JP2002318133A - Spot specifying method, device, and map display method and device using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily specify a spot and to specify the spot immediately based on a new map when only the map is updated. SOLUTION: A national map is divided into zones of 900-second square, each zone into blocks of 30-second square, and each block into units 1-second square so that areas on the map can be specified in the hierarchical manner. 3-digit zone code is defined to each zone, 3-digit block code to each block according to the relative positional relation in the zone, and 3-digit unit code to each unit according to the relative positional relation in the block. A lower numbers in the code system is allocated to a zone code constituting a unique code corresponding to a predetermined area so that the substantial number of digits is made relatively smaller. And a corresponding unit square and a unique code are calculated backward from the area on the displayed map, and the unique code is output.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for specifying a point and a method and an apparatus for displaying a map using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been known a method of inputting latitude and longitude when a point is to be specified in a car navigation device, for example. Recently, a method has also been adopted in which the correspondence between telephone numbers and addresses and buildings is also stored in a map database, and a point is specified by inputting a telephone number (Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7 (1994)). −604
No. 79).

Further, points on a road (intersections, road starting points,
A method of assigning a registration number to each of the arbitrary points between intersections) and specifying a point by using the registration number has also been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-88735).

[0004]

However, in the method of specifying a point by latitude and longitude, it is necessary to input binary parameters of latitude and longitude, which makes the input complicated. Also, 2
Since the original parameters are used, if the input order is incorrect, the position is erroneously specified. Therefore, there is a problem that operability is poor.

In the method of specifying a point by a telephone number or an address, a relation between a telephone number, a building, etc., and a map must be stored in a database in advance. There is a problem that it is not possible to specify a point based on the above information. The method of specifying a point by a registration number has a similar problem in that a database must be updated when a new road is formed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily specify a point, and to update a map alone to immediately specify a point or to display a map near the point based on a new map. The purpose is to be able to.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the unique code is unified, it is not necessary to enter the code twice, such as latitude and longitude, and the order is incorrect. There is no mistake in identifying the location. The term “one element” as used herein means a one-dimensional linear equation or one element in mathematics.
This is the same meaning as the one element when it is called an element quadratic equation,
It means that there is one parameter.

Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a code is not attached to the map itself, but a code is attached to the unit cell of the mesh. No need to add or change codes even if a road is created. Here, it is desirable that the unit cell set here is a cell that is small enough to specify a point on the map. For example, if an area of several tens of meters square is set as a unit cell, a point can be specified within a range of several tens of meters square, and there is no problem even if it is a point in practical use. In other words,
In the present invention, it can be said that it is desirable to define a unit cell of a sufficiently small size so that a point can be specified.

[0009] According to the first aspect of the present invention, for the unique code of a unit cell corresponding to a predetermined area on the map, the effective number of digits is allocated by assigning a young number in the code system of the unique code. Is defined to be relatively small. By doing so, the number of digits of the unique code itself corresponding to the predetermined area is reduced as a whole. In this case, the predetermined area may be, for example, an area in which a request for specifying a point is high, for example, an urban area.

If the number of digits is defined as described above, the trouble of inputting the unique code is reduced, which is convenient for the user. Note that, for example, “123456
789 ”and“ 000456789 ”formally have the same number of digits in both 9 digits, but if you configure the system so that the later code can omit the leading“ 000 ”when inputting This means that the number of digits is substantially different.
The substantial number of digits in the present invention has such a meaning,
This refers to the number of digits taking into account the trouble of inputting the code.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a corresponding unit cell is calculated backward from an area on the map displayed on the map display screen, and the unique code is calculated backward from the calculated unit cell. The inversely calculated unique code is output. In this way, the unique code can be used to inform other people of a point that has been visited once, and if the navigation system adopting the method of the present invention is used, the destination can be accurately communicated. It is possible to do.

Also, as in claim 2 of the present invention, claim 1
In this case, if the unit cells have the same size, there is an advantage that the map is updated and the size of the unit for specifying the point on the map does not change even if the number of target buildings increases. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-88735, a method is used in which a portion other than a road is specified by assigning a code number to a cell whose size is changed between the county and the city. There is a problem that a point can be specified only in a wide area, and it becomes difficult to specify the point when a plurality of buildings and the like are separated from each other in the large square in the future. On the other hand, according to the method of the present invention, since the unit cells have the same size, there is no such a problem as long as the cells are defined with a sufficiently small size as described above. Therefore, there is an advantage that an error in the designation of a point can be made uniform.

It is preferable that the present invention is configured as in claim 3 of the present invention.

Specifically, the unique code may be defined such that the large cell code is the upper digit and the small cell code is the lower digit. Of course, the unique code may be defined by other combinations such as defining the relationship between the upper digit and the lower digit in reverse. The number of hierarchies is not limited to two, but may be increased to three, four,..., For example, by defining a plurality of large squares as one extra-large square. Also, the small squares and / or the large squares may or may not all be of uniform size.

In this method, the same operation and effect as those of the method described first can be obtained. That is, since the location can be specified by the unified unique code, the designation is easy, and
Since the map and the code are separated, even if the map is changed, the code does not need to be changed, and the point can be always specified on the latest map, which is the same as the method described first.

In the above method, since the number of digits of the unique code corresponding to a predetermined area can be reduced, for example, an area such as a city center where a specific request for a spot is high is defined to have a small number of digits. In the above, the trouble of inputting the unique code is reduced, which is convenient for the user.However, in the case of this method, the unique code is configured by combining the small cell code and the large cell code. In addition, with respect to the large cell code constituting the unique code, the actual number of digits is relatively reduced by allocating a young number in the code system of the large cell code. As described above, since the number of digits of the large cell code is reduced, the number of digits of the entire unique code corresponding to the predetermined area can be reduced as in the above-described method. If the number of digits is defined so as to be small, the trouble of inputting the unique code is reduced, which is convenient for the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a corresponding unit cell is calculated backward from an area on the map displayed on the map display screen, and the unique code is calculated back from the calculated unit cell. The inversely calculated unique code is output. In this way, the unique code can be used to inform other people of a point that has been visited once, and if the navigation system adopting the method of the present invention is used, the destination can be accurately communicated. It is possible to do.

The third aspect of the present invention has the following advantages over the first-described method. In the method that also employs the large squares, it is preferable that the small square code is defined according to a common rule between the large squares. In this case, it is desirable that the large squares have the same size. In this way, codes are regularly attached to a large number of small cells,
It is also possible to formulate.

Also, as in claim 5 of the present invention, claim 1
In any one of the above items 4 to 4, the output unique code can be transmitted to the outside by mounting it on a communication line.

When these methods of the present invention are applied to map display, they can be configured as in claim 6.

In the map display method according to the sixth aspect, when a large square is specified by the large square code as in the seventh aspect, an area covered by the specified large square is included. It is better to display a map. As a result, hierarchical map display can be easily performed, and furthermore, since all of them can be designated by codes, there is an advantage that complicated designation and errors such as latitude and longitude do not occur.

Also, as in claim 8 of the present invention, claim 6
Alternatively, in step 7, the output unique code can be transmitted to the outside by placing it on a communication line.

In order to implement such a method for specifying a point according to the present invention, it is preferable to use a point specifying device as defined in claims 9 and 10.

According to these devices, when specifying a point, the point is specified in such a flow that a unit cell is specified from the unique code and an area on the map is specified from the unit cell. One feature of these devices is that a unique code is defined in a unit cell defined separately from the map, and the correspondence between the map and the unit cell is defined. Therefore, when the map is changed, the unique code is used. There is no need to change until.

In particular, when a unit cell is represented by map coordinates, the correspondence between the map and the unit cell is determined by itself, and there is no need to use a table or the like, so that the storage capacity load on the apparatus embodying the present invention is not increased. There is an advantage.
Further, the unique code defining means assigns a relatively small number of digits to the unique code of the unit cell corresponding to the predetermined area in the map by assigning a smaller number in the code system of the unique code. Therefore, the number of digits as a whole unique code corresponding to a predetermined area can be reduced, and for example, an area having a high location specific request such as a city center is defined to have a small number of digits. After all, the trouble of inputting the unique code is reduced, which is convenient for the user.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the point specifying device, wherein the unit cell is specified based on a screen for displaying a map, and a map displayed on the screen and the definition of the correspondence definition means. Then, a unique code is specified based on the specified unit cell and the definition content of the unique code defining means, and a unique code output means for outputting the specified unique code is provided. It is easier to convey information on points. In this apparatus, the processing is performed in a flow reverse to that in the case of the point specification of the map → the unit cell → the unique code.

Further, in the point specifying device according to the ninth or tenth aspect, if the unit cells have the same size as in the eleventh embodiment, the same advantages as those described in the case of the above-described point specifying method can be obtained. is there. That is, even if the map is updated and the number of target buildings and the like increases, the size of the unit that can specify a point on the map does not change. Therefore, for example, when a code number is assigned to a square whose size has been changed between the county and the city, the target point can be identified only in a wide range in the county of the large square. There is a problem that it is difficult to identify points when multiple buildings are separated from each other, but since the unit cells are the same size, there is no such problem as long as the cells are defined with a sufficiently small size . Furthermore, since all points on the map can be specified with the same size, errors in specifying the points can be made uniform.

Further, the point specifying device according to any one of claims 9 to 11 may be configured as in claim 12. In the twelfth aspect, if the unique code defining means defines the small cell code according to a common rule among the large cells, the code can be assigned according to the rule.

Further, as in claim 14 of the present invention, in any one of claims 9 to 13, the output unique code can be transmitted to the outside by mounting it on a communication line.

In order to realize the map display method of the present invention, it is preferable to use a map display device according to the present invention.

Alternatively, a map display device as described in claim 16 may be used.

Also, as in claim 17 of the present invention, in claim 15 or 16, the output unique code can be transmitted to the outside by mounting it on a communication line.

As described above, the present invention has been described in various ways. According to the present invention, when a unique code is input, a region (point) of a map corresponding to the unique code can be directly searched.
Since the number of digits as the entire unique code corresponding to a predetermined area can be reduced, for example, an area having a high point specification requirement such as a city center is defined so as to have a small number of digits, so that it is troublesome to input the unique code Is alleviated, which is convenient for users.

[0034]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, several embodiments of a car navigation device will be described in order to clarify the embodiments of the present invention.

[First Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 1, a car navigation system 10 according to a first embodiment includes a GPS receiver 11 for receiving signals from GPS satellites, and a wheel speed sensor 1.
3, an azimuth sensor 15 constituted by a yaw rate sensor or a geomagnetic sensor, and a C storing a map database.
A CD-ROM drive unit 17 for driving a D-ROM and a data setting / display device 19 are connected. Here, the data setting / display device 19 includes a screen for displaying a map, a speaker for making an announcement by voice, and an operation panel for inputting various commands, numerical values, and the like.

This car navigation device 10 has a CP
A GPS navigation system comprising a computer having U, ROM, RAM, a hard disk, a modem and the like, and calculating an absolute position of the vehicle based on a radio wave received by the GPS receiver 11;
The autonomous navigation that calculates and calculates the moving direction and the moving amount of the vehicle based on the detection signals of the wheel speed sensor 13 and the direction sensor 15 is used in combination. The current position of the vehicle is calculated by the GPS navigation while the radio wave from the GPS satellite can be received, and by the autonomous navigation while the radio wave cannot be received.
-The driving route is guided by being superimposed on the map database in the ROM.

The CD-ROM stores a database of a nationwide map represented according to latitude and longitude coordinates. In the first embodiment, this national map is further expressed as latitude × longitude =
The above-mentioned map database is constructed so that a primary mesh consisting of 900 × 900 second cells can be specified as a unit. The database is constructed so that the area in each cell of the primary mesh can be specified in units of a secondary mesh composed of cells of latitude × longitude = 30 seconds × 30 seconds. It is also constructed so that the area in the cell can be further specified as a tertiary mesh composed of cells of latitude × longitude = 1 second × 1 second.
When this relationship is shown in a schematic diagram, a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 2 is obtained.

In the first embodiment, as shown in Table 1 below, the hard disk of the car navigation device 10 stores a table of code numbers for specifying the cells of the primary mesh. Primary mesh is up to 100
The code number is “000”.
To "999" are associated with each cell of the primary mesh on a one-to-one basis. Hereinafter, the three-digit number is referred to as a section code, the primary mesh cell is referred to as a section, and Table 1 is referred to as a section code table. This section code table is expressed in the same latitude and longitude coordinate system as the map database.

[0039]

[Table 1]

The section codes are numbered according to the frequency of use, and large cities with a high frequency of use such as Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama and Nagoya are determined with priority given to the area so that the numbers are small. . The division code is basically 9
The area is 00 × 900 seconds square (810,000 seconds square),
In order to match the terrain, it is possible to extend and expand up to 900,000 seconds square, or to set a horizontally long area of 1350 × 600 seconds square and a vertically long area of 450 × 1800 seconds square.
That is, the partition is composed of a maximum of 1000 blocks.

On the hard disk of the car navigation device 10, the secondary meshes are preferentially arranged in the horizontal direction from the lower left to the upper right in accordance with the positional relationship in each section from "000" to "899". The table shown in Table 2 below is also stored so that the code number can specify the cell of the secondary mesh on a one-to-one basis for each section.

More specifically, a code number “000” is defined in a cell at the lower left corner in the block, and the code numbers are “001”, “002”,. Then, the second line from the bottom is "03
, "059",..., "059", and similarly, the code numbers are defined in a one-to-one manner up to "899" in the cell at the upper right corner.

Hereinafter, this code number is called a block code, each cell of the secondary mesh is called a block, and Table 2 is called a block code table.

[0044]

[Table 2]

The hard disk of the car navigation device 10 further stores code numbers "000" to "899" for the cubic mesh cells according to the same positional relation as the block codes in accordance with the positional relationship in each block. A table as shown in Table 3 below is also stored so that the cells of the tertiary mesh can be specified on a one-to-one basis. Hereinafter, this code number is called a unit code, each cell of the tertiary mesh is called a unit, and the table in Table 3 is called a unit code table. Note that all the cells of the tertiary mesh need not be the same size.

[0046]

[Table 3]

Here, all the section codes have different numbers, but the block codes have the same code numbers when the sections are different, and the unit codes have the same code when the blocks are different. The code number will be present. Therefore, one unit code cannot be specified only by a three-digit unit code. However, as shown in FIG. 3, three codes of a section code, a block code, and a unit code are connected and expressed by nine digits, so that each unit has a one-to-one correspondence.
Form the corresponding code number. The nine-digit code number is hereinafter referred to as a unique code.

The minimum unit of the unique code is a square of 1 second each for latitude and longitude, and a maximum of 9 digits is used to define the land on Japan.
The unique code is composed of a three-digit portion for each of the section, block, and unit from the top. Also, the leading 0 is omitted from the unique code. This unique code, from the above relationship,
“00000,000,000” to “999,899,89
9 "up to 1,000 x 900 x 900 = 810,00
There are 0000 different numbers. However, it is not necessary to store all of the 810 million different unique codes, and the block code is only stored as 900 data in the XY coordinate system having the origin at the lower left latitude and longitude of each section. In the same manner, the unit code may be tabulated only as 900 data in the XY coordinate system having the origin at the latitude and longitude at the lower left of each block.
If a table representing 0 + 900 + 900 = 2800 data is stored, 810 million unique code numbers can be represented.

From the relations in Tables 1 to 3, for example,
The absolute position of the unit whose unique code is “000,899,899” is longitude = (○○○ + 8 minutes 30 seconds + 29 seconds) ～
(●●● + 8 minutes 30 seconds + 30 seconds), latitude = (□□□ + 8
Minute 30 seconds + 29 seconds)-($ + 8 minutes 30 seconds + 30 seconds)
Unit. Therefore, longitude = (○○○ + 8
Minutes 59 seconds)-(●●● + 9: 00 minutes), latitude = (□□□
If the map corresponding to (+8 minutes 59 seconds) to (■■■ + 9: 00 minutes) is read from the database, the unique code = “00”
0,899,899 "can be displayed on the screen.

Since the map database itself is a database according to the latitude and longitude coordinates, the unique code =
“000,899,899” is specified, and longitude = (○○ + 8 minutes 59 seconds) to (●●● + 9: 00 minutes) as an area
When seconds) and latitude = (□□□ + 8 minutes 59 seconds) to (Δ + 9: 00 minutes) are specified, the corresponding map can be immediately read from the database and displayed on the screen.

In addition, instead of displaying the information on the screen, for example, at the time of a route search, a unique code = “00” is input in a destination input.
0,899,899 ", longitude = (○○○ +
8 minutes 59 seconds)-(●●● + 9: 00 minutes), latitude = (□□
The target point is specified in an area of □ + 8 minutes 59 seconds) to (Δ + 9: 00 minutes).

In the first embodiment, as described above, the division codes are numbered in accordance with the frequency of use, and large cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, and Nagoya, which are frequently used, have small numbers. Have been. This is because the section code corresponds to the “large cell code” in the present invention, and the subcode that is the large cell code is assigned a smaller number in the code system of the cell code, so that the actual number of digits is relatively large. This is intended to be set to be smaller. Specifically, the division code of Tokyo is set to “000”, and the division codes of Osaka, Yokohama, and Nagoya are each set to “00”.
1 "," 002 ", and" 003 ". Since the leading 0 is omitted from the unique code as described above, in the case of Tokyo, all three digits of the section code can be omitted, and the three-digit block code and the three-digit unit code can be omitted. It can be expressed with only 6 digits in total. Also, with respect to the section codes of Osaka, Yokohama, and Nagoya, it is possible to express the section code with only one digit of “1,” “2,” and “3” by omitting the leading 0 from the unique code. it can. Therefore, the specific code of each point is as follows.

For example, as the (latitude, longitude) for the section indicating the area of the Tokyo area, the lower left corner in the section is (13
9 degrees 37 minutes 30 seconds, 35 degrees 35:00 seconds), and the upper right corner is (139 degrees 52 minutes 30 seconds, 35 degrees 5500 seconds). Tokyo Metropolitan Government (139 degrees 41 minutes 41 seconds, 35 degrees 39 minutes 5
6 seconds), the section code is “000”, the block code is “279”, and the unit code is “7”.
91 ", and becomes" 000279791 ". As described above, by omitting the 0 attached to the head, it becomes substantially" 2977971 "of 6 digits. Similarly, Tokyo Station (139 degrees 4
6:13:35, 39:26), the unique code is "2
57793 ".

For the section indicating the area of the Nagoya area, the lower left corner in the section is (136 degrees 52 minutes 30 seconds, 3
5 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds), upper right corner (137 degrees 07 minutes 30 seconds)
Second, 35 degrees 15:00 seconds). Nagoya City Hall (13
(6 degrees 54 minutes 33 seconds, 35 degrees 09 minutes 28 seconds), the section code is “003” and the block code is “54”.
4 ”, and the unit code is“ 843 ”, so that it becomes“ 003544843 ”. By omitting the 0 attached to the head as described above, the 7-digit“ 3544843 ”is substantially obtained.
Becomes Similarly, Nagoya Station (136 degrees 53 minutes 04 seconds, 3
The unique code of 5 degrees 07 minutes 37 seconds) is “34521214”
And

As described above, since the number of digits of the section code corresponding to an area which is considered to be frequently used such as a large city is reduced, the number of digits of the entire unique code can be reduced. Therefore, for the user, the trouble of inputting the unique code into the area which is considered to be frequently used is reduced, which is convenient.

By the way, one second of longitude is about 2 in Hokkaido.
Since it is equivalent to 0 meters, approximately 25 meters in Honshu and approximately 30 meters in Okinawa, this unique code can specify a point in an area of approximately 30 meters square. In such a region, the function sufficiently satisfies as a target point in a route search or the like.

Next, an example of the optimum route guidance processing in the first embodiment will be described. This process is based on data setting /
The operation is started by designating the optimum route guidance mode from the operation panel in the display device 19, and is carried out according to the procedure shown in FIG. First, the current position is specified by the GPS navigation and the autonomous navigation, and set as a starting point (S10).
Next, the unique code of the target point input from the operation panel is read (S20), and the top three of the nine-digit unique code are read.
The range of the latitude and longitude of the section is obtained by referring to the section code table based on the digit number (S30).

Then, referring to the block code table based on the three digits from the fourth digit to the sixth digit, a relative latitude and longitude range of the block in the block is obtained (S40), and this is obtained in S30. The block range is converted from the relative latitude and longitude to the absolute latitude and longitude by adding to the obtained range of latitude and longitude (S50).

Next, the relative latitude and longitude ranges of the units in the block are determined by referring to the unit code table based on the three-digit numbers after the seventh digit (S60), and this is determined by the block obtained in S50. Is converted to the absolute latitude and longitude from the relative latitude and longitude by adding to the absolute latitude and longitude range (S70). This means that the target point has been specified as an area of about 30 meters square.

Next, the map data of the portion covered by this unit is read from the map database, and this map is displayed on the display screen (S80). The driver moves the cursor on the display screen to formally determine the arrival point. In response to the determination of the arrival point by the driver (S90), a general optimal route calculation process is executed to determine the optimal route (S100). Thereafter, the display is returned to the map of the departure point, and route guidance is performed according to the optimal route determined in S100 (S11).
0).

As described above, in the first embodiment, a point is specified by an area of latitude × longitude = 1 second × 1 second by a unique code defined for a unit capable of covering a nationwide map. In the case where the map database is updated due to a new road or the like, this area can be specified by the same unique code. In addition, since the unique code defined for each unit is a unitary parameter of 9 digits, the input order is not mistaken as in the case of specifying a point from both latitude and longitude, and the input itself is simple. It is.

In the first embodiment, when the unique code is input, "0", "00", "0"
The input of "00" may be omitted.
That is, when there is only a six-digit input, it is regarded that the leading “000” is omitted, and the S shown in FIG.
In the process of 30, a range of latitude and longitude of the section is obtained by referring to the section code table based on “000”. In this case, the Tokyo area corresponds as described above. When there are only seven digits, it is regarded that the leading “00” is omitted, and in the process of S30 shown in FIG. 4, the one with “00” added to the upper one digit is used as the section code. . As described above, when the upper one digit is “1”, “001” added with “00” becomes the partition code, and in this case, the Osaka area corresponds. Similarly, when there is only an eight-digit input, it is regarded that the leading “0” is omitted, and in the process of S30 shown in FIG. I do.

In this way, a code having a smaller number of digits can be input in an area where the navigation system is used more frequently, such as Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, and Nagoya, and the input operation is further simplified. By setting such a section code, there is also an advantage that the code itself of a large city can be easily remembered.

In the above-described first embodiment, the final arrival point requires manual input by the driver. However, the final arrival point may be configured as follows. That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, after executing S10 to S80 in the same manner as in the first embodiment (that is, similar to S10 to S80 in FIG. 4), the roads on the displayed map are displayed. Node points such as intersections are extracted (S92), and among them, the node with the shortest linear distance from the departure point is automatically set as the arrival point (S94).

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates this state. In this example, nodes N1 to N3 are extracted from the map corresponding to the unit U, and a straight line distance L from the starting point SP is determined.
1 to L3 are calculated, and the shortest distance node N3 is set as the arrival point. As can be seen from this figure, there is not much difference even if any of N1 to N3 is selected as the arrival point.

Thereafter, similar to the first embodiment, a general optimal route calculation process is executed to determine an optimal route, and route guidance is executed (S100, S110). In this modification, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are represented by the same step numbers, and description thereof is omitted.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described.

The second embodiment has exactly the same configuration and function as the first embodiment, and is configured to execute the following processing. This process is started by specifying the code output mode from the operation panel,
It is executed in the procedure as shown in FIG.

First, the latitude and longitude of the current position of the vehicle are determined (S210). Then, based on the latitude and longitude of the current position, the section is specified by referring to the section code table, and the section code is obtained (S220). Then, from each of the latitude and longitude of the current position of the vehicle,
The latitude and longitude of the lower left corner of the section specified in S220 are subtracted and converted into relative latitude and longitude in the section (S230). Then, based on the relative latitude and longitude in this section, the block is specified by referring to the block code table, and the block code is obtained (S240).

Subsequently, the latitude and longitude of the lower left corner of the block specified in S240 are subtracted from each of the relative latitude and longitude in the block obtained in S230, and the relative latitude in the block is obtained. And longitude (S2
50). Then, based on the relative latitude and longitude in this block, the unit is specified by referring to the unit code table, and the unit code is obtained (S26).
0).

When the section code, block code and unit code are obtained in this way, a nine-digit unique code arranged in the order of the section code, block code and unit code from the first digit is determined (S270), and this code number is displayed on the display. The information is output to the outside by displaying it near the current position of the vehicle (S280).

When the driver specifies the memo function (S290 = YES), comment information input from the operation panel by the driver is loaded into the RAM (S3).
00), the comment information and the unique code determined in S270 are associated with each other and written to the hard disk (S31).
0). The content thus written can be read out later by inputting comment information from the operation panel.

For example, when a location optimal for cherry-blossom viewing is found during driving, a code output mode is activated and a unique code is stored together with comment information such as “optimum for cherry-blossom viewing”. If you want to go to cherry blossom viewing, enter the comment “Optimal cherry blossom viewing”, read out the unique code, specify this as the target point, and execute route guidance, so that you can easily go to the previously found place Can be. Also, just telling friends who have the same system this unique code can make it easy for everyone to get together.

Even if the current position is not stored together with the comment information, for example, when the current position is transmitted to a third party from a car telephone or the like, the unique code is displayed on the screen by this code output mode even if the place name is not known. This may be read aloud, or the unique code may be transmitted to the third party via a communication line instead of being displayed on the screen. In this case, it is convenient to send this unique code directly to the car navigation device owned by the third party so that the third party does not need to manually input the unique code.

In such a case, since it is necessary for the car navigation device to which the unique code is sent to obtain position information from the unique code, it is necessary to store a conversion formula of the unique code used for that purpose. There is.
In this case, the conversion formula of longitude and latitude defined from the unique code is as shown in Expression 1 below.

[0076]

(Equation 1)

Here, An: section code.

Bn: block code.

Un: Unit code.

A: Partition definition table.

It is composed of the following three elements A_b, A_k and A_i.

A_b: The number of blocks in the horizontal direction in the section.

A_k: Lower left longitude of the section (designated in degrees, minutes, and seconds).

A_i: Lower left latitude of the section (designated in degrees, minutes, and seconds).

A_k [An]: A_K value given in a table for section code An.

Bn mod A_b [An]: Bn is set to A
Too much divided by _b [An].

INT (Bn ÷ A_b [An]): B
Integer part of n divided by A_b.

Is as follows.

The unique code NC is as shown in Expression 2.

[0090]

(Equation 2)

Thus, position information can be transmitted to a device that does not store a unique code. As described above, when the position information is transmitted to other devices in a compatible manner, the above conversion formula from the unique code to the latitude and longitude is useful.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment will be described.

The third embodiment is based on the premise that the third embodiment has the configuration and functions described in the first embodiment.
By having the following characteristic configurations and functions, the convenience is further improved. That is, in the above-described first embodiment, the point is specified using the unique code defined for specifying the unit cell such as the primary to tertiary mesh shown in FIG. In the example,
While premised on that, it also has a point identification function using a unique code defined by another code system. In other words, the “facility specific code” individually corresponding to the target predetermined facility on the map is defined by a code system different from the above specific code, and the predetermined facility is defined by the specific facility code. Can be specified directly.

For example, a facility-specific code corresponding to a predetermined facility is set as follows.

Tokyo Station = Facility Unique Code "1" Shinjuku Station = Facility Unique Code "2" Tokyo Dome = Facility Unique Code "3" Tokyo Metropolitan Government = Facility Unique Code "6" Nagoya Station = Facility Unique Code "31" Nagoya Dome = Facility-specific code "33" Nagoya City Hall = Facility-specific code "36" In this case, for example, a major facility that seems to have a high need for location identification for users such as public facilities and large-scale companies and factories The facility-specific code corresponding to each
Define it in a code system different from the unique code. By doing so, a desired point (for example, the facility itself or its vicinity) can be directly specified by the facility-specific code, so that convenience of use is improved.

By limiting the predetermined number of facilities to which the facility unique code is to be applied, the number of digits of the facility unique code itself can be reduced. For example, in the specific example described above, since the facility-specific codes are set in order from 1, the destination and the like can be specified with at least one digit. In particular, considering the application to car navigation systems, it is considered that there are many situations where it is desired to specify destinations and transit points on a facility-by-facility basis. It is also very effective.

Of course, as described above, in order to reduce the number of digits of the facility unique code, it is necessary to limit the predetermined number of facilities to be covered by the facility unique code. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable to use the point specifying method using the unique code described in the above-described first or second embodiment for specifying other points. When such a combination is used, it is needless to say that the unique code and the facility unique code need not be duplicated.

The measures for preventing duplication can be roughly divided into a method of setting the number of digits itself so that the facility unique code is smaller than the unique code, and a method of setting a code group (number or number) not used in the unique code. Sign, etc.) to represent the facility-specific code.

First, a method of setting the number of digits itself so that the facility unique code is smaller than the unique code will be described. For example, if the unique code block code is "0
If the number is set from “01”, the minimum assumed number is “1000” even if a method of omitting the leading 0 is adopted. This is because the section code, block code, and unit code are “000”, “00”, respectively.
1 "and" 000 "and the unique code is" 00000100 "
When it becomes "0", the five digits of the leading zero are omitted. Therefore, in this case, since the entire unique code does not become three digits or less, for example, 1 to 999
Up to this point, even if it is used as a facility unique code, it does not overlap with the unique code, and appropriate processing can be performed without confusion.

When the facility unique code is represented using a group of codes (numbers, symbols, etc.) not used in the unique code, it is assumed that, for example, only block code and unit code up to 899 are set. It is conceivable to use the 900s, that is, 900 to 999. Of course, 90
It is not limited to 0 to 999, but means that the 900s are used for the last three digits. Therefore, it is further increased by one digit to 1900-1999 or 2900-
2999, or 10900 to 10
Since the number 999 does not overlap with the unique code, it can be used as the facility unique code. Since these are examples to avoid duplication with the unique code, besides this, if the code systems on both the unique code side and the facility unique code side are devised, various settings are possible that do not overlap with each other. is there.

Further, in consideration of the assumption that the unique code is defined by three types of codes, namely, the section code, the block code, and the unit code, the facility unique code can be used instead of the block code and the unit code. In other words, the area identification by the section code which is a large area division range is used as it is, and a predetermined facility in the area is identified by the facility unique code. By doing so, the range can be roughly narrowed down by the section code, and this is effective, for example, in consideration of the operation of the user when applied to a navigation system.

For example, the section code corresponding to the Tokyo area is “001”, and the section code corresponding to the Nagoya area is “00”.
3 ", and a specific example in the case of using 900 to 999 which is not used for any of the block code and the unit code as the facility-specific code is as follows.

Tokyo station = block code “001” + facility specific code “901” Shinjuku station = block code “001” + facility specific code “90”
2) Tokyo Dome = Block code "001" + facility-specific code "903" Tokyo Metropolitan Government = Block code "001" + facility-specific code "9"
06 ”Nagoya Station = Block code“ 003 ”+ Facility-specific code“ 9 ”
01 "Nagoya Dome = Section code" 003 "+ facility-specific code" 903 "Nagoya City Hall = section code" 003 "+ facility-specific code" 906 "Also in this case, the leading 0 is omitted when entering the code. If it is configured so that it can be used, for example, four digits such as "1901" for Tokyo Station, "1903" for Tokyo Dome, and "3901" for Nagoya Station can be used.

That is, for example, in the case where the facility-specific code is set as a serial number within the whole of Japan, it is troublesome for the user to find the facility-specific code itself corresponding to the desired facility. On the other hand, in the case of roughly narrowing down the area by the division code, for example, after specifying the area with the division code corresponding to the Tokyo area, the facility-specific code can be set in consideration of only the area of Tokyo area, As a matter of course, the number of facility-specific codes is smaller than the case where the entire range is targeted, and therefore the number of code digits can be reduced. As can be seen from the above specific example, since the section codes are different, the same “90” is used as the facility-specific code.
Even if "1" is used, the Tokyo station (190
1) and Nagoya Station (3901) can be distinguished.

The facility-specific code in this case may be set to the same code for a facility that is highly likely to be commonly present in the area divided by the section code. For example, railway stations, municipal offices, police stations, hospitals, post offices, and the like. When there are a plurality of facilities of the same type, it is preferable to set those which are considered to have higher importance. For example, if there is a post office in charge of the district and a central post office, the central post office with a higher importance is set.

In this way, if only the facility-specific code is memorized, the area code indicating the area can be specified thereafter, so that it can be used universally in any area and the convenience is improved. . For example, in the specific example described above, if the user remembers "901" as the facility-specific code, the Tokyo station can be designated by using the Tokyo area division code "001", and the Nagoya area division code "003" can be specified. If used, Nagoya Station can be specified. Similarly, if the user remembers that the facility-specific code of the dome stadium is “903”, it is possible to easily specify the Tokyo Dome, the Nagoya Dome, the Osaka Dome, and the Fukuoka Dome by the section codes.

It should be noted that which facility-specific code is allocated to which facility may be appropriately determined according to various situations.
For example, a code such as “110” may be assigned to a police station and “119” may be assigned to a hospital. For example, when applied to a car navigation system, due to the nature of being mounted on a vehicle, a code such as a police station related to an accident or an emergency hospital that carries injured people can come up immediately. (Number) is appropriate. In this case, “1” is added to the code string composed of the block code of the unique code and the unit code.
It is necessary to devise a setting so that “10” and “119” do not exist.

As described above, the three embodiments and the modified examples of the embodiment of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and can be implemented in various other modes. First
In the embodiment, the section of the primary mesh has a uniform size of 900 seconds × 900 seconds.
It may be set to 600 seconds, or may be set to a vertically long 450 seconds × 1800 seconds. The same applies to the secondary mesh and the tertiary mesh.

In the third embodiment, the combined use of the unique code and the facility unique code has been described, and it has been described that it is necessary to devise each code system so that the two do not overlap. Whether the input is made by a unique code may be switched by a switch or the like. In this way, since the input mode can be distinguished, the unique code and the facility unique code may overlap, and the degree of freedom in setting each code system is increased.

When a unique code is used in each embodiment, the system is configured to be able to specify a location by a telephone number in addition to the unique code of the unit, and a switch or the like is used to determine whether the code is a unique code of the unit or a telephone number. It may be possible to switch by using. Also, in this case, when the location is specified by the unique code, the phone number of the building in the unit specified by the unique code is output on the screen, and the final arrival point of the route guidance is determined by this phone number. You may enable it to be specified. In this case, there is an advantage that operations such as cursor movement are eliminated, and the operation can be performed only by inputting numbers.

Although not particularly mentioned in the above embodiment, if only the section code is input, a map with a small scale of 900 seconds × 900 seconds is displayed, and not only the section code but also the block code is input. Then, a map in a range of 30 seconds × 30 seconds may be displayed, and a map in a range of 1 second × 1 second may be displayed when a unique code is input.

In addition, for example, the division code may be arbitrarily rewritten instead of the fixed method. This is because, depending on the user's address or the like, the area code of a frequently used area can be set as a small number, which may increase convenience.

Further, in the above embodiment, the section code table and the like are stored in the car navigation device 10 side, but may be stored together with the map database in the CD-ROM side. As an application range, for example, in a publication such as a travel guidebook or a magazine, a fixed code may be additionally written for guiding a restaurant or a museum. According to this, there is an advantage that it is possible to provide route guidance to a restaurant that has just been made, which cannot be handled by the conventional method of specifying a telephone number.

In the case where the vehicle has failed, the second
The function of the embodiment may be used to transmit a unique code of the current position of the vehicle to the rescue squad to provide route guidance. In this case, the driver of the failed vehicle can correctly call the rescue squad even if the failure location is on a land where geography is not known. Also, even if the map held by the rescue squad and the map held by the failed car are different versions, the unique code is the same, so that the rescue work can also be supported reliably in this regard. Can be expected.

Furthermore, in the delivery business of mail and parcels, the unique code can be used to go to the delivery destination without any hesitation.
This is extremely useful because it has nothing to do with old and new maps.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire apparatus configuration as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a hierarchical structure of a map in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a unique code in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for traveling route guidance in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of traveling route guidance in a modified example.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing points of a modification.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process in a code output mode according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Car navigation device, 11 ... GPS receiver, 13 ... Wheel speed sensor, 15 ... Direction sensor, 17 ... CD-ROM drive unit, 19 ... Data setting / display device.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] July 31, 2002 (2002.7.3)
1)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0032

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Also, as in claim 17 of the present invention, in claim 15 or 16, the output unique code can be mounted on a communication line and transmitted to the outside. As well
Claims 19, 21, 23, 26, 29, 32
And a method for specifying a point according to claim 18, respectively.
The map display method according to claim 0, and the point specifying device according to claim 22.
The map display device according to claim 25, wherein the map display device according to claim 25.
A point specifying method, a point specifying apparatus according to claim 30 or 31.
And put the output unique code on the communication line
Can be sent. Also, in claim 3
Point specifying method shown, map display method shown in claim 6, claim
A point specifying device according to claim 12, which quotes item 9.
The specific mesh size in the map display device shown in FIG.
Regarding the size and the like, claims 18, 20, 22,
25 are conceivable. Claims 22 and 2
And the code number in claim 3 and claims 25 and 26.
For the code numbers, refer to claims 24 and 27, respectively.
It is conceivable to make a table as shown. In addition,
A point specifying method according to claim 1, and a point according to claims 9 and 10.
For the definition of unique codes for specific devices,
Claims 28, 30, and 31 are conceivable.
In addition, the above-described method for specifying a point, a method for displaying a map, and specifying a point
As "predetermined area" in device and map display device
Is a point in a city center, etc.
It may be an area with high specific demands. Also,
Regarding the allocation of numbers in the unique code system
Therefore, as shown in claims 37 to 40, the frequency of use is high.
Priority is given to the area so that the smaller area is the smaller number
It is possible to do.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takao Mitsui 1-1-1, Showa-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi F-term in DENSO Corporation (reference) 2C032 HB02 HB03 HB06 HB22 HC08 HC31 HD03 HD13 HD21 HD30 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AC02 AC14 AC18 AC19 5H180 AA01 BB05 BB13 CC12 FF04 FF05 FF22 FF25 FF27 FF32

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A mesh in which unit cells are arranged vertically and horizontally so as to cover a target map, a unitary unique code is defined in each unit cell, and a unit cell is defined by the unique code. What is claimed is: 1. A point specifying method for specifying and specifying a point with an area covered by the specified unit cell, wherein a code system of the specific code of the unit cell corresponding to a predetermined area in the map is provided. By defining the actual number of digits relatively small by sorting the young numbers in the inside, the corresponding unit cell is calculated backward from the area on the map displayed on the map display screen, and the calculated unit is calculated. A method for back-calculating the unique code from a cell and outputting the back-calculated unique code. 2. The spot specifying method according to claim 1, wherein the unit cells have the same size. 3. A mesh in which large squares are arranged vertically and horizontally so as to cover a target map is defined, and the inside of each large square is divided into small unit squares. A unitary unique code combining a small square code for distinguishing within one large square and a large square code for distinguishing between each large square is defined, and a unit square is defined by the unique code. A point specifying method for specifying and specifying a point based on an area covered by the specified unit cell, wherein the specific code of the unit cell corresponding to a predetermined area in the map comprises the specific code. By assigning the youngest numbers in the code system of the large square code to the large square code to be defined, the actual number of digits is defined to be relatively small, and displayed on the map display screen. It is in and back to find the corresponding unit square from a region on the map, calculated back the unique code from the inverse calculated by the unit squares, point specification method and outputting a unique code inverse calculation. 4. The point specifying method according to claim 3, wherein the small cell code is defined according to a common rule between the large cells. 5. The spot specifying method according to claim 1, wherein the output unique code is transmitted on a communication line to the outside. 6. A mesh in which large squares are arranged vertically and horizontally so as to cover a target map, and the inside of each large square is divided into small unit squares. A unitary unique code combining a small square code for distinguishing within one large square and a large square code for distinguishing between each large square is defined, and a unit square is defined by the unique code. Identify, identify the point with the area covered by the identified unit cell,
A map display method of reading a map including the specified point from a map database and displaying the map on a screen, wherein a unique code of the unit cell corresponding to a predetermined area in the map constitutes the unique code. The large square code is defined so that the actual number of digits is relatively small by sorting the young numbers in the code system of the large square code, and the corresponding from the area on the map displayed on the map display screen. Back-calculating the unit cell to be calculated, calculating the unique code from the calculated unit cell, and outputting the calculated back unique code. 7. The map display method according to claim 6, wherein when a large cell is specified by the large cell code,
A map display method, wherein a map including an area covered by the specified large square is displayed. 8. The map display method according to claim 6, wherein the output unique code is transmitted to an external device via a communication line. 9. A unique code defining means for defining a unitary unique code in each unit cell of a mesh in which unit cells are arranged vertically and horizontally, and correspondence between each unit cell constituting the mesh and an area on a map. Correspondence definition means for defining a relationship; code input means for inputting a code number; when a unique code is input by the code input means, a unit is defined based on the unique code and the definition content of the unique code definition means. A point comprising: a point specifying means for specifying a cell, specifying an area on a map based on the specified unit cell and the definition content of the correspondence definition means, and specifying the point using the specified area. A specific device, wherein the unique code defining means is configured to include, in a code system of the unique code, a unique code of the unit cell corresponding to a predetermined area in a map. It is defined so that the actual number of digits is relatively small by sorting young numbers, and a screen for displaying a map and a map displayed on the screen and the definition content of the correspondence definition means are defined. A unique code output unit that identifies the unit cell based on the specified unit cell, identifies the unique code based on the identified unit cell and the definition content of the unique code definition unit, and outputs the identified unique code. A spot specifying device, characterized in that: 10. A unique code defining means for defining a unitary unique code for each unit cell represented by map coordinates, and defining a correspondence between the unit cells and an area on a map via map coordinates. Correspondence defining means, code input means for inputting a code number, and when a unique code is input by the code input means, a unit cell is specified based on the unique code and the definition content of the unique code defining means. And a point specifying device that specifies a region on a map based on the specified unit cell and the definition content of the correspondence definition unit, and a point specifying unit that specifies a point using the specified region. The unique code defining means, for a unique code of the unit cell corresponding to a predetermined area on the map, assigns a lower number in the code system of the unique code. The number of digits is defined so as to be relatively small by dividing the screen, based on a screen displaying a map, and a map displayed on the screen and the definition content of the correspondence definition unit. A unique code output unit that identifies the unit cell, identifies a unique code based on the identified unit cell and the definition content of the unique code definition unit, and outputs the identified unique code. A spot specifying device characterized by the following. 11. The point specifying device according to claim 9, wherein the unit cells have the same size. 12. The point specifying device according to claim 9, wherein the unique code defining means defines a mesh in which large squares are arranged vertically and horizontally so as to cover a target map, The inside of each large square is divided into small squares to be unit squares, and each unit square is distinguished from each other within one large square. In addition to defining a unique elementary code in combination with a large cell code, the unique code of the unit cell corresponding to a predetermined area in the map is defined with respect to the large cell code constituting the unique code. A point feature characterized by being configured as a means for assigning a relatively small number in a code system of codes so that the actual number of digits is relatively small. Apparatus. 13. The point specifying device according to claim 12, wherein the unique code defining means defines the small cell code according to a common rule among the large cells. 14. The spot specifying device according to claim 9, wherein the output unique code is transmitted to an external device via a communication line. 15. A screen for displaying a map, a mesh in which large squares are arranged vertically and horizontally so as to cover a target map, and a small square serving as a unit square in each of the large squares. And a unitary unique code combining a small cell code for distinguishing each unit cell within one large cell and a large cell code for discriminating each large cell is defined. Unique code definition means, correspondence definition means for defining the correspondence between the unit cell and the area on the map via map coordinates, code input means for inputting a code number, When input, a unit cell is specified based on the unique code and the definition contents of the unique code definition unit, and the specified unit cell and the definition contents of the correspondence definition unit are defined. A display unit that specifies an area on the map based on the specified area, reads out a map including the specified area from a map database, and displays the map on the screen. For the unique code of the unit cell corresponding to the predetermined area, it is defined such that the actual number of digits is relatively small by assigning a young number in the code system of the unique code. The unit cell is specified based on the displayed map and the definition content of the correspondence definition unit, and a unique code is specified based on the specified unit cell and the definition content of the unique code definition unit. A map display device comprising a unique code output means for outputting the specified unique code. 16. A screen for displaying a map, a mesh in which large squares are arranged vertically and horizontally so as to cover the target map, and a large square code for distinguishing the large squares from each other are defined. A large cell code defining means for defining, and dividing each of the large cells into small cells serving as unit cells, and a small cell code for distinguishing each unit cell within one large cell. Unique code defining means for defining a one-dimensional unique code combined with the large cell code; first correspondence definition means for defining the correspondence between the large cell and an area on a map via map coordinates; Second correspondence defining means for defining the correspondence between the unit cell and the area on the map via map coordinates, code input means for inputting a code number, and unique code by the code input means. Is input, a unit cell is specified based on the unique code and the definition content of the unique code definition unit, and the specified unit cell and the definition content of the second correspondence definition unit are defined. Specifying an area on the map based on the specified area, reading the map including the specified area from the map database and displaying it on the screen, and when only the major grid code is input by the code input means, A large cell is specified based on the definition of the large cell code definition means, and an area on the map is specified based on the specified large cell and the definition of the first correspondence definition means. And
Display means for reading out a map including the specified area from a map database and displaying the map on the screen, wherein the unique code defining means comprises a unit cell corresponding to a predetermined area in the map. The unique code is defined in such a manner that the actual number of digits is relatively small by assigning a small number in the code system of the unique code, and the map displayed on the screen and the correspondence definition Specifying the unit cell based on the definition content of the means, specifying the unique code based on the specified unit cell and the definition content of the unique code defining means, and outputting the specified unique code. A map display device comprising code output means. 17. The map display device according to claim 15, wherein the output unique code is transmitted to an external device via a communication line.