JP3679288B2 - Portable map display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable map display device that displays a map and displays a route from a current location to a destination on the map screen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an example of a portable navigation device that can be used for mountain climbing, hiking or city walking, map data necessary for map display is connected to an external database (for example, the concept including PHS) via an external database (for example, connected to the Internet). In this configuration, a storage device (such as a CD-ROM drive unit) that is inevitably large in size is not required, and the overall size is reduced. Yes. In such a portable navigation device, a GPS receiver for obtaining position information indicating its current location is built in, and a route from the current location obtained by this GPS receiver to a destination input by the user Is displayed in a colored manner (in the case of monochrome display, display of a predetermined gradation or display of a predetermined pattern is performed).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In this type of portable navigation device, there is a situation that the capacity of the storage means for storing the downloaded map cannot be increased sufficiently due to cost restrictions. For this reason, the map range that can be downloaded is limited to a certain size, and the destination may be located outside the display map in some cases. In such a case, the direction of the destination cannot be accurately grasped from the map screen, and the feeling of use is greatly deteriorated.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to display a map and a route to the destination on the display, even if the displayable area by the display is limited. Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable map display device that can accurately display the display contents of route guidance and the direction of the destination on the user side, and can improve the feeling of use.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the means described in claim 1 can be employed. According to this means, since the map is displayed on the display unit and the route from the starting point position to the destination on the map is displayed, convenience is improved. In such a state where the map is displayed, the destination may be located outside the displayed map. In such a case, the destination is located at a position corresponding to the end position of the route displayed on the map . An index mark indicating the direction can be displayed. That is, on the user side, even when the destination is outside the display map, the direction of the destination is accurately associated with the end position of the displayed route based on the indicator mark displayed as described above. This makes it possible to realize an improved usability.
[0006]
According to the means described in claim 2, since the distance from the start point position to the destination is displayed together with the indicator mark on the map screen, the position of the start point and the destination is displayed on the user side. The relationship can be understood more easily, and the feeling of use is further improved.
[0008]
According to the means described in claim 3 , when the index mark is displayed at a position corresponding to the end position of the route displayed on the map as described above, the distance from the start point position to the index mark, and the index Since the distance from the mark to the destination is displayed, the user compares the distance to the destination with the displayed map (specifically, from the starting point position to the indicator mark). By comparing the route and distance with the distance from the index mark to the destination), it can be easily grasped.
[0009]
According to the means described in claim 4 , when a predetermined input operation is performed, the index mark and the distance from the start point position to the destination are displayed in the zoom-up window format on the map screen. The direction and distance to the destination can be easily confirmed.
[0010]
According to the means described in claim 5 , since the map data necessary for displaying the map on the display device is downloaded from an external database through a telephone line, the map database is stored. Therefore, it is not necessary to incorporate a dedicated storage device that increases the installation space, and as a result, the overall size can be reduced.
[0011]
According to the means described in claim 6 , since the current location indicated by the location information acquired by the location information acquisition device is automatically set as the start location, from the current location to the destination simply by inputting the destination It is possible to display the route of the user, and the operability is improved.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 2 showing the overall front appearance, a portable information terminal 1 (corresponding to a portable map display device) is provided with a rectangular main body case 1a. An LCD panel 2 (corresponding to a display) having a large display area is provided. As the LCD panel 2, for example, a monochrome type of 16 gradation display is used. A matrix-type panel-like touch switch (not shown) is formed on the entire surface of the LCD panel 2, and in particular, a plurality of switch functions (in this embodiment, the switch functions are shown on the lower edge in the figure). For example, seven icons 3a to 3g are formed by printing. Among these icons 3a to 3g, for example, the leftmost icon 3a and the adjacent icon 3b function as a menu switch and a cancel switch, respectively, and the rightmost icon 3g is turned on after a built-in microcomputer system to be described later is shut down. It is configured to function as an “off” switch for blocking.
[0013]
A power switch 4 for turning on and off the power supply is provided on the upper edge of the main body case 1 and connected to a mobile phone (shown with reference numeral 15 in FIG. 1) on the lower edge. A terminal box 1b for a data communication cable (indicated by reference numeral 14 in FIG. 1) is provided. Further, pointer switches 5 and 6 and a confirmation switch 7 each consisting of a push button switch are provided on the side edge of the main body case 1. The pointer switches 5 and 6 are switches for moving the selected icon or list up and down in order to select any icon or list displayed on the LCD panel 2. The confirmation switch 7 is a switch operated when confirming the selected icon or list.
[0014]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic internal configuration of the information terminal 1 and a peripheral configuration related thereto by a combination of functional blocks. In FIG. 1, an information terminal 1 is configured as a microcomputer system centered on a CPU 8 (corresponding to a control means). An internal bus 9 connected to the CPU 8 has a ROM 10 storing a control program and the like, a working one. A RAM 11 serving as a storage area and the LCD panel 2 are connected, and an input device 12 including a touch switch (not shown), pointer switches 5 and 6 and a confirmation switch 7 is connected. Note that voice input means for analyzing the input voice and converting it into predetermined command data can be added to the input device 12.
[0015]
The internal bus 9 is connected to a data communication device 13 serving as a mobile phone interface. The mobile phone 15 connected to the terminal box 1b via a data communication cable 14 and the Internet 16 via a mobile phone line. The dial-up connection is possible.
[0016]
Furthermore, a GPS receiving unit 17 (corresponding to a position information acquisition device) is connected to the internal bus 9. This GPS receiving unit 17 has a GPS antenna 17a for receiving radio waves from GPS artificial satellites, and the current location information (longitude) by calculation based on the coordinate position and time information obtained by analyzing the received data. And latitude information).
[0017]
The base station 18 is provided with an information server 19 connected to the Internet 16 and a database 20 storing various data such as map data and facility data. The information server 19 is connected from the information terminal 1 side. It is configured to answer back various data in the database 20 in response to the request. The information terminal 1 downloads desired map data from the database 20 through the mobile phone 15 by accessing the information server 19 through the mobile phone 15 and the Internet 16. The map data downloaded in this way Is stored in the RAM 11 and the stored map data is displayed on the LCD panel 2.
[0018]
The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows a part related to the gist of the present invention among the contents of control by the CPU 8 in the information terminal 1, and this will be described below together with related actions.
FIG. 3 shows a route guidance control routine started in response to a selection operation using a menu screen displayed on the LCD panel 2, for example, calculating a route from its current location to a destination, The contents of a route guidance control routine for displaying a route on a map (a map including its current location) displayed on the LCD panel 2 are schematically shown.
[0019]
In this route guidance control routine, the system waits until the destination is set on the destination setting menu screen for setting the destination or until one of the icons 3b corresponding to the cancel switch is operated (step S1, S2). The destination is set by, for example, an operation for designating an arbitrary point on the displayed map screen, or an operation for designating a place name, facility name, landmark name, station name, a known address, or the like. be able to. When the icon 3b is operated (“YES” in step S2), the route guidance control routine is terminated and the process returns, but when the destination is set (“YES” in step S1). The position information of the current location is acquired from the GPS receiving unit 17 (step S3), and the route calculation processing routine S4 is executed.
[0020]
In this route calculation processing routine S4, the shortest route from the current location (start position) to the destination and its distance are calculated based on the current location information and the information indicating the destination set as described above. The route data and distance data obtained by the calculation are stored in the RAM 11. The route data is in a form in which a bent locus from the current location to the destination is expressed by a plurality of vector data, for example. In addition, here, the shortest route to the destination is calculated, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the information of the stop-by destination input separately is reflected in the content of the route calculation processing.
[0021]
After the execution of the route calculation processing routine S4, it is determined whether or not the set destination is located other than the map being displayed on the LCD panel 2 (step S5). If “NO” is determined in step S5, that is, if the destination is displayed on the map screen, the route calculated by the route calculation processing routine S4 is displayed on the map screen, for example, a specific pattern or a predetermined pattern. After executing step S6 for displaying in monochrome gradation and step S7 for displaying the distance to the destination calculated in the route calculation processing routine S4 on the map screen, for example, in digital value, the process returns.
[0022]
On the other hand, if “YES” is determined in the step S5, the direction from the terminal position (the position of the screen edge) of the route displayed on the map screen to the destination is calculated (step S8). In step S8, the direction from the current location (starting point position) to the destination may be calculated. After step S8 is executed, step S9 for displaying the route calculated in the route calculation processing routine S4 on the map screen in, for example, a specific pattern or a predetermined monochrome gradation is executed, and then an index mark display step S10 is performed. Execute.
[0023]
In this index mark display step S10, as shown in FIG. 4A showing an example of the map screen displayed on the LCD panel 2, the route A displayed on the map screen (in this example, represented by a continuous dot pattern). ) Is displayed at the position corresponding to the end position of the index mark B in which the direction of the destination calculated in step S8 is expressed by an arrow. In FIG. 4A, the current location (start point position) is indicated by a triangular icon N.
[0024]
After step S10 is executed, step S11 for displaying the distance to the destination calculated in the route calculation processing routine S4 on the map screen as a digital value as shown in FIG. 4A is executed. Then return.
[0025]
In short, since the map is displayed on the LCD panel 2 and the route A from the current location to the destination on the map is displayed, the convenience is improved. In such a display state, for example, in a map as shown in FIG. 4B, when the destination P exists at a position outside the area E (area surrounded by a two-dot chain line) represented on the LCD panel 2. The indicator mark B indicating the direction of the destination P is displayed at a position corresponding to the end position of the route A displayed on the LCD panel 2.
[0026]
That is, in the state where the map is displayed on the LCD panel 2, the destination P may be located outside the display map as shown in FIG. 4B, but in such a case, the destination P Since the indicator mark B pointing to the direction is displayed, the user side of the destination P is based on the indicator mark B displayed as described above even when the destination P is outside the display map. It becomes possible to accurately grasp the direction, thereby improving the feeling of use.
[0027]
In this case, since the index mark B is displayed at a position corresponding to the end position of the route A displayed on the map, the user side grasps the direction of the destination in a state associated with the displayed route A. From this aspect, it can be expected to improve the feeling of use. Further, in this embodiment, the distance from the current location (starting position) to the destination is also displayed on the map screen together with the index mark B, so that on the user side, the positional relationship between the current location and the destination is displayed. Furthermore, it becomes possible to grasp easily and the usability is further improved.
[0028]
In this embodiment, the distance to the index mark B and the destination may be displayed only when the user desires (when the user performs a predetermined operation through the input device 12). Further, when the index mark B is displayed at a position corresponding to the end position of the route A displayed on the map, the distance from the current position to the index mark B and the distance from the index mark B to the destination P are determined. Each may be configured to display. In particular, according to this configuration, the user side compares the distance to the destination P with the displayed map (specifically, the route A and the distance from the current location to the index mark B, and the index By comparing the distance from the mark B to the destination P), it is possible to easily grasp it, so that the feeling of use can be further improved.
[0029]
Since the map data necessary for displaying the map on the LCD panel 2 is downloaded from the external database 20 through the mobile phone line, a dedicated installation space is required to store the map database. There is no need to incorporate a storage device, and the overall size can be reduced. In addition, since the current location indicated by the location information acquired through the GPS receiving unit 17 is automatically set as the start location, it is possible to display the route from the current location to the destination simply by inputting the destination. Therefore, the operability is improved.
[0030]
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, only portions different from the first embodiment will be described.
That is, in this embodiment, the display form of the index mark and the distance to the destination is different. As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 8 operates when the user performs a predetermined input operation through the input device 12. In the map screen, the index mark B ′ and the distance from the current location (start point position) to the destination are displayed in a zoom-up window format. According to this configuration, since the index mark B ′ and the distance are displayed in an easy-to-understand state, the direction and distance to the destination can be easily confirmed, and the design is improved. Become.
[0031]
(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications or expansions are possible.
The route from the current position to the destination is displayed based on the position information acquired through the GPS receiving unit 17, but the route from the start point position set by manual operation through the input device 12 to the destination can be displayed. It is also good. The mobile phone referred to in the present invention is a concept including a PHS and a car phone. The GPS receiving unit 17 may be provided as necessary. That is, for example, a configuration using a self-location search system using PHS (configuration using a PHS receiver as a location information acquisition device) is also possible.
[0032]
In addition, for example, a GPS system developed by Snap Track (head office: USA) uses a mobile phone antenna as a GPS receiver, and the GPS location information of the mobile phone system connected to the mobile phone is The GPS receiving unit 17 can be omitted if a system for measuring the current location (position of the mobile phone) is used by performing calculation / correction calculation processing. The outline of the GPS system is as follows. That is, in this system, a communication base station connected to a mobile phone is specified, an approximate position of the mobile phone is detected, and a GPS artificial satellite that can be used at that location is transmitted to the mobile phone. In this case, since the satellite to be detected can be specified on the mobile phone side, the GPS position information from the satellite can be quickly received through the antenna, and the information is transmitted to the mobile phone administrator. On the mobile phone system side that has received this, the mobile phone position calculation and correction calculation processing is performed based on the received GPS position information, and the calculation result is transferred to the mobile phone.
The map data and the like are stored in the RAM 11, but may be stored in a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory. In order to access the database 20, the Internet 16 is used. However, the database 20 may be installed in a state of being directly connected to the mobile phone base station. Further, the database 20 may be configured to be accessible through a general telephone line or a public telephone line.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an information terminal (portable map display device) and related parts according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the information terminal. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of map display and an example of map data including a display area. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of map display in the second embodiment of the present invention.
1 is an information terminal (portable map display device), 2 is an LCD panel (display), 8 is a CPU (control means), 13 is a data communication device, 17 is a GPS receiving unit (location information acquisition device), and 20 is a database. Indicates.

Claims (7)

A display capable of displaying a map;
And a control means for displaying a map on the display and calculating a route from the starting position on the displayed map to the destination and displaying it on the map screen,
When the destination is located outside the display map, the control means can execute control to display an index mark indicating the direction of the destination at a position corresponding to the end position of the route displayed on the map. A portable map display device characterized by being configured.   The portable map display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control for displaying a distance from a starting point position to a destination together with the index mark. 2. The portable map according to claim 1, wherein the control means performs control to display a distance from the starting point position to the index mark displayed on the map and a distance from the index mark to the destination. Display device. 3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when a predetermined input operation is performed, the control unit displays the index mark and a distance from the start point position to the destination in a zoom-up window format. The portable map display device described . 5. The portable map display device according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to download the map data from a database provided outside through a telephone line . It has a location information acquisition device that can acquire location information of its current location,
The portable map display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit sets a current location indicated by position information acquired by the position information acquisition device as the start point position . 7. The portable map display device according to claim 6, wherein the location information acquisition device is configured to acquire location information of its current location based on radio waves from an artificial satellite .

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