Patent Description:
A car navigation device typically provides route guidance while displaying a map indicating a route from a current location to a destination on a display unit. On such a map, a line indicating a route (hereinafter, referred to as a "route line", in some cases) is displayed, and the line representing a location point on the route (for example, a location point where the route turns, such as an intersection where to make a left or right turn) with its shape is displayed in a highlighted manner. In addition, together with a map indicating the route, a location point information representation indicating information related to the location point on the route (information indicating a location point name, a distance from the current location to the location point, and the like) is displayed on the display unit. Users are able to acquire the location point where to make a left or right turn and the information related to the location point, based on the map indicating the route and the location point information representation, and are able to travel along the route in a smoother manner.

On the other hand, a car navigation device is provided with an audio function, a television function, and the like, and is capable of displaying audio information (information such as an artist name, an album name, and a song title) and television video images on the display unit. However, the display area of the display unit is limited, and the amount of information that can be displayed is limited.

Therefore, by displaying the route in a simplified manner, the area for displaying the route on the display unit can be reduced and the area for displaying other information can be expanded, so that a large amount of information can be provided to the users. Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a method for representing a route with a straight line, as a method for simplifying the route. This method is also used for guiding a highway in typical car navigation devices, for example.

Further patent document <CIT> discloses methods, systems, and computer program products for generating a linear projection of a route. In one example, route information is received and parsed. Supplementary route data is received. A linear route is generated and provided to a user, the linear route comprising a straight line and one or more segments extending form the straight line, where ends of the straight line represent a starting point and destination of the linear route, and the one or more segments represent turns.

Here, assuming that the image is switched from an image displaying a map indicating a route and location point information representation to an image displaying a simplified route and the location point information representation, there is a drawback in that it is easier to understand the correspondence relation between the location point on the route and the location point information representation because of the shape of the route line on the image before switching, whereas the route is displayed in a different shape on the image after switching, and therefore it is difficult to understand the correspondence relation between the both.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention has an object to provide, as an example of a solution, an image control program and the like. In a case where an image is switched from an image including a route line representing a route and a location point on the route line with a shape of the line and a location point information representation to an image including the route line having a different shape of the shape and the location point information representation, a user can easily understand a correspondence relation between the location point on the route and the location point information representation also in the image after switching.

The solution is provided by the features of the independent claims. Variations are as defined by the dependent claims.

Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, a display control device <NUM> includes a first processing unit <NUM> and a second processing unit <NUM>.

The first processing unit <NUM> causes a display unit to display a first image including a first line that is a line indicating a route and that represents a location point on the route with a shape of a line, and a location point information representation that represents information related to the location point.

The second processing unit <NUM> causes the display unit to display a second image by switching from the first image. The second image displays a second line that is a line indicating the route and that has a different shape from the afore-mentioned shape so as to associate the location point with the location point information representation.

According to the display control device <NUM>, the first image is switched to the second image. The first image includes the first line and the location point information representation. The first line is a line indicating the route and representing the location point on the route with a shape of the line, and the location point information representation represents information related to the location point. The second image displays the second line to associate the location point on the route with the location point information representation. The second line is a line indicating the route and having a shape different from that of the first line. Therefore, also in the image after switching, the user can easily understand the correspondence relation between the location point on the route and the location point information representation.

Next, examples corresponding to the above-described embodiment will be described. It is to be noted that the examples to be described below are examples in a case where the present invention is applied to an on-vehicle device <NUM>.

A configuration of the on-vehicle device <NUM> in the present example will be described with reference to <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the on-vehicle device <NUM> is configured to include a control unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM> composed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like, and an input unit <NUM> composed of a keyboard, a remote controller, a touch panel, or the like, a display unit <NUM>, a bus line <NUM>, an input and output interface unit <NUM>, a vehicle speed sensor <NUM>, an angular velocity sensor <NUM>, an acceleration sensor <NUM>, a steering angle sensor <NUM>, and a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver <NUM>.

The vehicle speed sensor <NUM> detects, for example, a current speed of a vehicle on which the on-vehicle device <NUM> is mounted by using a speed detection process or the like using a vehicle speed pulse or the like to be acquired from the vehicle, and outputs speed data. The angular velocity sensor <NUM> detects, for example, an angular velocity of a change in direction of the vehicle, and outputs angular velocity data and relative bearing data per unit time. The acceleration sensor <NUM> detects, for example, acceleration of the vehicle in a front-rear direction, and outputs acceleration data or the like per unit time. The steering angle sensor <NUM> detects a steering angle of the vehicle, and outputs steering angle data or the like. The GNSS receiver <NUM> receives navigation radio waves from a GNSS satellite, and outputs GNSS positioning data.

The storage unit <NUM> stores data for displaying various images (including detailed route images and simple route images, which will be described later) on the display unit <NUM>. For example, map data for displaying a map, map information used in searching for a route, road link information, and the like are stored. In addition, the storage unit <NUM> stores various programs such as an operating system and an application program. In particular, the storage unit <NUM> stores a display control program for switching and displaying a detailed route image and a simple route image, which will be described later, on the display unit <NUM>. It is to be noted that the various programs may be acquired from, for example, a server device or the like via a network, or may be read from a recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or a USB memory.

The input unit <NUM> receives an input operation of a user, and transmits an operation signal indicating an operation content to the control unit <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> displays an image based on the image data under the control of the control unit <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> includes, for example, a graphics controller 214a, a buffer memory 214b composed of a memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM), a display 214c composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. In this configuration, the graphics controller 214a controls the entire display unit <NUM>, based on control data sent from the control unit <NUM> via the bus line <NUM>. In addition, the buffer memory 214b temporarily stores image data that can be displayed immediately. Then, the image is displayed on the display 214c, based on the image data output from the graphics controller 214a.

The control unit <NUM> includes a CPU 211a that controls the entire control unit <NUM>, a ROM 211b in which a control program and the like for controlling the control unit <NUM> is stored beforehand, and a RAM 211c that temporarily stores various data. Then, the CPU 211a functions as various unit by reading and executing various programs stored in the ROM 211b and the storage unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> or the CPU 211a corresponds to a "computer".

Further, the control unit <NUM> is coupled to the vehicle speed sensor <NUM>, the angular velocity sensor <NUM>, the acceleration sensor <NUM>, the steering angle sensor <NUM>, and the GNSS receiver <NUM> via the bus line <NUM> and the input and output interface unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> performs satellite positioning based on the GNSS positioning data, autonomous positioning based on the speed data, the angular velocity data, the relative bearing data, the acceleration data, the steering angle data, and the like, or hybrid positioning or the like that combines the above data, and acquires current location information indicating the current location (a latitude, a longitude, and an altitude) of an own vehicle (which will be referred to as "the own vehicle" in some cases).

The control unit <NUM> controls switching of the image to be displayed on the display 214c by sending the image data that has been generated based on the map data and the like stored in the storage unit <NUM> and the control data related to switching of the image to the display unit <NUM>. The control is performed by the control unit <NUM> executing the display control program. Hereinafter, the image to be displayed on the display 214c and image switching control by the control unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram showing an image transition example in switching from the detailed route image to the simple route image. <FIG> is a diagram showing an example of a detailed route image 300A, and <FIG> is a diagram showing an example of a simple route image 300F. In addition, <FIG> are diagrams respectively showing examples of intermediate images 300B to 300E, which are displayed in the process while the image is being switched from the detailed route image 300A to the simple route image 300F.

The detailed route image 300A and the simple route image 300F are each a route guidance image for guiding a user along a route to a destination, and each display an own vehicle mark M indicating the own vehicle mounted with the on-vehicle device <NUM> and route lines 301A and 301F.

In the present example, a user can choose a display mode when the route guidance image is displayed on the display 214c from two display modes. The display mode includes a detailed mode and a simple mode. In a case where the detailed mode is chosen, the control unit <NUM> displays the detailed route image 300A, and in a case where the simple mode is chosen, the control unit <NUM> displays the simple route image 300F.

It is to be noted that in the present example, a process of displaying an image before image switching (the detailed route image 300A) is referred to as a first process, and a process of displaying another image after the image switching (the simple route image 300F) is referred to as a second process.

The detailed route image 300A includes a map depicting the route line 301A indicating the route to the destination and location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> respectively representing information related to location points on the route line 301A. In the detailed route image 300A, the map is always displayed so that the traveling direction is an upward direction, and the own vehicle mark M is fixedly displayed at a location of the lower center. The route line 301A is superimposed on roads on the map and is depicted with, for example, a color or thickness different from the color of the road, so that the user can distinguish between the road that is the route and the road that is not the route. Further, the route line 301A represents location points <NUM> and <NUM> on the route line 301A with its shape. That is, the route line 301A represents a location point on the route with a bent part of the line. The location point on the route is, for example, an intersection, a landmark, or the like, where a left or right turn is made.

The location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> respectively represent information related to location points on the route. In particular, the location point information representation <NUM> represents the information related to the location point <NUM>, and the location point information representation <NUM> represents the information related to the location point <NUM>.

In addition, the arrangement order of the location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is based on a passing order of respectively corresponding location points from the current location of the own vehicle (hereinafter, "current location" indicates "current location of the own vehicle"). In the detailed route image 300A in the present example, the own vehicle mark M is fixedly displayed at the location of the lower center. Accordingly, in the order from the lower side, the location point information representation <NUM> that represents the information related to a first passing location point, the location point information representation <NUM> that represents information related to a second passing location point, and the location point information representation <NUM> that represents information related to a third passing location point are displayed.

Furthermore, in the example of the detailed route image 300A, a location point where to make a course change next after passing through the location point <NUM> (the third passing location point) along the route line 301A cannot be displayed on the detailed route image 300A. However, the location point information representation <NUM> corresponding to the location point where to make a course change next is displayed. In this situation, since the location point corresponding to the location point information representation <NUM> is not represented in the shape of the route line 301A, a display form (for example, the displayed color) for the location point information representation <NUM> may be different from those of the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM>. It is to be noted that regarding the number of the location point information representations to be displayed, the number of the representations that have been set may be displayed up to the number that can be displayed in the display area.

Examples of the information related to the location points represented by the location point information representation <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> include a direction of making a turn at the location point, a distance from the current location to the location point, a name of the location point, and the like. In the present example, the direction of making a turn at the location point <NUM>, the distance from the current location to the location point <NUM>, and the name of the location point <NUM> are represented by the location point information representation <NUM> corresponding to the first passing location point <NUM>. The directions of making turns at the location points and the distances from the current location to the location points are respectively displayed by the location point information representation <NUM> and the location point information representation <NUM> respectively corresponding to the second and third passing location points. However, the location point information representations corresponding to the second and subsequent location points may respectively represent the directions of making turns at the location points, the distances from the current location to the location points, and the names of the location points, or some of the above information representations may be represented.

Then, when the user performs an operation of switching the display mode from the detailed mode to the simple mode, the control unit <NUM> switches the image from the detailed route image 300A to the simple route image 300F.

The simple route image 300F includes a route line 301F, which is a straight line indicating a route to a destination, and the location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, which respectively represent the information related to the location points on the route. When comparing the detailed route image 300A and the simple route image 300F, in the detailed route image 300A, the route line 301A represents the location points <NUM> and <NUM> on the route with its shape, whereas in the simple route image 300F, the route line 301F does not represent the location points <NUM> and <NUM> on the route with its shape. In addition, the map is not displayed on the simple route image 300F. Furthermore, regarding the location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, no change is made in the display forms or the display locations between the detailed route image 300A and the simple route image 300F. No change is made in the display form or the display location of the location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Accordingly, it is unlikely for the user to lose sight of the image when the image is switched from the detailed route image 300A to the simple route image 300F. It is to be noted that at least one of the display form and the display location may be displayed to be substantially identical to each other. In this case, it is possible to prevent the user from being confused as compared with a case where the display form and the display position are both changed.

The simple route image 300F does not represent the location point <NUM> or <NUM> on the route with the shape of the route line 301F. Hence, it is difficult for the user to understand the correspondence relation with the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM>. For this reason, the control unit <NUM> determines points on the route line 301F respectively corresponding to the location points <NUM> and <NUM>, and represents the points with location point marks <NUM> and <NUM>. A location point mark has a display form by which the user can recognize at a glance as a point on the route line 301F. It is to be noted that the location point mark in the present example has a display form that is circular and larger in diameter than the thickness of the route line 301F. However, any other display form may be used, as long as the user can understand at a glance as a point on the route line 301F.

The user can understand correspondence relations between the route line 301F and the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM>, from positional relationships between the location point marks <NUM> and <NUM> and the own vehicle mark M and a positional relationship (an arrangement order) between the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM> (that is, the location point mark <NUM> corresponds to the location point information representation <NUM>, and the location point mark <NUM> corresponds to the location point information representation <NUM>). The simple route image 300F includes a connection line <NUM> connecting the location point mark <NUM> and the location point information representation <NUM>, and a connection line <NUM> connecting the location point mark <NUM> and the location point information representation <NUM>. Consequently, the user can clearly understand that the location point mark <NUM> corresponds to the location point information representation <NUM>, and the location point mark <NUM> corresponds to the location point information representation <NUM>.

Here, a description will be given with regard to a method, by the control unit <NUM>, for determining the points (the locations where the location point marks are drawn) on the route line 301F respectively corresponding to the location points <NUM> and <NUM>. First, the control unit <NUM> determines a point corresponding to the location point <NUM> on the route line 301F, so that a length from the vehicle mark M to the location point <NUM> in the detailed route image 300A and a length from the vehicle mark M to the location point mark <NUM> in the simple route image 300F are substantially identical to each other. Consequently, the length to the first passing location point does not change in the detailed route image 300A or the simple route image 300F. Therefore, the image can be switched from the detailed route image 300A to the simple route image 300F without giving the user an uneasy feeling.

In addition, the control unit <NUM> determines a point corresponding to the location point <NUM> on the route line 301F, based on a length from a point represented by the location point mark <NUM> on the route line 301F to the own vehicle mark M, and travel distances from the current location to the location point <NUM> and from the location point <NUM> to the location point <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the travel distance from the current location to the location point <NUM> is <NUM>, and the travel distance from the location point <NUM> to the location point <NUM> is <NUM>. Here, in a case where the length from the point represented by the location point mark <NUM> on the route line 301F to the own vehicle mark M is <NUM>, a point <NUM> (= (<NUM> × <NUM>)/<NUM>) ahead from the point represented by the location point mark <NUM> is determined to be the point corresponding to the location point <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> determines the points on the route line 301F respectively corresponding to the location points <NUM> and <NUM>, as the vehicle travels, and repeats a process of changing the locations representing the location point marks <NUM> and <NUM>. Consequently, the locations of the location point marks <NUM> and <NUM> move in a direction closer to the own vehicle mark M, as the own vehicle travels.

On the other hand, the control unit <NUM> does not immediately switch the image from the detailed route image 300A to the simple route image 300F. The control unit <NUM> switches and displays the detailed route image 300A, the intermediate images 300B to 300E, and the simple route image 300F in this order.

The intermediate images 300B to 300E respectively display the own vehicle mark M and the route lines 301B to 301E indicating the route. The intermediate images 300B to 300E represent a process of changing from the shape of the route line 301A in the detailed route image 300A to the shape (a straight line shape) of the route line 301F in the simple route image 300F. In addition, as shown in the intermediate image 300B and the intermediate image 300C, the map displayed in the detailed route image 300A is gradually erased.

As described heretofore, in the on-vehicle device <NUM> in the present example, the control unit <NUM> (an example of "the first processing unit" and "the second processing unit") causes the display 214c (an example of "the display unit") to display the detailed route image 300A (an example of "a first image") including a line, which indicates a route and which is the route line 301A (an example of "a first line") representing the location points <NUM> and <NUM> on the route with a shape of the line, and the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM> representing information related to the location points <NUM> and <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> displays the simple route image 300F (an example of "a second image"), which is displayed by switching from the detailed route image 300A. The simple route image 300F displays the route line 301F (an example of "a second line") having a shape different from that of the route line 301A to respectively associate the location points <NUM> and <NUM> with the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM>.

Therefore, according to the on-vehicle device <NUM> in the present example, the display image is switched from the detailed route image 300A including the route line 301A and the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM>, to the simple route image 300F, which displays the route line 301F having a shape different from that of the route line 301A to respectively associate the location points <NUM> and <NUM> on the route line 301A with the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM>. Accordingly, the user can easily understand the correspondence relation between the location point on the route and the location point information representation also in the image after switching.

In addition, in the on-vehicle device <NUM> in the present example, in the second process, the control unit <NUM> displays the simple route image 300F including the location point marks <NUM> and <NUM> (an example of "a symbol") indicating the correspondence relation between the points on the route line 301F respectively corresponding to the location points <NUM> and <NUM>, and the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM> respectively related to the location points <NUM> and <NUM>. Consequently, the user can easily understand the correspondence relation between the location point on the route and the location point information representation.

Furthermore, in the on-vehicle device <NUM> in the present example, the control unit <NUM> (a determination processing unit) performs a determination process of determining a location of the point on the route line 301F, based on a distance to the location point from a current location as a reference, and displays the simple route image 300F, in which the location point marks <NUM> and <NUM> are displayed at the locations that have been determined in the second process. Consequently, the user can understand a feeling of distance from the current location to each location point and a feeling of distance between the respective location points.

Furthermore, in the on-vehicle device <NUM> in the present example, in the second process, the control unit <NUM> causes the simple route image 300F to be displayed such that the location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> displayed in the simple route image 300F have at least one of a substantially identical display form or a substantially identical display location to the location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> displayed in the detailed route image 300A. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the user from being confused due to a change in the display form regarding the location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

Furthermore, in the on-vehicle device <NUM> in the present example, the length of the line indicating from the location of the own vehicle mark M (the current location) on the route line 301A to the first passing location point <NUM> in the detailed route image 300A and the length of the line indicating from the location of the own vehicle mark M (the current location) on the route line 301F to the location point mark <NUM> indicating the first passing location point in the simple route image 300F are substantially identical to each other. Consequently, in the detailed route image 300A and the simple route image 300F, it is possible to prevent the user from being confused by a change in the length of the line indicating the first passing location point from the current location between on the route line 301A and on the route line 301F and a change in the distance indicated by the line to a guided location point, that is, a change in scale.

Next, modifications of the present example will be described. It is to be noted that the modifications described below can be combined as appropriate.

In the above example, as shown in <FIG>, the connection lines <NUM> and <NUM> respectively connecting the location point marks <NUM> and <NUM> and the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM> are displayed in the simple route image 300F. However, as shown in <FIG>, the connection lines <NUM> and <NUM> may not be necessarily displayed. By displaying the location point marks <NUM> and <NUM> and the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM> in the passing order from the current location, the correspondence relations between the location point marks <NUM> and <NUM> and the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM> can be understood, even when the connection lines <NUM> and <NUM> are not displayed.

In the above example, as shown in <FIG>, in the detailed route image 300A, the location point where to make a course change next after the location point <NUM> on the route line 301A cannot be displayed on the detailed route image 300A. However, the location point information representation <NUM> corresponding to the location point where to make the course change next is also displayed. In accordance with this, as shown in <FIG>, the location point information representation <NUM> is also displayed in the simple route image 300F. However, as shown in <FIG>, the location point information representation <NUM> related to the location point where the location point mark is not displayed may not be necessarily displayed. Then, when it becomes possible to represent the location point where to make the course change next after the location point <NUM> with the location point mark as the own vehicle travels, the control unit <NUM> displays the location point mark and the location point information representation <NUM> that represents the information related to the location point indicated by the location point mark.

In the above example, as shown in <FIG>, the location point mark <NUM> is displayed so that the length from the own vehicle mark M to the location point <NUM> in the detailed route image 300A and the length from the own vehicle mark M to the location point mark <NUM> in the simple route image 300F are substantially identical to each other, and the location point mark <NUM> is displayed at a location on which the actual distances from the current location to the location points <NUM> and <NUM> are reflected. However, the location where the location point mark is displayed may be determined according to the number of the location point information representations to be displayed in the simple route image 300F. For example, as shown in <FIG>, in a case where three location point information representations are displayed, the three location point marks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> respectively corresponding to the location points <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be displayed so that the locations are evenly spaced apart from each other. In this case, even though the corresponding location point mark is not displayed, an uneasy feeling that the location point information representation is displayed will not be given to the user.

In the above example, as shown in <FIG>, in the simple route image 300F, the connection lines <NUM> and <NUM> respectively connecting the location point marks <NUM> and <NUM> and the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM> are displayed to be horizontal. However, the connection lines may be displayed diagonally. For example, as shown in <FIG>, in a case where the distance from the current location to the location point where the information is represented by the location point information representation <NUM> is <NUM>, the distance from the current location to the location point where the information is represented by the location point information representation <NUM> is <NUM>, and the distance from the current location to the location point where the information is represented by the location point information representation <NUM> is <NUM> (that is, the distance between the location points is <NUM>), the location point marks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> representing the respective location points are displayed in close proximity to each other on the route line 301F. In such a case, the connection lines <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are displayed so as to clarify the correspondence relations between the location point marks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In this situation, the connection lines <NUM> and <NUM> may be displayed diagonally.

In the above example, as shown in <FIG>, the connection lines <NUM> and <NUM> respectively connecting the location point marks <NUM> and <NUM> and the location point information representations <NUM> and <NUM> are displayed in the simple route image 300F. However, instead of this, the display forms of the location point marks displayed on the route line 301F may be different from each other, and the display form of each location point mark may be displayed in association with the location point information representation. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the location point mark <NUM> indicating the location point <NUM> representing the information with the location point information representation <NUM> is displayed in the display form of a white circle. A location point mark 332A indicating the location point <NUM> representing the information with the location point information representation <NUM> is displayed in the display form of a white triangle. A mark 311A having the display form of the white circle is displayed in the location point information representation <NUM>. A mark 312A having the display form of the white triangle is displayed in the location point information representation <NUM>. Consequently, the correspondence relation between the location point mark <NUM> and the location point information representation <NUM> and the correspondence relation between the location point mark <NUM> and the location point information representation <NUM> can be clarified.

As shown in <FIG>, the route line 301F displayed in the simple route image 300F may be displayed to be thicker in a bar shape. By making the route line 301F thicker, the marks can be displayed inside the line. Accordingly, a mark that clarifies the correspondence relation between the location point and the location point information representation may be displayed there. For example, a location point mark 331B indicating the location point <NUM> where the information is represented by the location point information representation <NUM> is displayed in the display form of "circled <NUM>". A location point mark 332B indicating the location point <NUM> where the information is represented by the location point information representation <NUM> is displayed in the display form of "circled <NUM>". A mark 311B having the display form of "circled <NUM>" is displayed in the location point information representation <NUM>. A mark 312B having the display form of "circled <NUM>" is displayed in the location point information representation <NUM>. Consequently, the correspondence relation between the location point mark 331B and the location point information representation <NUM> and the correspondence relation between the location point mark 332B and the location point information representation <NUM> can be clarified.

In the above example, as shown in <FIG>, the route line 301F displayed in the simple route image 300F is a straight line. However, as shown in <FIG>, the route line 301F may be bent. In this manner, by displaying the route line 301F along the lower part and the right part of the simple route image 300F, more location point information representations <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> can be displayed than those in the example of <FIG>.

In the above example, an intersection or a location point where to make a course change has been described as an example of the location point where the related information is displayed by the location point information representation. However, a location point where a facility such as a store, which is a stopover, exists may be used.

Claim 1:
An image control program for causing a computer to perform:
a first process of causing a display unit to display a first detailed route image (300A) including a first line (301A) and a location point information representation (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the first line being a line indicating a route and including a location point (<NUM>, <NUM>) on the route where a right or left turn is planned, the location point information representation representing information related to the location point; and
a second process of causing the display unit to display a second simple route image (300F) by switching from the first image, the second image displaying a second line (301F) being a line indicating the route including the location point and wherein the second line does not represent location points with the shape of the line, the second image associating the location point and the location point information representation,
characterised in that
while switching from the first image to the second image, a plurality of intermediate images (300B, 300C, 300D, 300E) representing a process of the shape changing from the first line to the second line are displayed, and
wherein the plurality of intermediate images are displayed while switching from the first image displaying a map to the second image not displaying the map to represent a process by which the map disappears.