The disclosures of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-152487 filed on Jun. 8, 2007, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-086456 filed on Mar. 28, 2008 including the specification, drawings and abstract are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to navigation apparatus and navigation programs and, more specifically, to navigation apparatus and navigation programs that search for a site based on input of a character string.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the use of navigation apparatuses to guide vehicle travel has become widely adopted. A navigation apparatus functions to search for routes from a departure point to a destination, to detect the location of the vehicle by using GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites and sensors such as gyroscopes, and to display the route to the destination and the current location of a driver's vehicle on a map. Generally, in a navigation apparatus, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-H11-271084, when searching for, for example, the name of place or name of facility of a destination, candidate locations are narrowed down by inputting a name, an address, a telephone number, or the like through a touch panel. Then, when the input and a search based on a genre have been completed, a narrowed down list of candidate locations is displayed on a display screen, and the user selects a desired destination from among the listed candidate locations.
However, when a search is made for a location of a destination by input of a name, it is necessary to input one character at a time which is inconvenient in terms of the number of operations and operation time. In addition, it is not possible to carry out the search based on characters that are not included.
Mobile telephones which display a list of candidates complementing input characters are known, but such phones only display matches with beginning characters and characters that have been previously input, and cannot narrow down the number of candidates based on those portions of input character strings other than the beginning characters. In addition, in a mobile telephone, because of adaption to general use assuming the input of all types of characters, frequently unnecessary words are displayed as candidates, thus making use more difficult.
In contrast, in a navigation apparatus, in the case in which the candidate locations for a destination that have been narrowed down by a search are displayed in a list, they are displayed either in alphabetical order or in the order of coordinates (for example, from north to south). However, when the order of listed candidates is displayed in this manner and there are numerous candidate locations, frequently many candidate locations other than those with higher priority are displayed, thus making use more difficult.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a more efficient input operation for a destination search in a navigation apparatus.
According to the present invention, keywords that include the input characters are narrowed down and displayed, and the destination data that includes the selected keywords is narrowed down to candidate destinations, and thus it is possible to efficiently execute input for a destination search.
Based on a recognition that a navigation apparatus search is limited to particular words (names of locations and the like), in the present invention identical words that are contained in a plurality of sets of destination data are extracted as search keywords, and saved in a keyword data file. In other words, search keywords are created by extracting identical words that are contained in plural sets of destination data, and these search keywords are saved as keyword data. For example, words that are used as a plurality of location names (destination locations) and various identical words such as “supermarket”, “university”, “information”, “center”, land”, bank”, “amusement park”, “golf” and the like are extracted as keywords. Search keywords for name, address, and genre are appended to individual sets of destination data, which serve as search targets.
When searching for a destination, keywords that partially match the input characters are retrieved, and the thus retrieved keywords are displayed as selectable keys. Thus, it is possible to omit input operations which would otherwise be required for selecting a corresponding keyword. For example, the number of required operations is reduced by selecting a keyword having three or more characters in a total of two operations: inputting at least one character and the selection of a keyword. In the present embodiment, a partial matching is used, but a search for matching of the beginning character is also possible.
After the keywords have been narrowed down by using character input and the keywords which the input characters partially match are displayed as a list (menu) and a keyword is selected from the displayed list, then, destinations having destination data to which matching keywords are appended, are selected (set) as candidate destinations and displayed in a second list (menu). Thus, the narrowing down is based on a partial matching with given characters in a reading of stored keywords included in the destination data. For example, for a restaurant named “Missoni Miso Cooking”, due to the input of the characters “co”, the keyword “cooking” becomes one of the candidate destinations to be narrowed down because the restaurant name includes the keyword “cooking”. Thus, a search can be carried out using only part of the memory.
For each keyword that is stored in the keyword data file, an additional keyword or keywords associated with this keyword is/are stored as associated keywords. Thereby, it is also possible to carry out a search for candidates based on words that are not included in the destination (name, address, genre) that is a search target.
In this manner, by using not only a character unit as the input unit, but also keywords that have been inferred (narrowed down) based on the input characters and the associated keywords, the number of the input operations can be reduced, a search for a wider range of locations becomes possible, and the inputting is thereby simplified. In addition, by creating a navigation keyword dictionary that is based on location information, excesses and deficiencies in location searches are eliminated, and the inputting and searching become more suitable for navigation.
Furthermore, a priority level (value) for determining the listing priority order is appended to each of the keywords. The priority level is set, for example, higher as the number of times that it is used in setting the destinations becomes larger, or is determined in advance based on statistical values that represent actual use. When an acceptance key is operated by the user after the character input for narrowing down and keyword selection, the candidate destinations (locations) are displayed in a list in a sequence starting with the destination candidate having the highest priority level, after updating the priority levels of the candidate destinations according to priority order score modifying rules that modify the priority level depending on, for example, the season and the location. Thereby, the narrowed-down candidate destinations can be displayed in a list in an order that is in accord with the preferences of the user.
The relative direction sensor 12 is a sensor that detects, for example, whether or not the vehicle has turned at an intersection, and may be an optical rotation sensor or a potentiometer-type sensor that is attached to a component which rotates with the steering wheel, or an angle sensor that is installed adjacent a steerable vehicle wheel. Alternatively, a gyroscopic sensor that determines changes in the steering angle by detecting angular velocity may be used. Any unit that can detect an angle that changes relative to a reference angle (absolute direction) may be used. The distance sensor 13 may be a unit that, for example, detects and counts the rotations of the wheels, a unit that detects acceleration and integrates the results twice, or any device that can measure the distance the vehicle has traveled.
The GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving device 14 is a device that receives signals from satellites, and thereby obtains a variety of information, such as the time that a signal has been transmitted, information as to the location of the receiving device, the traveling speed of the receiving device, the traveling direction of the receiving device and the like. The beacon receiver 15 is a device that receives signals transmitted from stationary transmitters installed at specified locations. Also, the apparatus can acquire VICS information, including information that is related to the travel of the vehicle, such as traffic congestion information, current location information, and parking area information.
The data transmitting and receiving device 16 communicates with facilities remote from the vehicle by telephone circuits and/or radio for exchange of information. The data transmitting and receiving device 16 may be a vehicle telephone, ATIS, or VICS, and may provide GPS correction, communication between vehicles and the like, and in general, input and output of information related to travel. The information processing and controlling section 20 is a unit for computing and control based on information input from the current location detecting section 10 and the input-output section 40, and information that is contained in the information storing section 50, and controls output of the results of the computations to units such as a display 42, a printer 43, and/or a speaker 44.
The information processing and controlling section 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 21 which provides computing and control for the entire navigation apparatus. The first ROM 22 contains navigation programs related to, in particular, the detection of the current location, search for routes, display of guidance, and the like. The input interface 23 receives information from the current location detecting section 10.
The RAM 24 is a unit for storing information that has been input by a user, such as information on the destinations, transit points, and the like, and for storing the results of computations by the CPU 21 based on information that has been input by the user, the results of route searches, and map information that has been read from the information storing section 50. The communication interface 25 is a unit for inputting and outputting information from the current location detecting section 10, and in particular, information that is obtained from external (remote) sources.
The second ROM 26 contains programs that are related to navigation, and in particular, navigation programs related to audio guidance. The image processor 27 is a processing unit for converting vector data that has been generated by the CPU into image data. The clock 28 tracks the time. The image memory 29 is a unit that contains image data that has been processed by an image processor. The audio processor 30 processes audio data that has been read from an information storing section and outputs the resultant data to the speaker.
The input-output section 40 includes an input device 41 by which the user inputs data such as the destination, the transit points, and search conditions, a display 42 that displays images for visual guidance, a printer 43 that prints information, and a speaker 44 that outputs audio (voice) guidance. The input apparatus 41 is, for example, a touch panel that is disposed on the surface of the display 42, plural touch switches, a joy stick, a key switch and/or the like. A map of the vicinity of the current location, various operation screens, and travel routes to a destination are displayed on the display 42.
The information storing section 50 is connected to the information processing and controlling section 20 via a transmission channel 45. The information storing section 50 contains a map data file 51, an intersection data file 52, a node data file 53, a road data file 54, a photograph data file 55, a destination data file 56, a guidance point data file 57, a keyword data file 58, a priority order score modifying rule file 59, and other data files 60. This information storing section 50 may be a DVD-ROM or a CD-ROM, which are optical storage media, a hard drive, which is a magnetic storage medium, or any other type of information storage medium, such as a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like.
Map data for national (federal) road maps, residential maps and maps for each region, are stored in the map data file 51. The road maps show roads such as main trunk roads, highways, local roads, and landmarks (facilities and the like). The residential maps include graphics that show the contours of buildings and the like, and city maps in which road names and the like are displayed. The local roads are comparatively narrow roads that have a road width that is equal to or less than a predetermined value, that is, equal to or less than a federal road or a state road, and to which traffic regulation information, such as “one way traffic”, is not appended.
Geographic coordinate data for the nodes of roads in the map, that are used in route searching, are stored in the node data file 53. Data related to roads, for example, the positions and types of roads, the number of traffic lanes, and the connections between roads, is stored in the road data file 54. Image data for photographs that have been taken of locations, such as various facilities, tourist spots and main intersections, for which a visual display is required, is stored in the photograph data file 55. Guidance data for the content of signs posted along the roads, and locations that require guidance, such as guidance for branching points, is stored in the guidance point data file 57.
Data for targets of destination searches, such as main tourist spots and buildings, locations and facilities that can be selected as destinations, such as companies and offices listed in telephone books, are stored in the destination data file 56.
The keywords are stored in a manner such that the keywords for name, address, and genre can be respectively distinguished. Among the keywords, which will be described below, are keywords that correspond to destinations. For example, as name keywords, the keywords “Tsukuba” and “University” are stored for the destination “Tsukuba University”, and in the case of the destination “Mr. Donald's, Tokyo Station shop,” the keywords include “Mr. Donald's” and “Tokyo Station”. The address and genre keywords that correspond to the destinations are stored in a similar manner. Here, a genre denotes a hierarchical classification of destinations, classified into categories such as “eat-drink”, “buy-rent”, “stay”, “see-play”, “car-related facility.” At a lower level under “buy-rent”, for example, are “convenience store”, “supermarket”, “discount store”, “department store” and the like. The genres to which each of the destinations belongs are determined in advance and stored.
There are cases in which contractions and nicknames and the like are stored as keywords in the destination data, even if the words to which they refer are not themselves included in the destination data. For example, as keywords for the destination name “Arcade Kogami XX Headquarters”, in addition to “arcade”, “Kogami”, and “headquarters”, a contraction such as “arcd” may be stored as a keyword.
In
In the present embodiment, the keywords that have been extracted, narrowed down as corresponding to input characters, are displayed as input keys. In addition, a priority level for display is determined for each of the extracted keywords. The priority levels are modified (adjusted) according to current conditions including season of the year, weather, time, type, and region, and conditions that correspond to each of these are set for each of the keywords. For example, because the priority level for a location candidate that includes the keyword “hot-pot cooking” is set to “75” and the corresponding season “October to March” is set for that keyword, if the date is within this period, a predetermined number of points (for example, 3 points) are added to the priority level to change the priority level from 75 to 78.
In addition, associated keywords are set for at least some keywords. Associated keywords are “words” that have a high frequency of input as search words along with the main corresponding keyword. For example, “words” that form a part of or all of the description (notation) for a destination, such as “campus” and “center” are set in association with the main keyword “Tsukuba.
In the present embodiment when a keyword is extracted (read) as corresponding to the character input and then selected by the user, a new menu listing of the associated keywords for the selected keyword is displayed as keys for the selection of a candidate (input candidate) which follows. If the total number of keywords has been narrowed down according to the character input to less than a predetermined number (for example, the largest number that can be displayed on the screen), the associated keywords that correspond to those narrowed-down keywords are displayed. As shown in
In the present embodiment, the main keywords and the associated keywords are searched for by input of plural keywords as an “AND” input when narrowing down the number of destination candidates. Specifically, in the case in which the keyword “A” and the associated keyword “a” are selected, destination data that has as keywords both “A” and “a” are selectively extracted (read from memory). In other words, destinations having the keyword “AND” associated keyword for names, addresses, and/or genres are read from memory to provide a menu display of a narrowed down number of destinations.
As shown in
As shown in
If the weather is clear, the priority order scores for candidate locations that include keywords that are associated with, for example, zoos, pools, and amusement parks are increased. If the weather is rainy, priority of the candidate locations that include keywords that are associated with, for example, domed facilities, heated pools, and aquariums are increased. In the case that there is no indication of weather, the priority of candidate locations that include keywords that are associated with, for example, department stores are increased. It is possible to determine the weather based on the output of various sensors. For example, the weather can be determined based on an illuminometer, sensors that detect rain, the drive signal for the windshield wipers, the time of day and the like.
In the case in which it has been determined to be morning based on the current time, the priority order scores of locations that include keywords related to, for example, amusements parks and golf are increased, and in the case in which it is determined to be evening, the priority order scores of locations that include keywords related to, for example, restaurants and supermarkets are increased.
In addition, if, according to a calendar, today is the day before a holiday period or a day during a holiday period, locations that are distant from the current location have their priority scores increased according to the number of days remaining in the holiday period. Conversely, locations in the vicinity of the current location have their priority scores increased with passage of time (days) within the holiday period. For example, in the case in which the current location is Nagoya, if a first day of a holiday period, the priority scores of candidate locations that include keywords related to distant locations are increased, but if the holiday period is near ending or if today is a weekday, the priority scores (levels) of candidate locations that include keywords related to stores and shops and the like, which are locations in the vicinity of the current location, are increased.
In addition, in the case that the current location is the vicinity of the registered residence of the driver, e.g. within 100 km of the driver's home, the priority scores of candidate locations that include keywords related to supermarkets and family restaurants are increased. In contrast, in the case in which the current location is outside the immediate vicinity of the driver's residence, the priority scores of candidate locations that include keywords related to, for example, tourist guidance, craft shops, and local products, are increased.
In addition, responsive to selection (setting) of a destination, the priority scores of the candidate locations that are in the vicinity of the destination, in the vicinity of the travel route to the set destination, or in the direction of the destination are increased. In contrast, the priority scores of candidate locations that are located in a direction that is away from the destination are lowered, e.g. to a negative score.
In addition, the priority scores of the candidate locations are increased for candidate locations which are closer to the nearest toll exit, or according to the number of nearby toll exits. Conversely, the priority scores of the candidate locations are decreased as their distance from the nearest toll exit is longer, or with a lesser number of nearby toll exits. In addition, in the case in which a genre has been selected, the priority score is increased in the sequence of, for example, food, shopping, and leisure, and the priority scores of the other genres are decreased.
As an example of another modifying rule, the priority score is increased according to the degree that the number of input characters and the number of characters remaining after the selected keywords (the number of remaining characters) is reduced. For example, in the case in which the keywords “Sagami” and “children” are selected, the priority order is increased according to the degree that the number of remaining characters, excluding “Sagami children”, is low. As a result, the destination candidates are displayed in the priority order of: “Sagami Children's Sea”, “Sagami Children's Land”, and “Sagami Children's Land Train Station”.
In applying the priority order score modifying rules described above, in the case in which the score is to be increased, a predetermined score increment m (for example, m=5) is added, and in the case that the score to be decreased, a predetermined score increment m is subtracted. The scores before the addition or subtraction of the increment m, are the priority scores of keywords that are contained in the destination data as stored for the candidate locations. In the case that there is a plurality of keywords, the highest score after the priority score (level) has been changed is used. The priority score for candidate locations for which no keywords have been set might be, for example, 50.
The modifying rules in
To provide route guidance, the navigation apparatus detects the current location using the current location detecting section 10, the map information for the vicinity of the current location is read from the map data file 51 of the information storing section 50 and a map is displayed on the display 42. Then, when the destination has been set by the destination setting process, which will be described below, the information processing and controlling section 20 carries out a search for a plurality of candidates for travel routes from the current position to the destination, and displays the results on the map on the display 42. When the driver has selected one of the travel routes, the selected travel route is stored in the RAM 24 (the travel route acquiring unit), thereby setting the travel route.
Note that the information processing and controlling section 20 may transmit the current location of the vehicle (or the input departure point) and the destination to an information processing center, and the travel route may be determined in and retrieved from the information processing center. In this case, the travel route to the destination is communicated by wireless communication via the communication interface 25.
During vehicle travel, route guidance is provided by tracking the current location as detected by the current location detecting section 10. The route guidance specifies the vehicle location on the map by map matching of the road data for the set travel route and the current location as detected by the current location detecting section 10, displays a map screen of the vicinity of the current location of the vehicle on the display 42, and displays the set travel route and the current location on that map screen. The relationship between the set travel route and the current location determines the need for guidance. When travel continues straight for a predetermined distance or greater, it is determined whether or not guidance for the travel route at predetermined course change points, and directional guidance are necessary. In the case in which travel guidance is necessary, visual guidance on the display 42 and/or audio (voice) guidance is provided.
Next, the destination setting process of the present embodiment will be explained with reference to
The destination setting key 411 is a key for displaying the destination setting screen in which the destination, transit points and the like (below, collectively referred to as the “destination”) are set. When this destination setting key 411 is operated, the destination setting according to the present embodiment is then executed. In addition to being used for route searching, the destination that is set according to the present embodiment may be used in the case in which a determined destination and a candidate destination in the vicinity of the current location are displayed on a map screen.
The display 42 in
The input keyboard 422 include keys for inputting 50 characters. Note that a numerical keypad and/or function keys may also be displayed. The input character area 423 displays input characters that have been input by operation of the input keyboard 422, and the keywords that have been selected from the keyword area. The input characters and the keywords are displayed in a manner in which they can be distinguished. The number (count) of the candidate locations (destination data sets) that have been narrowed down in accordance with the input characters and the selected keywords is displayed in the candidate number area 424. The correction key 425 is a key for correcting an input character or a selected keyword. The return key 426 is a key for returning to the state prior to the last operation. The end key 427 is a key for displaying a list of the candidate locations for destinations that has been narrowed down by the input of the characters and the selection of keywords. Note that, as shown in
The information processing and controlling section 20 monitors whether or not the destination setting key 411 has been operated (selected) by the user (step 11). When operation of the destination setting key 411 has been detected (step 11; Y), the information processing and control apparatus 20 displays the destination setting screen that is shown in
Next, the information processing and controlling section 20 further narrows down the destination candidates (candidate locations) by using the input characters, which are shown in the input character area, and the narrowed-down keywords, and stores the results in the RAM 24. The number (count) of narrowed-down destination candidates is displayed in the candidate area 424 (step 16). In the narrowing down of the destination candidates by using the input characters, the search keys (refer to
Note that in narrowing down of the destination candidates, the destination data file 56 is used as the target when the first single character is input, and thereafter, narrowing down is carried out by using the destination candidates that are stored in the RAM 24 as targets. In the process of narrowing down the candidates in RAM 24, destination candidates other than those selected by matching are deleted. Note that for the remaining (selected) destination candidates, not all the destination data is necessarily contained in the RAM 24 which may contain only the IDs for the destination candidates. In this latter embodiment, further narrowing down is by searching the destination data, which corresponds to the IDs in the RAM 24, in the destination data file 56.
Next, the information processing and controlling section 20 displays the remaining (narrowed down) keywords in the keyword area 421 as selectable keywords (step 17). Keywords that correspond to the tabs 421a to 421c, which are displayed at the top, are displayed as columns in this keyword area 421. In addition, in the keyword area 421, although only keywords that partially match the input characters or the selected keywords are displayed, in the case in which the number of remaining keywords is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the associated keywords for these remaining main keywords are also displayed.
In this destination setting screen shown in
In step 17, the information processing and controlling section 20 changes the priority level of each keyword, based on current conditions (the corresponding season, weather, time, type, region and the like), for display of the keywords in the keyword area 421 in a sequence starting with that keyword having the highest priority score (level) after the change. In
Returning to
After the keyword has been displayed in the input character area 423, the information processing and controlling section 20 returns to step 15, and continues narrowing down the selected keywords (step 15) and destination candidates (step 16). In step 15 following step 19, keywords that include the keywords that have been selected from among the previously narrowed-down group that is stored in the RAM 24 (step 15 after step 14) are further narrowed and keywords not selected are deleted from RAM 24. For example, in
Next, the information processing and controlling section 20 displays the keywords that remain after step 15 in the keyword display area 421 (step 16).
Returning to
Next, the information processing and controlling section 20 displays the destination candidates in a list (menu) on the destination setting screen in a sequence starting with that having the highest priority after adjustment of the priority order scores (step 22), sets the destination candidate, that the user has selected from among the displayed destination candidates, as the final destination (step 23), stores the final destination in a predetermined area of the RAM 24, and then ends the routine.
In the above-described manner, by modifying the order of items in the list by applying priority order score modifying rules, it is possible to display a list of destination candidates in an order that is in better accord with the preferences of the user. In addition, it is possible to display lists that are in accord with the preferences of the user by modifying the priority order score modifying rules that are applied as described above and the keywords for the items to which the priority order score modifying rules are applied.
In the embodiment that has been described above, an explanation was provided for the case in which the current circumstances of season, weather, time, type, and region that modify the priority levels of the keywords are contained in the keyword data file 58, and the rules for determining the listing display order of the destination candidates are stored in the priority order score modifying rules file 59, but these may be contained in a shared file. The rules may be stored in either the keyword data files or stored separately as modifying rules. Alternatively, they may be incorporated into the program.
In addition, the foregoing embodiment has been described as having the stored keywords included in the destination data, but an ID (identification number) may be appended to each of the keywords in the keyword data file, and only the stored IDs included in the destination data. In addition, in the embodiment described above, the keywords are stored for the name, address, and genre, and the narrowing down and display of keywords is executed for each name, address, and genre; however, it is possible to use any one or two of the name, address, and genre.
In the first embodiment described above, a navigation apparatus was explained assuming that the country of use is Japan. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the navigation apparatus was described as having Japanese specifications in which an input keyboard 422, provided with 50 alphabetic keys, serves as an input unit for the Japanese language, and data for destination searches within Japan is stored in the destination data file 56. However, the environment in which the navigation apparatus is used is not limited to Japan. For another country, it is possible to use different keyword data of an input apparatus 41 with specifications for that country.
Thus, in the second embodiment, as one example of a navigation apparatus adapted for a country other than Japan, the navigation apparatus has specifications for the United States (below referred to as “US specifications”). The structure of the navigation apparatus and the destination setting process that are used in the second embodiment are fundamentally identical to those of the first embodiment. In the explanation of the second embodiment, structures that are identical to those of the first embodiment have identical reference numerals appended and the explanations thereof are omitted, i.e. only differences are explained.
Note that the season of the year in the keyword data file 58 is set so as to correspond to the country or region where the navigation apparatus is to be used. For example, in the case in which the country of use is Japan, the period from December to February is set as winter, and in the case in which the country of use is Australia, which is located in the southern hemisphere, the period from June to August is set as winter. In addition, the corresponding times that are set in the keyword data file 58 are set so as to correspond to the country or region in which the navigation apparatus is to be used. For example, in a country or region that has introduced daylight saving time, the corresponding time is advanced by one hour during the summer.
With the navigation apparatus in which the specifications of the input apparatus 41 and each of the sets of data are in accordance with US specifications, destination setting is identical to that in the first embodiment (
In the case in which the keywords are displayed in the keyword display area 421 as selectable keys, similar to the first embodiment, by applying the priority order score modifying rules (
From the state shown in
In this manner, with a navigation system having US specifications and in which letters of the alphabet are input into the input character area 423, it is possible to display a list of destination candidates in an order that is more appropriate for the user, changing the order of the list by applying priority order score modifying rules, similar to the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment, a navigation apparatus having US specifications has been exemplified as an example of a navigation apparatus that is used outside Japan. However, the country or region in which the navigation apparatus may be used is not limited. It is possible to use the navigation apparatus in any country or region, such as Germany, Spain, France, Arab countries, China, Korea, or Australia or the like. However, the input apparatus 41 including the input keyboard 422 should be compatible with the language of the country (region) in which the navigation apparatus is to be used, and in addition, the stored data should correspond to the language of country (region) in which the navigation apparatus is to be used. For example, in the case in which the navigation apparatus is to be used in China, the input apparatus 41 is provided with an input keyboard 422 that is compatible with the Pinyin input for the Chinese language. In addition, data that represents, in the regional language, the names in the destination data that correspond to the country or region in which the navigation apparatus is to be used are stored in the destination data file 56.
The language that is to be input need not correspond to the country (region) in which the navigation apparatus is used. For example, a navigation apparatus compatible with German language input may be used in France. In this case, data that is compatible with the input language is stored in the database used in conducting a destination search, e.g. the data that is compared with the input characters (for example, the name of the destination, the keywords, and the address and the like), in the destination data file 56 and in the keyword data file 58. In addition to the input language, data that is compatible with the language of the country (region) where the navigation apparatus is to be used may be stored with the data that is to be searched. In addition, data that will not become a search object, for example, data for supplementary information retrieved in destination searches, need not be stored in a form that is compatible with the input language. For example, with data that will not be used in searching may be stored data that is compatible with an input language, data that is compatible with the language of a country (region) in which the navigation apparatus will be used, and data that is compatible with both the input language and the language of the country (region) in which the navigation apparatus is to be used.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007-152487 | Jun 2007 | JP | national |
2008-086456 | Mar 2008 | JP | national |