JP2003330933A - Destination determination supporting method, device, and its computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine a destination desired by a user and taking account of weather conditions. <P>SOLUTION: This destination determination supporting method supports to determine the destination desired by the user by displaying information related to candidates as retrieval results obtained by searching places pertaining to a category as the candidates of the user's desired destination in an information center based on information expressing the user's desired category, which is set as retrieval conditions by a navigation device; and information expressing weather forecast states of the respective candidates, on the same screen on the navigation device as a list. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technical field of assisting a user in determining a destination desired by using an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for acquiring various information from an external server or the like to a personal computer by utilizing a communication environment such as the Internet has been widely used. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-143358 discloses such communication. There has been proposed a technique for performing navigation such as route guidance between an in-vehicle navigation device having a communication function that is communicatively connected in an environment and an information center.

According to the above conventional navigation device,
While traveling to the destination, various useful information can be acquired, and efficient transportation can be performed.

[0004]

In the field of the navigation device as described above, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-
Japanese Patent No. 353381 proposes a technique for determining an appropriate stop-over place on a route from a starting point to a destination. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-012963, a destination desired by a user and a route to the destination are proposed. There is proposed a technology for automatically setting the, according to the preference of the user. According to such a navigation device, the user can easily set a desired destination, which is highly convenient.

In general, some destinations that the user is going to visit may be restricted in action depending on the weather condition at the destination, but the weather conditions are taken into consideration by the conventional navigation device. Therefore, if the weather condition at the destination you arrived at is bad weather such as rain, such as swimming or skiing, it is assumed that the actions scheduled in advance may be restricted or may not be performed at all. To be done. On the contrary, when watching a movie or shopping at a department store, the action scheduled in advance does not depend on the weather condition at the destination.

That is, according to the above-mentioned conventional technique capable of automatically setting a destination desired by a user and a route to the destination according to the preference of the user, a certain purpose is obtained by searching until now. It is also assumed that when the destination arrives, the weather at the destination may be bad (for example, rainfall), and the originally planned action (for example, swimming in the beach) cannot be performed at the searched destination. .

[0007] Here, the user searches for a certain destination, narrows down any one of the destinations, and then searches for the weather forecast for the destination, thereby obtaining the weather forecast for the destination. If you notify in advance,
Since the user can understand the weather when the user arrives at the destination desired by the user, the possibility that the originally planned action cannot be performed as described above can be minimized. However, if the weather forecast for a destination is unfavorable,
The user must be able to repeatedly perform a series of search operations of searching for the next destination and searching for the weather forecast for that destination until a suitable destination and weather forecast can be hit,
Very annoying to the user.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a destination decision support method and apparatus for realizing a destination decision desired by a user in consideration of weather conditions, and a computer program therefor.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a destination decision support method according to the present invention is characterized by the following configuration.

That is, a destination decision support method for assisting the user in determining a destination desired by using an information processing apparatus, the method being based on information representing a user desired genre set as a search condition. Places that belong to the genre
As a candidate destination of the destination desired by the user, a search step of searching by the information processing device, information about a candidate site acquired as a search result in the search step, and information indicating a weather forecast state for each of the candidate sites. And
A destination decision support method, which comprises a list display on the same screen of the information terminal used by the user to assist the user in determining a desired destination.

In a preferred embodiment, in the searching step, the identification belonging to the user desired genre is specified based on the information indicating the user desired genre and the area information set as the search condition. Information indicating the weather forecast state for a region is displayed on the information terminal, and a search is performed when the candidate site is searched in response to a partial region desired by the user being selected in the displayed specific region. The target area should be limited to a part of the area.

In the above case, for example, in the search step, the information representing the weather forecast state of the area obtained based on the information representing the area desired by the user set as the search condition is the area. When it is indicated that the weather condition is uniform in a plurality of partial area units that make up the above, it is preferable that a symbol that allows the user to recognize the uniform weather condition is displayed.

Further, for example, in the support step, in accordance with the information indicating the genre desired by the user set as the search condition, the information indicating the weather forecast state is displayed in a list on the same screen together with the information on the candidate sites. It is better to decide whether or not to do it.

Further, for example, in the support process, when displaying the information indicating the weather forecast state of each of the candidate sites in a list, the information is displayed for each time zone and the arrival is made when the destination is decided by the user. Expected time zones may be displayed for each of the individual candidate sites.

In addition, for example, in the support step, when displaying a list of information indicating the weather forecast state of each of the candidate sites, when any of the candidate sites is determined as a destination desired by the user, the candidate is selected. It is preferable to display a time zone in which arrival at the ground is expected and information indicating a weather forecast state in the time zone.

[0016] Alternatively, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a destination decision support method having another configuration according to the present invention, characterized by the following configuration.

That is, it is a destination decision support method for assisting the user in determining a destination desired by using an information processing apparatus, wherein the user can set a search condition for each genre.
The correspondence information is stored based on a storage step of previously storing correspondence information associated with information indicating a corresponding weather condition, information indicating a weather forecast condition, and information indicating a genre desired by a user set as a search condition. By searching, the information processing device searches for a location in a weather forecast state that belongs to the genre and matches the information indicating the weather state corresponding to the genre, as a candidate destination of the destination desired by the user. A step of supporting the decision of a desired destination by the user by displaying information about a candidate site acquired as a search result in the search step on an information terminal used by the user. Characterize.

Further, in the destination determination support method having the above-mentioned other configuration, preferably, in the searching step, the correspondence information is referred to based on the information representing the user desired genre set as the search condition. Therefore, a place belonging to the genre, where the information indicating the weather forecast state in the time zone expected to arrive at the place matches the information indicating the weather state corresponding to the genre, is desired by the user. It is preferable that the information processing apparatus searches for a candidate destination of the destination.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned same purpose, the destination determination support device according to the present invention is characterized by the following configuration.

That is, a destination decision support device for assisting in the decision of a destination desired by a user, wherein, based on the information representing the genre desired by the user set as a search condition, a place belonging to the genre is identified by the user. A list of search means for searching as a candidate destination of a desired destination, information about a candidate site acquired as a search result by the search means, and information indicating a weather forecast state of each of the candidate sites is displayed on the same screen. By providing possible information to the information terminal used by the user, a support means for assisting the user in determining a desired destination is provided.

In a preferred embodiment, the search means displays a man-machine interface in which the user can set whether or not the support means needs to display the information indicating the weather forecast status of each of the candidate sites. It is preferable to include means for providing the information terminal to the information terminal.

Alternatively, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a destination decision support device having another configuration according to the present invention, characterized by the following configuration.

That is, the destination determination support device for supporting the determination of the destination desired by the user, in which the correspondence information in which the information indicating the corresponding weather condition is associated in advance for each genre that can be set by the user as the search condition is displayed. By referring to the corresponding information on the basis of the storage means for storing, the information indicating the weather forecast state, and the information indicating the genre desired by the user set as the search condition, it is possible to belong to that genre and A search unit that searches for a place in a weather forecast state that matches information indicating a corresponding weather state as a candidate destination of the destination desired by the user, and information about the candidate site acquired as a search result by the search unit is stored by the user. By displaying on an information terminal used by the user, supporting means for assisting the user in determining a desired destination. Destination determination assisting device, characterized in that to obtain.

Further, the same object is also achieved by a program code for instructing the operation of the destination determination support device having the above-mentioned configuration or a corresponding method, and a computer-readable storage medium in which the program code is stored. To be achieved.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a destination decision support method and device for realizing a user-desired destination decision in consideration of weather conditions, and a computer program therefor.

That is, according to the first, ninth and twelfth aspects of the present invention, the candidate destinations belonging to the genre desired by the user set as the search condition and the weather forecast state for the candidate destinations are selected. Since and are displayed on the same screen, the user can determine the destination in consideration of the weather condition, which is highly convenient.

Further, according to the inventions of claims 2 and 13, since the search target area is limited to a partial area within the specific area desired by the user, when the information processing apparatus executes the search. The processing load of can be reduced.

Further, according to the inventions of claims 3 and 14, prior to searching the candidate sites for list display, the weather condition of each partial area constituting the entire desired area is determined by the user. Since the information can be recognized by itself, it is possible to prevent an unnecessary search from being performed in the information processing device, and it is possible to quickly determine the destination.

Further, for example, in the case where the behavior at the destination is not affected by the weather condition, it is assumed that the weather forecast condition for the destination is not necessary to be displayed. According to the invention of claim 15, when displaying the information on the corresponding candidate site,
It is rational that it can be configured not to display the information indicating the weather forecast state for the candidate site.

Further, according to the inventions of claims 5 and 16, when the user decides the destination from the list of candidate places, the user is expected to arrive at the destination. Since it is possible to recognize the weather forecast state of the destination in the belt, it is rational and convenient.

Further, according to the inventions of claims 6 and 17, for a candidate site determined as a destination desired by the user, a time zone expected to arrive and a weather forecast state in that time zone are shown. Since the information is displayed, the processing load on the information processing apparatus can be reduced as compared with the case where the time zone and the information indicating the weather forecast state are displayed for each candidate site.

According to the seventh and eleventh aspects of the present invention, the place in the weather forecast state that belongs to the genre desired by the user and matches the weather state corresponding to the genre is the destination desired by the user. Since it is displayed as a candidate on the information terminal, the user can easily determine the optimum destination without considering the weather forecast state when arriving at the destination belonging to the genre desired by the user. It is possible and highly convenient.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 7, the weather condition in the time zone when the vehicle arrives at the destination is automatically taken into consideration, which is more convenient. high.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the necessity of displaying the information indicating the weather forecast state can be set by the user himself, which is highly convenient.

[0035]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a destination determination support system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall outline of a destination determination support system according to the first embodiment. In addition, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the information center 1 and the navigation device 2 that configure the destination determination support system in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the information center 1
Is an information processing device (information providing device) such as a server computer having a communication function, and is a C of the information center 1.
The PU 31 executes various software programs stored in the memory (storage medium) 32, such as the destination determination support processing according to the present embodiment and general communication processing, and thereby the Internet such as the Internet. Information used by the user is received from the weather information providing center 6 via the communication network 7 while receiving information indicating the weather forecast state for each time zone (for example, every several hours) while appropriately referring to the database 33. By performing data communication with the navigation device 2 as a terminal via the communication network 7 and the wireless communication base station 4, by providing information regarding a candidate site belonging to a genre or the like desired by the user, Assists in the determination of the desired destination and, if needed, to the selected destination Performing road induction (details will be described later).

The database (DB) 33 stores user identification (ID) information regarding a plurality of users who can receive support by the destination determination support processing according to the present embodiment, and can be selected by the user. Information (including location information) that identifies various facilities that can be destinations is a genre (category) to which each facility belongs.
Are stored systematically (for example, in a hierarchical manner such as large classification-medium classification-small classification).

The navigation device 2 is a vehicle 1 that can receive a destination decision support service by this system.
An information terminal used by an occupant (driver or the like) of No. 00, which implements a general navigation function as an in-vehicle device when mounted on a vehicle 100, and also has a wireless transceiver 19, a base station 4, and a communication network. Data communication with the information center 1 can be performed via 7.

More specifically, the navigation device 2 is
It has software (software program) of a general navigation function for guiding a route to a destination desired by a user, which is stored in a storage device such as the ROM 21. This software is the CPU 1
1, the navigation device 2 executes the current position detected by the GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 12, the traffic information detected by the VICS receiver 13, and the user by the user. Operating state of switch 15,
The display 1 based on the map information around the current position read from the storage medium such as the DVD-ROM 14 and the detection results by the vehicle speed sensor 16 and the gyro sensor 17 and the like.
While displaying a map image of the vicinity of the vehicle 100 on 8,
When the destination desired by the user is set, the route guidance to the destination is performed by the synthesized voice or the like output from the speaker 20.

Further, the navigation device 2 includes the ROM 2
Information acquisition processing according to the present embodiment (details will be described later) stored in a storage device such as No. 1 or the like, software of a general communication protocol capable of performing Internet communication (software program), It has an Internet browser function and a mail function for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device via the wireless transceiver 19 according to the software, and a general software group for drawing the browser.
The navigation device 2 receives various information from the information center 1 by being appropriately executed while referring to the RAM 22 in 1.

The weather information providing center 6 is an information processing device such as a server computer having a communication function,
The CPU (not shown) of the weather information providing center 6 sequentially stores in the database (not shown) information representing the weather forecast state for each time zone (for example, every several hours) in various places. The weather information providing center 6 provides the information center 1 with at least information representing the weather forecast status for each time zone for the area designated by the information center 1 via the communication network 7.

In the present embodiment, in the information center 1, the navigation device 2, and the weather information providing center 6, when handling position information (coordinate values),
A common coordinate system is used.

Next, the specific operation examples of the information center 1 and the navigation device 2 will be described to explain the destination decision support service in this embodiment in detail.

<Navigation Device 2> FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an information acquisition process performed by the navigation device 2 in this embodiment. For example, when the CPU 11 of the navigation device 2 is logged in to the information center 1, the internet browser is used. It represents the procedure of processing performed on the function.

In the figure, step S1: the navigation device 2 determines whether or not an operation for requesting a destination decision support is performed, and if the operation is performed, the process proceeds to step S2.

Step S2: The navigation device 2
The current position information of the terminal itself acquired by the GPS receiver 12 and the request signal for the destination decision support are transmitted to the information center 1.

Step S3: The navigation device 2
Based on the information received from the information center 1 according to the processing in step S2, a destination search menu screen as illustrated in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display 18 (details will be described later).

Step S4: The navigation device 2
Information representing items such as genre and search area specified by the user on the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4),
Alternatively, information or the like indicating the operation of the “search” button for starting the search processing of the destination in the information center 1
Send to Information Center 1.

Step S5: The navigation device 2
Based on the information received from the information center 1 according to the processing in step S4, the search results in the information center 1 are displayed in a list on the display 18 as illustrated in FIG. 5 (details will be described later).

Step S6: The navigation device 2
As shown in FIG. 5, one of the candidate destinations is selected as the destination desired by the user on the display screen in which a plurality of candidate destinations are displayed in a list, and the “route guidance” button corresponding to the selected destination is operated. If it is determined that no operation is performed, the process returns to step S1, for example.

Step S7: If any of the candidate destinations is selected as the destination in step S6 and the "route guidance" button corresponding to the selected destination is operated,
The navigation device 2 transmits to the information center 1 a request signal for obtaining a route guidance route to the destination. The current position information indicating the current position of the navigation device 2 may be transmitted to the information center 1 in this step.

Step S8: The navigation device 2
Based on the information indicating the route guidance route received from the information center 1 according to the process in step S7, the route guidance process to the destination is executed.

In this embodiment, the information center 1
Even if the information indicating the route taxiway received from is only information consisting of coordinate values of a plurality of points indicating the route taxiway,
Alternatively, the information for displaying the map image around the route taxiway may be included. That is, since the route guidance process performed by the navigation device 2 in the present embodiment is a general navigation function at present, a detailed description thereof will be omitted, but information including coordinate values of a plurality of points representing the route guidance route is provided as information. In the case of the system configuration of receiving from the center 1, route guidance is performed based on the received information while referring to the map information 14 provided in the navigation device 2, while displaying a map image around the route guidance route. In the case of a system configuration in which the above information can be received from the information center 1, the map information 14 does not need to be prepared in the navigation device 2.

In this embodiment, the case where the navigation device 2 mounted on the vehicle 100 is used as the information terminal operated by the user who is going to decide the destination to go out has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, as shown in FIG. 1, the destination determination support method according to the present invention is used when a user uses a portable information terminal 3 such as a wireless telephone or a personal computer installed at the user's residence or the like. It can be applied even when the user terminal 5 such as a computer is used.

More specifically, when the portable information terminal 3 is used, the current position information is obtained by a GPS receiver mounted on the portable information terminal, or the portable information terminal 3 is equipped with a GPS receiver. If not, the information center 1 may obtain the cell in which the mobile information terminal exists from the base station 4, although the accuracy is expected to decrease to some extent.

Further, when the portable information terminal 3 or the user terminal 5 is used as an information terminal operated by the user, and the information terminal does not have map information,
Instead of transmitting the current position information to the information center 1, the address of the desired place (for example, the whereabouts of the user, etc.) input at the user terminal may be converted to the current position information at the information center 2. Good. Then, in this case, the information indicating the route guidance route received from the information center 1 in the route guidance process in step S8 includes:
It is necessary to include not only the coordinate values of a plurality of points indicating the route taxiway but also information for displaying the map image around the route taxiway.

<Information Center 1> FIG. 6 and FIG.
Is a flowchart showing a destination decision support process performed by the information center 1 in the embodiment of
Represents a procedure of processing performed by the CPU 31.

In the figure, Steps S11 and S12: Processes corresponding to Steps S1 to S3 in the information acquisition process (FIG. 3) of the navigation device 2 described above, in which the information center 1 provides services by this system. Information for displaying the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4) when the current position information and the request signal for the destination determination support are received from the navigation device that can receive the information (step S11). To
It transmits to the target navigation apparatus 2 (step S12).

FIG. 4 is a view exemplifying a destination search menu screen displayed on the display 18 of the navigation 2 used by the user who receives the destination determination support service according to the first embodiment. In this step, It is assumed that only the setting area on the left half of the screen is displayed.

On the destination search menu screen (setting area on the left half) shown in the figure, the user systematically stores various facilities stored in the database 33 in the "destination genre" column. Similar to the above classification, the genre desired by the user is input by repeatedly performing the operation of selecting a desired option from the options sequentially displayed in a hierarchical manner. In the display example shown in FIG.
In the "Destination genre" column, the state in which the "beach", which belongs to the major category "leisure" as the middle category or the minor category, is designated (selected) as the destination genre desired by the user by the selection operation Has been done.

On the destination search menu screen (setting area on the left half) shown in FIG. 4, the user searches the "search area" column for destination candidates belonging to the genre desired by the user as specified above. A desired area (area) can be set as a search target area in the unit of a desired region, prefecture, municipality, or the like. In the display example shown in FIG. 4, the “search area” column shows a state in which the area “in Shimane prefecture” is set by the setting operation.

Further, on the destination search menu screen (setting area in the left half) shown in FIG. 4, the user can set a desired departure time after the current time in the "departure time" column.

Step S13: The information center 1 determines whether the destination genre or the like is specified on the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4) described above, and the navigation device 2
Whether the information indicating the "destination genre" included in the received information represents a preset specific genre based on the information (including "destination genre", "search area", and "departure time") received from If the information represents a specific genre, the process proceeds to step S14. If the information represents a genre different from the specific genre, the process proceeds to step S13.

Here, the "specific genre" refers to an action (for example, skiing, sea bathing, golf, etc.) that is greatly affected by the weather condition of the destination when the intended action is performed at the destination. It is a genre.

In the present embodiment, the subsequent processing is switched depending on whether or not the genre desired by the user corresponds to the specific genre in the above step S13. Since it is assumed that the action at the destination is not affected by the weather condition, the information on the candidate place is displayed on the navigation device 2 by proceeding with the route of step S14 described later (Fig. In step S5 of 3), the display of the weather forecast state can be omitted, and processing such as access to the weather information providing center 6 (step S20 in FIG. 7) can be omitted, which is rational.

Step S14: The information center 1 searches the various facilities stored in the database 33 for a candidate site belonging to the genre designated as the "destination genre" as described above, and displays the search result. The information for doing so (name of facility, explanation about the facility, position information or map information of the location and its surroundings, etc.) is transmitted to the target navigation device 2, and the process proceeds to step S24.

Step S15: Since it is determined that the specific genre is designated in step S13, the weather condition occupies a large weight in order for the user to comfortably perform the action represented by the specific genre. Therefore, the information center 1 accesses the weather information providing center 6 in accordance with the information indicating the “search area” included in the information received from the navigation device 2 to obtain information about the designated area (specific area) desired by the user. Information indicating the current weather forecast state is obtained, and it is determined whether or not the weather state is uniform for each of a plurality of partial areas forming the designated area (specific area).

Step S17: If it is determined in step S15 that the weather conditions are uniform, the information center 1
Indicates the information indicating the weather forecast state obtained in step S15 and the information for displaying on the search menu screen that the weather condition is uniform for each of the plurality of partial areas. Send to 2. As a result, in the display area on the right half of the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4) displayed on the navigation device 2, a plurality of regions forming the area corresponding to the “search area” designated by the user as described above are formed. A symbol is displayed as information indicating the current weather forecast state for each of the partial areas (in the example shown in the figure, by wide area within Shimane prefecture).

Note that the information indicating the weather forecast state is not limited to symbols, and characters such as "fine" and "rain" may be used, but this embodiment and the second embodiment described later are also applicable. , The case where the most general symbol is displayed will be described as an example.

Step S16: If it is determined in step S15 that the weather conditions are not uniform, the information center 1
Transmits the information representing the weather forecast state obtained in step S15 to the target navigation device 2.
The current weather forecast status (not shown) of the area displayed in the right half display area of the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4) according to this step is more detailed than that in step S17 described above. A symbol will be displayed for each (divided) area. As a result, the user can recognize the weather condition for each of the partial areas that make up the entire desired area, so that it is possible to prevent unnecessary searches from being performed at the information center 1, and to determine the destination. It can be decided quickly.

Step S18: The information center 1 is requested to search for a destination by operating the "search" button on the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4) displayed by the target navigation device 2. Whether or not the search is requested, the process proceeds to step S19, and if not requested, the process returns to step S11, for example. At this time, prior to the operation of the “search” button, the user selects one of the partial areas displayed in step S16 or step S17 in the display area in the right half of the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4). In this case, the selected partial area is selected as the search target area, and the search target area in step S19 is limited to a partial area within the specific area desired by the user. It is possible to reduce the processing load when the search is executed in 1. On the other hand, if none of the partial areas is selected, it means that all the areas designated as the "search area" are selected as the search target areas.

Step S19: The information center 1 stores in the database 33 the candidate sites belonging to the genre (specific genre) and the area (all areas or partial areas specified as the "search area") specified as described above. Search from various facilities, and obtain the name of the facility (candidate site) obtained by the search, explanation about the facility, location information or location and map information around it).

Step S20: The information center 1 obtains the information indicating the weather forecast status of each candidate site obtained by the search in step S19 by accessing the weather information providing center 6.

Step S21: In order to hide the weather condition on the search result display screen (FIG. 5), the information center 1 displays the "weather not displayed" on the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4) displayed on the navigation device 2. It is determined whether the "display" button has been operated. If the button has been operated, the process proceeds to step S23, and if not, the process proceeds to step S22. In this embodiment,
Whether or not it is necessary to display the weather condition (weather forecast condition) on the search result display screen (FIG. 5) (display of the symbol indicating the weather condition as an example in the present embodiment) is described in step S1 above.
Not only by automatic discrimination of genres in 3,
It is convenient because it can be set by the user himself.

Step S22: This is a process corresponding to step S5 in the information acquisition process (FIG. 3) of the navigation device 2 described above, in which the information center 1 executes step S5.
Information regarding each candidate site obtained by the search in 19 and information for displaying the weather forecast state in a list on the same screen are the target navigation device 2
Send to. As a result, the search result display screen as illustrated in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display 18 of the navigation device 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying a search result display screen displayed on the display 18 of the navigation 2 used by the user who receives the destination determination support service according to the first embodiment.

On the search result display screen shown in the figure, the name of the candidate site that the user can select as the destination based on the information received by the information center 1 according to the processing in step S22, and the candidate site A symbol representing the weather forecast state, an operation button for displaying detailed information about the candidate site, and an operation button for displaying a map image including the candidate site and the surrounding area are listed on the same screen. .

Step S23: This is a process corresponding to step S5 in the information acquisition process (FIG. 3) of the navigation device 2 described above.
Information for displaying a list of individual candidate sites obtained by the search in 19 on the same screen,
It transmits to the target navigation device 2. As a result, the display 18 of the navigation device 2 displays a screen (not shown) obtained by removing the symbol indicating the weather forecast state from the search result display screen (FIG. 5) described above.

Steps S24 and S25: These are processes corresponding to steps S6 to S8 in the information acquisition process (FIG. 3) of the navigation device 2 described above, and the information center 1 is displayed in step S22 or step S23. When it is detected that any of the candidate locations is selected as the destination desired by the user on the search result display screen (FIG. 5) (step S24), the route guidance route to the selected destination is calculated and calculated. The information indicating the route guide route is transmitted to the corresponding navigation device 2 (step S25).

According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to realize the destination desired by the user in consideration of the weather condition.

That is, according to this embodiment, the candidate destinations belonging to the genre desired by the user set as the search conditions and the weather forecast state for the candidate locations are displayed on the same screen. For example, even if the user is a destination such as a beach or ski who is easily influenced by the weather condition at the destination, the movie is not affected by the weather condition at the destination. Even if it is a destination for shopping such as appreciation or shopping at a department store, the optimum destination can be easily determined, so that the destination can be determined in consideration of the weather condition, which is highly convenient.

<Modification of First Embodiment> Modification 1: In step S20 of the destination decision support process (FIG. 6) by the information center 1, information representing the weather forecast status of each candidate site by time zone is displayed. Obtained from the weather information providing center 6 and the navigation device 2 displays the weather forecast state by time zone of each of the candidate sites when displaying the search result display screen in step S5 of the information acquisition process (FIG. 3). At the same time, a mode in which the user can distinguish the time zone expected to arrive (arrival) from the other time zones when the candidate locations are determined as destinations desired by the user (for example, changing the display color) It is good to display with.

Here, regarding the time zone in which the arrival at each candidate site is expected, the route guidance route connecting the current position information of the navigation device 2 (vehicle 100) and the candidate site is calculated, and the destination is calculated. Reflects traffic conditions on the route guideway calculated based on the time set by the user in the "Departure time" field of the search menu screen (Fig. 4) (statistical information based on current traffic conditions or past traffic conditions) It can be easily obtained by doing.

According to the first modification, when the user determines the destination from the list of candidate places, the user selects the destination in the time zone expected to arrive at the destination. The weather forecast status can be recognized, which is rational and convenient.

Modification 2: In Modification 1 described above, each candidate destination arrives regardless of whether the list-displayed candidate destination is finally selected as the desired destination by the user. In contrast to obtaining the expected time zone, in the present modification, in response to any one of the destinations being determined as the destination desired by the user, the time zone expected to arrive at the candidate location, A symbol representing the weather forecast state in that time zone is displayed on the search result display screen in step S5 of the information acquisition process (FIG. 3) in the navigation device 2.

According to the second modification as described above, with respect to the candidate site determined as the destination desired by the user, the time zone in which the arrival is expected and the information representing the weather forecast state in the time zone are displayed. Therefore, the processing load on the information processing device can be reduced as compared with the case where the time zone and the information indicating the weather forecast state are displayed for each candidate site.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment based on the destination determination support system according to the first embodiment will be described. In the following description, the first
Overlapping description of the same configuration as that of the embodiment will be omitted, and the description will focus on the characteristic part of the present embodiment.

In the above-described first embodiment, the candidate sites of the destinations belonging to the desired genre set by the user as the search conditions and the weather forecast state for the candidate sites are displayed on the same screen as shown in FIG. Since it is displayed above,
When the user decides the destination from the displayed candidate places, the user decides the destination in consideration of the weather condition suitable for the planned action (that is, the action belonging to the desired genre). It is possible and highly convenient.

In contrast to the first embodiment as described above, the present embodiment has the same system configuration itself as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a duplicate description will be omitted. It is a further object to allow the user to easily determine the optimum destination from the candidate locations without considering the weather conditions suitable for the specified behavior (that is, the behavior belonging to the designated user desired genre).

<Navigation Device 2> Since the processing procedure performed by the navigation device 2 is basically the same as the configuration of the information acquisition process (FIG. 3) in the first embodiment described above in this embodiment as well, it is redundant. The description is omitted.

<Information Center 1> FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a destination decision support process performed by the information center 1 in the second embodiment.
31 shows a procedure of processing performed by 31.

In the figure, Steps S31 and S32 are processes corresponding to Steps S1 to S3 in the information acquisition process (FIG. 3) of the navigation device 2 described above, and the information center 1 provides services by this system. When the current position information and the request signal for the destination decision support are received from the navigation device that can receive the information (step S31), the left half of the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4) described above is displayed. Information for displaying a destination search menu screen (not shown) including the setting area is transmitted to the target navigation device 2 (step S32).

Here, in the present embodiment, as described above, the purpose is to eliminate the need for the user himself to consider an appropriate weather condition when determining the optimum destination from the displayed candidate places. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the weather condition in the search area desired by the user in the right half display area of the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4) and the display of the "weather non-display" button and the display thereof are performed. Although the processing is omitted in the present embodiment to simplify the description, the same processing is added to the destination determination support processing shown in FIG. 8 so that it is the same as the destination search menu screen (FIG. 4) described above. You may make it display the screen of various structures.

Step S33: The information center 1 selects the "destination genre", the "search area", the "departure time" in response to the destination genre or the like being designated on the destination search menu screen (not shown) described above. It is determined whether the current position information is received from the target navigation device 2, and if the information of each item is received, the process proceeds to step S34 (the current position information is the one received in step S31. It may be).

Step S34: The predetermined weather condition corresponding to the user-desired genre designated as the "destination genre" is acquired by referring to the correspondence information table stored in the database 33 in advance.

That is, also in this embodiment, it is necessary to take into consideration the case where the weather condition of the destination has a great influence when performing the planned action at the destination. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the database 33, according to the genres that the user can set in the “destination genre” column as a search condition, the corresponding weather condition (that is, the action represented by the target genre or the target thereof). A "correspondence information table" is previously stored in which information indicating weather conditions that do not hinder the behavior belonging to the genre is associated.

More specifically, in the "correspondence information table", for example, a predetermined weather condition corresponding to a genre such as "ski", "sea bathing", "golf", etc., is greatly affected by the weather, and therefore "clear". , Cloudy ”is set, and as the predetermined weather condition corresponding to genres such as“ movie watching ”and“ shopping ”,“ clear, cloudy, rain ”is set because the weather does not have much influence. Further, as the corresponding predetermined weather condition, an exclusive logical condition such as a weather condition other than a certain weather condition may be set.

Step S35: The information center 1 belongs to the designated genre desired by the user, and corresponds to the genre. The "corresponding predetermined table" obtained from the "correspondence information table" of the database 33 in step S34. A location in a weather forecast state that matches the “weather state of the user” in the time zone in which the user is expected to arrive is searched as a candidate destination of the destination desired by the user.

Here, at the time of the search in step S35, the weather forecast state by time zone may be obtained by accessing the weather information providing center 6, and the target range for the search is the destination search menu. This is a "search area" desired by the user designated on the screen (not shown).

Also, regarding the time zone in which the arrival at each candidate site is expected, the route guidance route connecting the current position information of the navigation device 2 (vehicle 100) and the candidate site is calculated also in this embodiment. At the same time, the traffic conditions on the route guidance route calculated based on the time set by the user in the “Departure time” field on the destination search menu screen (not shown) (statistics based on current traffic conditions or past traffic conditions) It can be easily obtained by reflecting (information) etc.

Step S36: This is a process corresponding to step S5 in the information acquisition process (FIG. 3) of the navigation device 2 described above.
FIG. 9 shows the individual candidate sites obtained by the search in FIG. 35 and the weather forecast state during the expected arrival time.
As shown in, information for displaying a list on the same screen is transmitted. As a result, the display 18 of the navigation device 2 displays a search result display screen as illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplifying a search result display screen displayed on the display 18 of the navigation 2 used by the user who receives the destination determination support service according to the second embodiment.

On the search result display screen shown in the figure, based on the information received by the information center 1 in accordance with the processing in step S22, the name of the candidate site which the user can select as the destination and the candidate site are displayed. To display the expected arrival time zone, the symbol indicating the weather forecast status of the candidate site in that time period, operation buttons for displaying detailed information about the candidate site, and a map image including the candidate site and its surroundings. The operation buttons of are displayed in a list on the same screen.

Steps S37 and S38: These are processes corresponding to steps S6 to S8 in the information acquisition process (FIG. 3) of the navigation device 2 described above, and the information center 1 displays the search result displayed in step S36. When it is detected that any of the candidate destinations is selected as the destination desired by the user on the screen (FIG. 9) (step S37), the route guidance route to the selected destination is calculated and the calculated route guidance is performed. Information representing the road is transmitted to the corresponding navigation device 2 (step S38).

According to the second embodiment described above, it is possible to realize the destination decision desired by the user in consideration of the weather condition.

That is, in the present embodiment, the place in the weather forecast state that belongs to the genre desired by the user and that matches the weather state corresponding to the genre in the expected time zone is the destination desired by the user. Since it is displayed on the navigation device 2 as a candidate destination of, the user can easily find the optimum destination without considering the weather forecast state when arriving at the destination belonging to the genre desired by the user. It can be decided and is highly convenient.

In the present embodiment and the second embodiment to be described later, the navigation device 2 is configured to notify the user of all the list displays of candidate sites by displaying them on the display 18, but a general navigation device Similarly, the audio output from the speaker 20 may be used together, if necessary.

Further, the present invention described in each of the above-described embodiments is applied to the information center 1 and the navigation device 2 (including the portable information terminal 3 or the user terminal 5) in each of the above-described embodiments. This is achieved by supplying a computer program capable of realizing the functions of the flowcharts referred to in the description, and then reading and executing the computer program in the CPU of the apparatus. Further, the computer program supplied into the device may be stored in a readable / writable memory or a storage device such as a hard disk device.

Further, in the above case, the method of supplying the computer program to each of the devices may be a method of installing the computer program in the device via various recording media such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or the Internet. A general procedure can be adopted at present, such as a method of downloading from the outside via a communication line. In such a case, the present invention provides
It is composed of a program code or a storage medium.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall outline of a destination determination support system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an information center 1 and a navigation device 2 which constitute a destination determination support system in the first embodiment.
It is a block diagram which illustrates the structure of.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an information acquisition process performed by the navigation device 2 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying a destination search menu screen displayed on the display 18 of the navigation 2 used by the user who receives the destination determination support service according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying a search result display screen displayed on the display 18 of the navigation 2 used by the user who receives the destination determination support service according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a destination decision support process performed by the information center 1 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a destination determination support process performed by the information center 1 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a destination decision support process performed by the information center 1 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplifying a search result display screen displayed on the display 18 of the navigation 2 used by the user who receives the destination determination support service according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Information center, 2: Navigation device, 3: Mobile information terminal, 4: base station, 5: user terminal, 6: Meteorological Information Center, 7: Communication network, 11, 31: CPU, 12: GPS receiver, 13: VICS receiver, 14: Map information, 15: Operation switch, 16: Vehicle speed sensor, 17: Gyro sensor, 18: Display, 19: Wireless transceiver, 20: speaker, 21: ROM, 22: RAM, 32: memory, 33: database, 100: Vehicle

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G01C 21/00 G01C 21/00 G G06F 3/00 653 G06F 3/00 653A G08G 1/137 G08G 1/137 G09B 29/00 G09B 29/00 AZ 29/10 29/10 AF Term (reference) 2C032 HB21 HB22 HB25 HD21 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC04 AC13 AC14 AC18 5B075 ND30 PP13 PQ02 PQ32 PQ46 UU14 A23A03 A02 A02 DA02 FA05 FA42 5H180 AA01 BB02 BB04 BB05 CC12 FF05 FF12 FF13 FF22 FF25 FF27 FF32

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A destination decision support method for assisting a user-desired destination decision using an information processing device, the method being based on information representing a user-desired genre set as a search condition. A search step of searching, by the information processing device, a place belonging to a genre as a destination of a destination desired by the user, information about a candidate site acquired as a search result in the search step, and information about the individual candidate sites. Information representing a weather forecast state, by displaying a list on the same screen on the information terminal used by the user, a support step for supporting the user to determine a desired destination,
A method for supporting destination determination, which comprises: 2. The weather in a specific area belonging to the genre desired by the user, based on the information representing the genre desired by the user and the information representing the area set as the search condition in the searching step. Information indicating a forecast state is displayed on the information terminal, and a search target area when a search for the candidate site is performed in response to a partial area desired by the user being selected in the displayed specific area, The destination decision support method according to claim 1, wherein the method is limited to a part of the area. 3. In the search step, the information representing the weather forecast state for the area obtained based on the information representing the area desired by the user set as the search condition is
The symbol, which allows a user to recognize the uniform weather condition, when the weather condition is uniform in a plurality of sub-regional units constituting the area, is displayed. Destination decision support method. 4. In the support step, in accordance with the information representing the genre desired by the user set as the search condition, the information representing the weather forecast state is displayed in a list on the same screen together with the information on the candidate site. 2. The destination determination support method according to claim 1, wherein whether or not it is determined. 5. In the support step, when displaying a list of information indicating the weather forecast status of each of the candidate sites, the information is displayed by time zone, and the arrival is expected when the destination is determined as a destination desired by the user. The destination determination support method according to claim 1, wherein the time zones to be displayed are displayed for each of the individual candidate locations. 6. In the supporting step, when displaying a list of information representing weather forecast states of the individual candidate sites, when any of the candidate sites is determined as a destination desired by the user, the candidate site is selected. The expected time of arrival at
The destination decision support method according to claim 1, wherein information representing a weather forecast state in the time zone is displayed. 7. A destination decision support method for assisting a user in determining a destination desired by using an information processing device, the information representing corresponding weather conditions for each genre that can be set by the user as a search condition. By storing the correspondence information associated with each other in advance, the information indicating the weather forecast state, and the information indicating the genre desired by the user set as the search condition, by referring to the correspondence information, the genre And a search step of searching by the information processing device for a place in a weather forecast state that matches information indicating a weather state corresponding to the genre, as a candidate destination of the destination desired by the user; By displaying, on the information terminal used by the user, information about the candidate site acquired as the search result, the user And a support step for supporting the determination of a desired destination by the method. 8. In the search step, based on information representing a genre desired by a user, which is set as a search condition,
By referring to the correspondence information, the information indicating the weather forecast state in a place belonging to the genre and at a time when the arrival at the place is expected matches the information indicating the weather state corresponding to the genre. The destination decision support method according to claim 7, wherein the place to be searched is searched by the information processing device as a candidate destination of the destination desired by the user. 9. A destination decision support device for assisting in the decision of a destination desired by a user, wherein a place belonging to the genre is identified based on information representing a genre desired by the user set as a search condition. A list display on the same screen of search means for searching as a candidate destination of a desired destination, information about a candidate site acquired as a search result by the search means, and information showing a weather forecast state for each of the candidate sites. A destination decision support device comprising: means for assisting the user in determining a desired destination by providing possible information to an information terminal used by the user. 10. The search means provides information for displaying a man-machine interface, which can be set by a user, as to whether or not it is necessary for the support means to display information indicating a weather forecast state for each of the candidate sites. 10. The destination determination support device according to claim 9, further comprising means for providing the information terminal. 11. A destination decision support device for assisting in the decision of a destination desired by a user, wherein correspondence information in which information indicating a corresponding weather condition is associated in advance for each genre that can be set by the user as a search condition is provided. By referring to the corresponding information on the basis of the storage means for storing, the information indicating the weather forecast state, and the information indicating the genre desired by the user set as the search condition, it is possible to belong to that genre and A search unit that searches for a place in a weather forecast state that matches information indicating a corresponding weather state as a candidate destination of the destination desired by the user, and information about the candidate site acquired as a search result by the search unit is stored by the user. And a support means for supporting the user in determining a desired destination by displaying the information on the information terminal used by the user. A destination decision support device, comprising: 12. A computer program that provides an operation instruction for a computer that assists in the determination of a destination desired by a user, which is based on information representing a genre desired by the user, which is set as a search condition. A program code for a search function that searches a place to which the user belongs as a candidate site for the destination, information about the candidate site acquired as a search result in the search function, and a weather forecast for each of the candidate sites. And a program code for a support function that assists the user in determining a desired destination by displaying a list of information indicating a state on the same screen on the information terminal used by the user. A computer program characterized by. 13. The computer according to the program code for the search function, based on information indicating a genre desired by the user and information indicating a region, which are set as the search conditions. The information indicating the weather forecast state for the specific area belonging to the desired genre is displayed on the information terminal, and in response to the partial area desired by the user being selected within the displayed specific area, 13. The computer program according to claim 12, wherein the search target area when the search is performed is limited to a part of the area. 14. The program code for the search function causes the computer to acquire the information indicating the weather forecast state for the area obtained based on the information indicating the user-desired area set as the search condition. But,
When indicating that the weather condition is uniform for each of a plurality of partial regions constituting the region, a symbol that allows the user to recognize the uniform weather condition is displayed on the information terminal. The computer program according to claim 13. 15. The program code for the support function causes the computer to change the information indicating the weather forecast state to the candidate location according to the information indicating the user-desired genre set as the search condition. 13. The computer program according to claim 12, wherein it is determined whether or not to display a list on the same screen together with the information regarding. 16. The program code for the support function causes the computer to display information representing weather forecast status of each of the candidate sites in a list form on the information terminal, according to a time zone, 13. The computer program according to claim 12, wherein a time zone expected to arrive when the destination is desired by the user is displayed for each of the individual candidate locations. 17. The program code for the support function causes the computer to display information indicating weather forecast status for each of the candidate sites in a list on the information terminal. 2. When the destination desired by the user is determined, the time zone expected to arrive at the candidate location and the information indicating the weather forecast state in the time zone are displayed.
2. The computer program according to 2.