point information is prevented. Also, if you are looking around multiple souvenir shops and repeatedly moving for a short distance or stopping for a short time, it is not possible to delete registration point information that is different from the current position when the ignition key switch 7 is turned on. Is done.

In addition, since it is stored as registered point information after confirming that it is not included in the predetermined range from the point indicated by the manually set registered point information already entered by the user, In homes, companies, etc., registration point information is not accumulated, and accumulation of useless registration point information is prevented.
Furthermore, since the user inputs a genre that does not need to be registered in the exclusion condition setting unit 32 and confirms that it is not a store or facility corresponding to the genre that does not require registration, the current location is stored as registration point information. For example, even if a convenience store or a gas station that is set as a registration-unnecessary genre is stopped for a long time, it is not accumulated as registration point information, and accumulation of useless registration point information is prevented.

As described above, each time the vehicle is automatically stopped (ignition key switch 7 is turned off), the registration point information can be efficiently accumulated while automatically eliminating unnecessary points.
Since accumulation of useless registration point information is prevented, the capacity of the first memory 14a can be saved.

The registration point information stored in this way is mainly used as an operation history. In general, when driving after setting the destination, the destination setting history is stored in the navigation device, and it was possible to check the location later, Even if you go to a first place without setting a destination, or if you are traveling with a destination set, if you stop by a specific place on the way, you can check that place later could not.
According to the present embodiment, such a case can be confirmed later.

In the above embodiment, when the vehicle is stopped within a predetermined distance from the point registered as the manually set registration point information, the registered point information is not stored. As shown in the rightmost column, a registration unnecessary range may be set for each piece of manually set registration point information.
When the registration unnecessary range is not input, a preset value, for example, 100 m is used.
By individually setting in this way, the location is not automatically registered within, for example, a wide range of 5000 m from the registered point in the home where the geography is well known, in the vicinity of the home A, and is narrower in the home B which is not guided by the geography. It is possible to switch the distance to exclude automatic registration in such a way that automatic position registration is not performed only within the range.

In the embodiments, the first memory, the second memory, and the third memory have been described separately. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one non-volatile memory may be used by dividing the area.
Further, the on / off detection means checks the on / off signal of the ignition key switch 7, but is not limited thereto, and may check the on / off signal of the power switch of the navigation device.
For example, the main power supply of the navigation apparatus is controlled by a power supply control circuit that is always in an operating state. An on / off signal from the power switch of the navigation device is input to the power control circuit, and the power control circuit controls the relay switch that turns on / off the main power.
When the power switch of the navigation device is turned off from on, the power control circuit inputs a power switch off signal to the navigation control unit 11, and the power control circuit from the navigation control unit 11 automatically The main power supply is shut off by the relay switch for the first time after receiving the completion signal of the location registration process.

It is a figure which shows the structure of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of control of automatic accumulation | storage of registration point information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of control of automatic accumulation | storage of registration point information. It is a figure explaining manual setting registration point information. It is a figure explaining a registration unnecessary genre. It is a figure of the example of a display of driving history information. It is a figure explaining the example which added the registration unnecessary range to the manually set registration point information.

Explanation of symbols

1 Navigation ECU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Display 3 External storage device 4 GPS apparatus 5 Speaker 6 Input part 6a Present location switch 6b Cursor movement switch 6c Determination switch 6d Return switch 6e Menu switch 6f Scale change switch 7 Ignition key switch 11 Navigation control part 12 ROM
13 RAM
14a 1st memory 14b 2nd memory 14c 3rd memory 20 Manual position registration unit 21 Destination search unit 22 Destination setting unit 23 Travel route setting unit 24 Clock / calendar unit 25 Display control unit 26 Voice control unit 31 Automatic Location registration unit 32 Exclusion condition setting unit

Claims (9)

In a navigation device comprising a current position detection unit for detecting a current position of a mobile body, a map information storage unit storing map data and point data, and a display for displaying a map around the current position,
A first memory for storing registration location information including current location information and date and time;
An on / off detection means for detecting an on / off state of the ignition key switch;
A location registration means for storing the registration point information in the first memory when the on state is turned off;
The position registration means calculates a time elapsed from the date and time of the previously stored registration point information to the current date and time when the position registration means is newly turned on, and an elapsed time by the time calculation means is predetermined. And a registered point information deleting unit that deletes the previous registered point information from the first memory when the time is within the time. In a navigation device comprising a current position detection unit for detecting a current position of a mobile body, a map information storage unit storing map data and point data, and a display for displaying a map around the current position,
A first memory for storing registration point information including current position information;
An on / off detection means for detecting an on / off state of the ignition key switch;
Position registration means for storing the registration point information in the first memory when the on state is changed to the off state;
A second memory that stores position information of the point specified by the operator as manually set registration point information;
The position registration means includes registered point comparison means for comparing the current position when the on state is changed to the off state and the point stored as the manually set registration point information, and the registered point comparison As a result of comparison by means, if the current position is not included within a predetermined distance from the point indicated by the manually set registered point information, the current position is stored in the first memory as the registered point information. A navigation device characterized by the above. In a navigation device comprising a current position detection unit for detecting a current position of a mobile body, a map information storage unit storing map data and point data, and a display for displaying a map around the current position,
A first memory for storing registration point information including the current position;
An on / off detection means for detecting an on / off state of the ignition key switch;
Position registration means for storing the registration point information in the first memory when the on state is changed to the off state;
A third memory for storing the genre of the point specified by the operator as an exclusion condition;
The point data includes information indicating the genre of the point,
The position registration means searches the point data stored in the map information storage unit based on the current position, reads the genre corresponding to the current position, when the state is changed from the on state to the off state, as the exclusion condition The navigation apparatus, wherein the current position is stored in the first memory as the registered spot information when the current position is not included in the stored specific genre. And a second memory for storing the position information of the spot specified by the operator as manually set registration spot information,
The position registration means includes registered point comparison means for comparing the current position when the on state is changed to the off state and the point stored as the manually set registration point information, and the registered point comparison As a result of comparison by means, if the current position is not included within a predetermined distance from the point indicated by the manually set registered point information, the current position is stored in the first memory as the registered point information. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein And a third memory for storing the genre of the point specified by the operator as an exclusion condition,
The point data includes information indicating the genre of the point,
The position registration means searches the point data stored in the map information storage unit based on the current position, reads the genre corresponding to the current position, when the state is changed from the on state to the off state, as the exclusion condition 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the current position is stored in the first memory as the registration point information when the current position is not included in the stored specific genre. In a navigation device comprising a current position detection unit for detecting a current position of a mobile body, a map information storage unit storing map data and point data, and a display for displaying a map around the current position,
A first memory for storing registration location information including current location information and date and time;
An on / off detection means for detecting an on / off state of the ignition key switch;
Position registration means for storing the registration point information in the first memory when the on state is changed to the off state;
A second memory for storing position information of the point specified by the operator as manually set registration point information;
A third memory for storing the genre of the point specified by the operator as an exclusion condition;
The point data includes information indicating the genre of the point,
The position registration means calculates a time elapsed from the date and time of the previously stored registration point information to the current date and time when the position registration means is newly turned on, and an elapsed time by the time calculation means is predetermined. Is stored as the registered point information deleting means for deleting the previous registered point information from the first memory, the current position when the on state is changed to the off state, and the manually set registered point information. A registered point comparison means for comparing
When the current state is not included within a predetermined distance from the point indicated by the manually set registered point information, and the current position If the location data stored in the map information storage unit is searched and the genre corresponding to the current location is read and not included in the specific genre stored as the exclusion condition, the current location information and date Is stored in the first memory as the registration point information. Detects the on / off state of the ignition key switch,
When the on state is changed to the off state, the registration point information including the current position information and the date and time is stored in the first memory,
When the ignition key switch is newly turned on, the elapsed time from the date / time of the previously stored registration point information to the current date / time is calculated, and if the elapsed time is within a predetermined time, the previous registration point A location registration method in a navigation device, wherein information is deleted from the first memory. Detects the on / off state of the ignition key switch,
The location information of the point specified by the operator is stored in the second memory as manually set registration point information,
A comparison is made between the current position when the ignition key switch is switched from the on state to the off state and the point stored as the manually set registered point information, and as a result of comparison, the current position is the manually set registered point information. A location registration method in a navigation device, wherein registration location information including the current location information is stored in a first memory when the location is not included within a predetermined distance from the location indicated by. Detects the on / off state of the ignition key switch,
The genre of the point specified by the operator is stored in the third memory as an exclusion condition,
When the ignition key switch changes from the on state to the off state, the point data stored in the map information storage unit is searched based on the current position, the genre corresponding to the current position is read, and stored as the exclusion condition A location registration method in a navigation device, wherein registration location information including the current location information is stored in a first memory when it is not included in the specified genre.

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