JP2003172628A - Navigation device and navigation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To indicate a reason of making a detour when the detour is indicated on a display screen. <P>SOLUTION: A guiding path IRT from the present position to a destination position is surveyed, the guiding path is indicated on a display screen DPL, by-pass sections (N<SB>1</SB>→N<SB>2</SB>→N<SB>3</SB>→N<SB>4</SB>) are surveyed. When the by-pass sections are indicated on the display, a reason why the by-passing is necessary is indicated with a flag FL or a mark MK. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device and a navigation method, and more particularly to a navigation device that searches for a guide route from a current position to a destination, displays the guide route on a display screen, and guides the destination. And a navigation method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A route search in a navigation system considers all traffic regulation information such as one-way traffic, right turn prohibition, traffic closure, VICS traffic congestion information, and road information. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), when looking at the map guidance while traveling, it seems that it is better to drive straight ahead.
In some cases, route guidance is performed by a route IRT that makes a detour as shown in (b). When displaying one-way exit signs or displaying elevated roads with a gap between three-dimensionally overlapping roads,
You can understand why you are diverting.

[0003]

However, the reason for detouring is not only due to one-way traffic or viaducts, but also prohibiting right turns, blocking traffic, narrow roads, medians, fences, traffic jams, etc. There are various reasons for this, and conventionally there is a problem that it is not possible to recognize all of the reasons for these detours. Further, the one-way exit sign is displayed when the scale is detailed, and is not displayed on a map of about 100 m scale. Moreover, there is a problem that the map is difficult to see because all the one-way exit signs are displayed. In addition, the elevated display is displayed in an enlarged view, so you cannot understand it unless you approach it.
There is a problem that the gap display is difficult to see and is overlooked.

Further, when a clearly detour route is displayed, the user may look at the map and follow the shortest route that he / she found. Then, one way from the middle,
In some cases, the place where we thought it was a merger was overpassed, and the result was that the route we were guiding was the shortest, which resulted in a long operating time, which was also frustrating and not preferable for safe driving.

There is also a navigation device for performing route search by giving priority to national roads. Even with such a navigation device, as shown in FIG. 10, when the user is looking at the map guidance while traveling, the route that would be a good idea to drive straight is guided by a route that makes a detour. In this case, the straight route does not have a narrow road, there is no traffic regulation, and it is a detour route because the national road is preferentially selected by simply giving priority to the national road. When such a detour route is displayed, it is not known why you are detouring, and even if you try to go against the guidance route guidance and do another route search operation, you will not be guided straight ahead, On the other hand, if the driver ignores the guidance and goes straight, reroute setting is performed.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to display the reason for the detour when the detour is displayed on the display screen when the detour (roundabout) is performed. Another object of the present invention is to detour (circumnavigate) a predetermined link and, when the link is instructed, if the link cannot be reached by going straight through the link and giving a reason to that effect. It is to output and, if reachable, to that effect and to re-search for a guide route that goes straight through the link.

[0007]

The first aspect of the present invention is to search for a guide route from a current position to a destination, display the guide route on a display screen, and search for a detour section included in the guide route. When the detour section is displayed on the display screen, the detour reason is displayed. By displaying the detour reason in this way, the user can drive with peace of mind.

A second aspect of the present invention is to check whether a guide route bypasses the road link when a road link on the map displayed on the display screen is instructed. It is checked whether or not the guide route can be reached by going straight on the designated road link, if it is not reachable, the fact is output with a reason, and if it is reachable, the fact is output. At the same time, the guide route that goes straight on the road link is searched again. Since the detour reason is added in this way, the user can understand the reason for the detour and can drive with peace of mind. Further, when the route can be reached by going straight through the bypassed road link, the route going straight can be searched again for route guidance.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (A) Outline of the present invention (a) Detour reason display FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of detour reason display, and (a) is an example of displaying a detour reason by a flag or a balloon. b) is an example of displaying the detour reason by a symbol. The guide route from the current position to the destination is searched, the guide route IRT is displayed on the display screen DPL, and the detour section (N1
→ N2 → N3 → N4) and search for the detour section
When displayed on the DPL, the reason for the detour is displayed by the flag FL as shown in (a) or the symbol MK as shown in (b). Since the reason for the detour is displayed in this way, the user can drive with peace of mind. The balloon display means a display such as 1 and 2 in FIG.

(B) Route re-searching FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of a case where the detour section on the guide route cannot be shortcut-cut, the reason is output, and if the shortcut is possible, the route re-search is performed so as to be shortcut. When the road link L1 on the map displayed on the display screen is instructed by touch, the guide route
It is checked whether the IRT is bypassing the link, and if it is bypassing, it is checked whether it is possible to reach the guide route IRT by going straight on the designated road link L1. Is displayed as shown in 2 with a reason,
Alternatively, it is output by voice, and if it is reachable, it is displayed as indicated by 1 or is output by voice, and the guide route IRT 'that goes straight on the link L1 is searched again. Since the detour reason is added in this way, the user can understand the reason for the detour and can drive with peace of mind. Further, when it is possible to go straight through the detoured link and reach the original guide route, it is possible to search for the straight route and guide according to the route.

(B) Navigation Device of the Present Invention FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the navigation device of the present invention. In the figure, 11 is a map storage medium for storing map information, for example,
DVD (digital video disc), 12 is a DVD control unit for controlling reading of map information from the DVD, 13 is a position measuring device for measuring the current vehicle position, and 14 is map information around the vehicle position read from the DVD. Map information memory,
Reference numeral 15 denotes a remote controller for performing various settings and instructions by menu selection, as well as operations such as address input and enlargement / reduction,
Reference numeral 16 is a remote control interface.

Reference numeral 17 is a CPU (navigation control unit) for controlling the entire navigation device, and 18 is a ROM for storing various software and fixed data. The software is a guide route search software SF1,
There are route guidance software SF2, detour reason display software SF3, and the like. Reference numeral 19 is a work RAM for temporarily storing guide route data and various processing results, 21 is a display controller for generating a map image / guide route, etc.
2 is a video RAM for storing images generated by the display controller, 23 is a menu / list generation unit for generating various menus and lists, 24 is an image combining unit for combining and outputting various images, and 25 is an output from the image combining unit. A display device (monitor) for displaying an image to be displayed, 26 is a transparent touch panel unit, which is arranged on the front surface of the display screen, and 27 is a voice guidance for guiding the distance to the intersection, the traveling direction, the reason for the detour, etc. by voice. Part 28 is a VICS information receiver.

The guide route data stored in the RAM is shown in FIG.
As shown in 4, the nodes from the starting point to the destination are arranged in order, each node has a latitude and longitude, an intersection flag indicating whether or not it is an intersection, and a straight ahead regulation indicating whether or not it is a straight ahead regulation start node. A start flag, a straight-travel regulation end flag indicating whether the node is a straight-travel regulation end node, and a straight-travel regulation (passage prohibition) reason are associated with each other. As shown in FIG. 1, when the node N1 is the straight-travel regulation start node and the node N4 is the straight-travel regulation end node due to the traffic closure, the straight-travel regulation start flag of the node N1 is 1 and the straight-travel regulation of the node N4 is restricted. The end flag becomes 1. In addition, the reason for prohibition of traffic is entered with a vehicle suspension. The VICS information received by the VICS information receiver 28 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, link number, traffic jam start position, traffic jam length,
It includes the degree of congestion.

(C) Detour reason display processing FIG. 6 is a first detour reason display processing flow of the present invention. When the destination is input, the navigation control unit 17 follows the route search software SF1 and the map storage medium and V
The route with the shortest distance (route A) is searched without considering all the traffic regulation information and road information obtained from the ICS (step 101). As traffic regulation and road information, ・ One-way traffic ・ Prohibition of right turn ・ Closed road ・ Winter closed road ・ Day of the week ・ Time-controlled road ・ Median strip ・ Fence (only cars can pass) ・ The bridge ahead is not a general road ( Only pedestrians can cross) ・ Overpass ・ Narrow road ・ VICS traffic congestion causes traffic congestion ・ 10km speed limit.

Next, the navigation control unit searches for a route (route B) with the shortest distance in consideration of all traffic regulations and road information (step 102). After that, the navigation control unit compares the route A and the route B and checks whether there is a section where the distance of the route A is short (step 103), and if there is, a guide route information of the route B (see FIG. 4).
(See reference), the straight-travel regulation start flag, the straight-travel regulation end flag, and the detour reason are inserted (step 104). For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the link L1 between the nodes N1 and N4 is detoured as N1 → N2 → N3 → N4 as shown in FIG. 1, the straight travel restriction start flag and the detour reason are associated with the node N1 in FIG. Fill in (Vehicle closure) and fill in the straight ahead regulation end flag corresponding to node N4.

When the processing of step 104 is completed for all the sections where the distance of the route A is shorter than that of the route B, the navigation control section 17 starts the route guidance using the route guidance software according to the route guidance software SF2.
(Step 105). As a result, the guide route is displayed on the display screen, and the map and the guide route are scroll-displayed according to the traveling of the automobile. The navigation control unit checks whether the detour section is displayed on the display screen.
If not displayed (step 106), it is checked whether the destination has been reached (step 108), and if not reached, the processing from step 105 onward is repeated.

On the other hand, in step 106, if the detour section is displayed on the display screen, the detour reason included in the guide route information is read and the detour reason is displayed near the detoured link L1 by a flag or a balloon ( Step 107). In the example of FIG. 1 (a), the detour reason is displayed by a flag, but it may be displayed as shown in FIG. 1 (b) by using a symbol corresponding to the detour reason. Fig. 7 shows an example of the symbols, and shows the correspondence between the reasons for detours and the symbols. Based on traffic signs, all impassable symbols such as fences, medians, etc. are displayed using symbols that are closed. Then, it is checked whether the destination has been reached (step 108), and if not reached, the processing from step 105 onward is repeated.

FIG. 8 is a second detour reason display processing flow of the present invention, and it is assumed that the guide route has already been searched.
However, the guide route information includes only the same information as the conventional one such as the latitude and longitude of the nodes forming the guide route and the intersection flag. The navigation control unit 17 uses the route guidance software SF
According to 2, the route guidance is started using the guidance route information (step 201). As a result, the guide route is displayed on the display screen, and the map and the guide route are scroll-displayed according to the traveling of the automobile.

The navigation control unit uses the map information and the detour reason display software SF3 to check whether or not the detour section is included in the guide route displayed on the display screen and the straight-ahead section that short-cuts the detour section is displayed. If it is not displayed (step 202), it is checked whether or not the destination has been reached (step 204). If it has not been reached, the processing from step 201 onward is repeated.

On the other hand, in step 202, if the detour section and the straight section are displayed on the display screen, the reason for the detour is acquired from the map information, and a flag or a balloon is displayed near the link forming the straight section or by a symbol. The reason for the detour is displayed (step 203). Then, it is checked whether or not the destination has been reached (step 204), and if not reached, the processing from step 201 onward is repeated. As described above, even if a detour / non-optimal route is displayed, the reason is automatically displayed, so that the user is not anxious.

(D) Route re-search process FIG. 9 is a process flow for performing route re-search so as to output the reason for the detour if the detour section included in the guide route cannot be shortcut and, if the shortcut can be made, perform a shortcut. When the guide route is displayed on the display screen based on the guide route information together with the map around the vehicle, the navigation control unit 17 monitors whether any link portion on the map is touched (step 301) and touches it. For example, it is checked whether or not the guide route bypasses the link (step 302), and if not bypassed, the process returns to step 301 to repeat the subsequent processing. It should be noted that the link instruction can be given not only by touch on the touch panel but also by a method such as a joystick or a cursor.

On the other hand, if the guide route bypasses the touched link, it is checked whether it is possible to reach the guide route from the current vehicle position through the link (step 303). If it is impossible to reach the guide route through the touched link due to traffic closure, one-way traffic, right turn prohibition, or any other reason, the voice guidance unit 27 outputs a voice to the effect that the traffic cannot be passed and a simple reason ( Step 304).
For example, the voice guidance "This road has driving restrictions. You cannot run." After that, the route up to that point is displayed without re-searching the route (step 305), and the process returns to the beginning and the subsequent processes are repeated.

On the other hand, in step 303, if it is possible to reach the guide route through the touched link, a voice output that the route re-search (reroute) is performed is output.
(Step 306). For example, the voice guidance "This road can be run. The route will be reset." After that, search the route that goes through the link specified by the touch
(Step 307), the re-searched route is displayed on the display screen (step 308), the process returns to the beginning and the subsequent processes are repeated. As described above, when a detouring route is selected even if a straight road is possible due to priority on national roads, it is possible to perform a route re-search so as to easily go straight by instructing a straight link. If the user cannot go straight due to traffic stop, right turn prohibition, one-way traffic, etc., the reason is displayed, so that the user can drive with peace of mind.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the detour section included in the guide route is searched, and when the detour section is displayed on the display screen, the reason why the detour is necessary is displayed. The user can understand the reason for the detour and can drive with peace of mind. Further, according to the present invention, when a predetermined road link on the map displayed on the display screen is instructed, it is checked whether the guide route detours the link, and if it detours, It is checked whether the guide route can be reached by going straight on the instructed road link, and if it is not reachable, the fact is output with a reason, and if it is reachable, the fact is output. Since the guide route that goes straight through the link is searched again, the user can understand the reason for the detour by simply pointing the link and can drive with peace of mind. In addition, when the detoured road link can go straight to reach the guidance route, it is possible to easily re-search and guide the route going straight.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a detour reason display.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a case in which if a detour section on a guide route cannot be shortcutted, the reason is output, and if a shortcut can be made, a route re-search is performed so as to perform a shortcut.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a navigation device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of guide route data.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of VICS information.

FIG. 6 is a first detour reason display processing flow of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of correspondence between detour reasons and symbols.

FIG. 8 is a second detour reason display processing flow of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a processing flow for outputting a reason for not being able to shortcut the detour section on the guide route and performing a route re-search so as to be shortcut if the shortcut is possible.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a conventional problem.

[Explanation of symbols]

IRT induction route L1 straight section N1 → N2 → N3 → N4 Detour section FL flag MK symbol

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Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A navigation method for a navigation device for guiding to a destination, searching for a guide route from a current position to a destination, displaying the guide route on a display screen, and searching for a detour section included in the guide route. Then, when the detour section is displayed on the display screen, the reason for the detour is displayed. 2. The navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the detour reason is displayed near a straight-ahead section where the detour section detours. 3. The navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the detour reason is displayed as a symbol in the vicinity of a straight-ahead section where the detour section detours. 4. A navigation device which searches for a guidance route from a current position to a destination, displays the guidance route on a display screen and guides the destination, and means for searching a detour section included in the guidance route, A navigation device comprising: means for monitoring whether or not the detour section is displayed on the display screen; and means for displaying a detour reason on the display screen when the detour section is displayed on the display screen. 5. A navigation method in a navigation device for searching a guidance route from a current position to a destination, displaying the guidance route on a display screen and guiding the destination to a destination, on a map displayed on the display screen. When a road link is instructed, it is checked whether the guide route bypasses the road link, and if it is bypassed, it is possible to go straight through the instructed road link to reach the guide route. It is characterized in that if it is unreachable, it is output with a reason to that effect, if it is reachable, that effect is output, and the guide route that goes straight on the road link is searched again. Navigation method. 6. A navigation device that searches for a guide route from a current position to a destination, displays the guide route on a display screen and guides the destination to a road link on a map displayed on the display screen. A means for instructing, a means for checking whether or not the guide route bypasses the link when a road link is instructed, and if it is bypassing, goes straight on the instructed road link to reach the guide route A means to check whether it is possible, a means to output it if it is unreachable, a means to output it if it is reachable, and a route re-search to re-search the guide route that goes straight on the link if it is reachable. A navigation device comprising: search means.