JP2004053441A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To notify the number of roads estimated to be recognized by a user as the number of roads in this side of an intersection. <P>SOLUTION: A main control part 107 calculates the number of roads as the roads from the present position to the intersection of a guide object, when a vehicle approaches to the intersection by a prescribed distance. Links described hereinafter are not counted in the calculation. The links are the links 501-507 in a reverse side direction of a passing direction (right turn/left turn) according to a guide route in the guide-objective intersection with respect to a road 500 under travel, the link 512 for forming an outgate road of an automobile road 511, the link 513 incapable of advancing because of a median strip, and the link 514 for forming an exclusive lane where the road under travel provided for the left turn serves as an outgate side. A plurality of links 516 connected to the same node on the road under travel, and positioned in this side of the guide-objective intersection located in the passing direction side of the intersection with respect to the road under travel is counted as one. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device that provides route guidance to a user.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a route guidance technology in a navigation device mounted on an automobile, a technology of displaying a navigation screen showing a guide route set from a current position to a destination on a map has been widely used. .
Also, in a navigation device that performs such route guidance, when approaching an intersection that will make a right or left turn when following a guidance route, the travel existing between the intersection where the right / left turn is to be planned and the current position is performed. There is also known a technology of notifying a user of a position of an intersection scheduled to turn right or left by notifying the number of roads crossing a middle road by voice.
[0003]
According to such a technology of notifying the number of roads in front of an intersection scheduled to make a right / left turn when viewed from the current position, the user can easily recognize an intersection to be turned right / left.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the technology of notifying by voice the number of roads in front of the intersection scheduled to turn right and left when viewed from the current position, all the roads that intersect with the running road existing between the intersection scheduled to turn right and left and the current position Is calculated and notified to the user.
However, even if the road intersects with the running road before the intersection, there may be a road that the user does not necessarily count as the number of roads before the intersection. For example, the exit road of a highway connected to a running road is not often recognized as a valid road number, and when multiple roads intersect at the same intersection on a running road, these multiple roads are not recognized. Are often recognized as one.
[0005]
Therefore, according to the conventional technology of notifying the number of roads in front of an intersection scheduled to make a right / left turn, there may be a discrepancy between the notified number of roads and the number of roads recognized by the user. If an intersection that is scheduled to make a right or left turn is misidentified for this reason, the vehicle cannot travel along the guidance route.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to calculate the number of roads estimated to be recognized by the user, not the actual number of roads, and notify the user of the road in front of the intersection to be guided in the navigation device. I do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, for example, a navigation device that guides traveling along a guidance route, a route search unit that searches for a guidance route to a destination based on road map data necessary for the navigation. A road number counting means for counting the number of roads connected to the guidance route based on the road map data between a current position and a guide point set on the guidance route at a predetermined timing; and Road number notifying means for notifying a user of the number of roads counted by the number counting means is provided, and the road number counting means counts the number of roads as follows.
[0008]
That is, in the present invention, the road number counting means calculates the number of roads of the roads connected to the guidance route between the current position and the guide point set on the guidance route, at the same intersection on the guidance route. Is performed by counting one road on a plurality of roads connected to the guidance route.
[0009]
Here, for example, at an intersection such as a five-forked road where a plurality of roads intersects a running road at the same intersection, a plurality of roads that intersect the running road at the intersection are collectively referred to as one. Often recognized as a book. Therefore, as described above, by counting the number of roads as one for a plurality of roads connected to the guidance route at the same intersection, the number of roads is matched to the number of roads that the user will recognize. The user can be notified of the number of roads.
[0010]
Alternatively, the road map data includes information on a road on which a single road is represented as a plurality of roads on the road map data, and the road number counting means includes a current position and a guide point set on the guidance route. In the calculation of the number of roads connected to the guidance route, the number of roads representing a single road is counted as one.
[0011]
By doing so, even if there is actually a single road that is represented as a plurality of roads in the road map data, this road can be correctly counted.
Alternatively, according to the present invention, the road map data includes information on a median strip provided on the road, and the road number counting means counts a road that cannot directly enter from the guidance route due to the existence of the median strip. Excluded from the target, the number of roads connected to the guidance route between the current position and the guide point set on the guidance route is counted.
[0012]
Here, when there is a median strip on the road, the user often does not count as a road number because a road that is prevented from entering by the median strip is a road that cannot be clearly advanced. In some cases, such a road cannot be recognized because it is obstructed from view by a median strip. Therefore, as described above, by excluding roads that cannot be directly entered from the guidance route due to the existence of the median strip from the target of counting, the number of roads that match the number of roads that the user will recognize will be provided to the user. You will be able to be notified.
[0013]
Alternatively, according to the present invention, the road map data includes information on road traffic regulation, and the road number counting means excludes roads that cannot be directly entered from a guidance route due to traffic regulation from a target of counting, and The number of roads connected to the guide route is counted between the position and the guide point set on the guide route.
[0014]
Here, some users do not count the roads that cannot enter because of one-way traffic as the number of roads. Therefore, for such a user, as described above, by excluding the roads that cannot directly enter from the guidance route due to traffic regulation from the target of the counting, the number of roads that the user will recognize is more consistent. The user can be notified of the number of roads.
[0015]
Alternatively, according to the present invention, the road map data includes information on the type of the road, and the road number counting means determines that the type of the road is entered from the road to a connection point on the guide route with the road. Excludes roads that are designed specifically for roads from counting and counts the number of roads connected to the guidance route between the current position and the guide point set on the guidance route. It is intended to be. In this case, the type of the road that indicates that the road is designed exclusively for entering the guidance route is a road that is an exit road from a motorway or a road that is connected to the guidance route. It may be a dedicated road for turning right or left on the route.
[0016]
Here, the user may clearly proceed on a road that is an exit road from such a motor vehicle exclusive road, or on a dedicated road for turning right or left to another road connected to the guidance route from the guidance route. In many cases, it is not counted as the number of roads because the road is impossible. Therefore, roads that indicate that the type of the road, such as these roads, is a road designed exclusively for entering the connection point on the road and the guidance route from the road are excluded from the counting. By doing so, the user can be notified of the number of roads that matches the number of roads that the user will recognize.
[0017]
By the way, in each of the above navigation devices, based on the road map data, a map image displaying the roads counted by the road number counting means and the roads not counted by the road number counting means in a distinguishable manner. It is also preferable to provide them.
In this way, it is possible to confirm on a map which road the number of roads has been notified by the road number notification means.
In each of the above navigation devices, the number of roads counted by the road number counting means is displayed, and each time the current position passes through the connection point between the road on which the road number counting means has counted the number of roads and the guidance road. Alternatively, a road number display means for reducing the number of roads to be displayed by one may be provided.
[0018]
In this way, the guide point can be identified while checking the display of the number of roads.
According to the present invention, there is provided a navigation device which guides a user along a guidance route in order to achieve the above-mentioned task, wherein a guide point set on the guidance route at a predetermined timing based on road map data necessary for the navigation. A guidance method for providing guidance by a notification of the number of roads between the current position and the guidance point, wherein the guidance route between the current position and the guidance point is turned right or left at the guidance point indicated by the guidance route. For each road connected to the same side as the guidance direction, the connection relationship between the guidance route and the road indicated by the road map data, or a mode of restricting travel between the guidance route and the road, or Determining whether or not to count the road as a road in front of the guide point based on the type of the road; A step of counting a road determined to number, also provides a guiding method and a step of presenting a road number of counted road.
According to such a guidance method, for each road connected to the same side as the guidance direction of the right or left turn of the guidance point indicated by the guidance route, the connection between the guidance route indicated by the road map data and the road is further determined. The relationship or the mode of the restriction of the travel between the guidance route and the road or the type of the road determines whether or not to count the road. The number of roads can be counted while estimating more precisely whether the user counts the road as the number of roads. Therefore, it becomes possible to notify the user of the number of roads that match the number of roads that the user will recognize.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the navigation device according to the first embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the navigation device includes a control device 1, a recording medium drive 2 for accessing a storage medium 21 such as a DVD-ROM or a hard disk storing map data, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 3, The vehicle includes a running state sensor 4 such as an angular acceleration sensor and a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a running state of the vehicle, a remote controller 5 (remote controller) for receiving an input from a user, a display device 6, and a speaker 7.
[0020]
Further, the control device 1 includes a map data buffer 101, a map data read processing unit 102, a current position calculation unit 103, a route search unit 104, a navigation image generation unit 105, a parameter memory 106, a main control unit 107, and a GUI control unit 108. , An audio output unit 109. Here, a dotted line 121 inside the control device 1 in FIG. 1 indicates an access route of each unit to the map data stored in the map data buffer 101, and a bold line 122 indicates a route of control information between the main control unit 107 and each unit. The white line 123 indicates an access path of each unit to various data stored in the parameter memory 106.
[0021]
However, the above control device 1 may be a CPU circuit having a general configuration including hardware such as a microprocessor, a memory, and other peripheral devices such as a graphic processor and a geometric processor in terms of hardware. In this case, each unit of the control device 1 described above may be realized as a process embodied by the microprocessor executing a prepared program. In this case, such a program may be provided to the control device 1 via the storage medium 21 or a communication path.
[0022]
Next, the configuration of map data stored in the storage medium 21 will be described.
Here, the map data is managed in units called maps for each predetermined geographical area, and each map is composed of a plurality of levels according to the level of detail of the map. The map at each level of each leaf is composed of one or a plurality of units, and each unit corresponds to the geographical area of the leaf to which it belongs, or an area obtained by dividing the geographical area, and maps the corresponding area. , At the level to which it belongs.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the map data includes management data describing the relationship between each unit and the map leaf, the corresponding area, and the level, basic map data representing the map, the name and type of each road, each road and the basic And route data for managing the correspondence with the map represented by the map data.
[0024]
The basic map data includes the above-described unit data for each unit, and unit management data that describes a relationship between each unit data and a figure, a corresponding area, and a level. Each unit data stores a road unit representing a road network, a drawing unit representing a background map image which is a map image including a topographical figure, a facility figure, a region name, a facility name, and the like, and information on intersections. Intersection unit.
[0025]
Next, the road unit has a node list, a link table, and connection data describing connection and correspondence of nodes and links with other units.
Here, in the road unit, the road is represented as a set of links that are straight lines, and the end point of each link is a node. Such a node is always provided at a connection point of a road such as an intersection, and is always provided at a boundary between adjacent units. In addition, each link has a direction, and only one link in the traffic direction is provided between two nodes adjacent to each other via the link when the road is a one-way road. Is basically provided with two links in opposite directions. However, there are exceptions such as the multilink described later.
[0026]
Now, the node list includes a node record for each node, and each node record is connected to a node number, node coordinates, a node attribute indicating whether the node is a node corresponding to an intersection or an interchange, and the like. A connection link number list that is a list of link numbers of links, an adjacent node number list that is a list of node numbers of nodes adjacent to a node via a link, and an intersection number of an intersection corresponding to the case where the node is an intersection is stored. And a traffic regulation information record indicating the traffic regulation of that node.
[0027]
The traffic regulation information record has node traffic regulation information provided for each route passing through the node, and each node traffic regulation information includes a link of a link which is an approach route to the node on the corresponding route. It has an ingress link indicating a number, an escape link indicating a link number of a link which is an escape route from the node, and traffic regulation information indicating information such as a closed road and a closed day of the week and a time zone related to traveling of the corresponding route.
[0028]
Next, the link table includes a link record for each link, and each link record includes a link number, a node number 1 of a node serving as a link start point, a node number 2 of a node serving as a link end point, and a link. Road type indicating the type of highway, general road, etc., road information, multi-link information, link distance, link direction, link cost, which is the cost for route search given to the link, A route number, traffic regulation information in a link up direction (direction from node 1 to node 2), traffic regulation information in a link down direction (direction from node 2 to node 2), and the like are described.
[0029]
The road information stores information on the road width, the number of lanes, and the median strip of the link portion of the road including the link. As the information on the median strip, the presence or absence of the median strip on the road portion corresponding to the link, information on the existing section of the median strip on the link, and the like are stored.
[0030]
In addition, the multi-link information includes a road whose link does not share at least one of the nodes at both ends with the link and which is the same as or partially overlaps with the road portion corresponding to the link except for the lane. An identification is stored as to whether the link is a multi-link where other links representing the part exist. If the link is a multilink, the link number of another link indicating the road portion corresponding to the link is stored. Here, in the road unit, each of the up lane and the down lane of one road 301 as shown in FIG. 3a1 may be represented by different series of nodes 302 and 303 as shown in FIG. 3a2. In such a case, the multilink information is information that associates two links expressing the same road except for the lane.
[0031]
The upward traffic restriction information and the downward traffic restriction information store information such as the suspension of traffic on the link in that direction and the day of the week and time of the suspension of traffic.
Next, the intersection unit has an intersection data record provided for each intersection, each intersection data record has an intersection number which is an identification number of the intersection, a corresponding node number representing a node number of a node corresponding to the intersection, Intersection information indicating the presence or absence of a traffic light, an intersection name indicating an intersection name, and intersection direction information are stored.
[0032]
The intersection direction information has a direction information record provided corresponding to each link connected to the intersection, and each direction information record enters from the corresponding link and escapes to another link connected to the intersection. Information on traveling is described as direction information. The direction information is provided for each of the other links connected to the intersection, with the link number of the corresponding link as the entry link number and the link number of another link connected to the intersection as the exit link number.
[0033]
The direction information stores a traveling direction such as a straight line, a right turn, a left turn, and the like when traveling from the entrance link to the exit link. In addition, the direction information includes whether entry and exit links can be entered, whether the exit link is a link that forms an entrance to an automobile-only road such as an expressway or toll road, or whether the exit link is an automobile-only road. An entrance / exit for a motorway, which indicates information such as whether the link forms an exit path from the vehicle, is stored. In the direction information, whether or not the escape link is a link (FIGS. 3b2 and 312) forming the dedicated lane 311 provided for a left turn as shown in FIG. 3b1 is stored as a crossover flag. . Also, in the direction information, at the intersection, voice data for guiding the user traveling from the entrance link to the exit link by voice and a mark of traveling of the user from the entrance link to the exit link are displayed on the display device 6. Is stored as guidance information.
[0034]
Next, parameters stored in the parameter memory 106 of the control device 1 of FIG. 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, the parameter memory 106 stores current state information 401, destination data 402, and guidance route data 403.
The current state information 401 includes current position data 4011, current driving direction data 4012, and running link data 4013. The current position data 4011 is data representing the current position coordinates of the vehicle. And the running link data 4013 is data indicating the link number of the currently running link.
[0035]
The destination data 402 represents the coordinates of the destination on the link.
Further, the guide route data 403 is data representing a guide route, and describes a route link list 4031 in which link numbers of links through which the guide route passes are described in order of passing, and a node number of a node through which the guide route passes in order of passing. And a root node list 4032. Then, for each node number stored in the route node list 4032, a guidance necessity flag indicating whether or not the node of the node number is an intersection where travel guidance should be performed is set.
[0036]
The contents of the parameter memory 106 have been described above.
Returning to FIG. 1, in such a configuration, under the control of the main control unit 107, the map data reading processing unit 102 reads out a required range of the map data from the storage medium 21 via the recording medium drive 2 and reads the map data. The data is stored in the buffer 101.
Further, the current position calculation unit 103 performs map matching between the current position estimated from the output of the traveling state sensor 4 and the GPS receiver 3 and a map around the previously determined current position read from the map data buffer 101. After processing, the position on the link that is most likely to be the current position, the link direction that is most likely to be the current traveling direction, and the link that is most likely to be the currently traveling link are respectively represented by the current position coordinates, The running direction and the running link are determined, and the process of updating the current position data 4011, the current running direction data 4012, and the running link data 4013 in the parameter memory 106 is repeated.
[0037]
On the other hand, upon receiving a destination setting from the user via the remote controller 5 and the GUI control unit 108, the main control unit 107 sets the destination in the destination data 402 and causes the route searching unit 104 to search for a guidance route. The route search unit 104 reads the road data of the road unit in the required geographical range from the map data buffer 101, and reads the road data from the current position coordinates indicated by the current position data 4011 of the parameter memory 106 to the destination coordinates indicated by the destination data 402. A guide route that first follows the link indicated by the traveling link data 4013 is calculated based on a predetermined cost model using the link cost of the link record, and the calculated route data of the guide route is calculated using the route link of the guide route data 403. The information is stored in the list 4031 and the root node list 4032, respectively. Also, at this time, the route search unit 104 selects an intersection on the guidance route for which the traveling guidance is to be performed, and for the intersection for which the traveling guidance is to be performed, whether or not the guidance of the node number corresponding to the intersection in the route node list 4032 is necessary. A value indicating guidance required is set in the flag. In the present embodiment, in the intersection direction information of the intersection data record having the node number in the route node list 4032, in the direction information record in which the link immediately before the intersection on the guidance route is the entry link, the link immediately after the intersection on the guidance route An intersection in which the right direction and the left direction are set as the traveling directions in the direction information in which the exit link is set as the exit link is an intersection where traveling guidance is performed. That is, when traveling along the guidance route, the intersection at which the user should make a right turn or left turn is set as an intersection at which travel guidance is provided.
[0038]
Further, the main control unit 107 repeats the following navigation image generation processing. That is, the main control unit 107 determines the direction corresponding to the traveling direction indicated by the traveling direction data as the display direction, determines the scale according to the preset user setting or initial setting, and reads the scale from the current position data 4011. A predetermined range around the current position, which is determined according to the determined display orientation, the determined scale, and the operation mode, is determined as the display range. Here, the display direction is calculated, for example, so that the traveling direction is always upward. Then, based on the road units in the display range and the drawing unit, the navigation image generation unit 105 sets the azimuth indicated by the display azimuth data upward, and displays the roads of the road network represented by the road unit on the background map image represented by the drawing unit. A map image in which a figure is drawn is generated.
[0039]
If the guidance route data 403 has been set, the navigation image generation unit 105 displays a guidance route graphic on the map image that indicates a guidance route on the destination side from the current position indicated by the guidance route data 403 in the display range. And a current position mark oriented in a direction corresponding to the direction indicated by the current traveling direction data 4012 at a position corresponding to the current position indicated by the current position data 4011 on the map image to generate a navigation image, The display is displayed on the display device 6 via the GUI control unit 108. When the guide route data 403 is not set, only the current position mark is drawn on the map image to generate a navigation image, and the display device 6 displays the navigation image via the GUI control unit 108.
[0040]
When the route search unit 104 sets the guidance route data 403, the main control unit 107 determines that the guidance required is an intersection (hereinafter, referred to as a “guided intersection”) that is a node having the node number set in the guidance necessary / unnecessary flag. If the vehicle approaches a predetermined distance or a distance determined according to the road condition or road configuration in front of the guidance target intersection, the user is notified of the number of roads on the road from the current position to the guidance target intersection. I do.
[0041]
The calculation of the number of roads is performed according to the following rules.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the direction opposite to the passing direction (right / left turn: right turn in the figure) with respect to the traveling road 500 according to the guidance route 510 of the guidance target intersection (left turn if right turn, The links 501 to 507 on the right side if turning left are not counted.
In general, when a user is instructed on an intersection to make a right turn, such as, for example, how many cars to the right, for example, the user counts only the roads on the right side as viewed from the traveling road and determines the intersection to be turned right. This is due to the fact that they are often searched.
[0042]
Even the link in front of the guidance target intersection that is on the side of the guidance target intersection with respect to the traveling road 500 is entered because of the presence of the link 512 that forms the exit road of the motorway 511 and the median strip 518. The link 513 that cannot be performed and the link that forms the dedicated lane 514 in which the traveling road provided for the left turn is on the exit side are not counted.
This takes into account that roads that the user cannot clearly go to are often not counted as the number of roads.
[0043]
If the link in front of the guidance target intersection on the passing direction side of the guidance target intersection with respect to the traveling road is the multilink 515, the number is counted as one together with another multilink representing the same road. I do.
In addition, a plurality of links 516 in front of the guidance target intersection on the traveling direction side of the guidance target intersection with respect to the traveling road connected to the same node on the traveling road are counted as one.
This is because at an intersection where a plurality of roads intersect at the same intersection, such as a five-forked road, the user can recognize a plurality of roads that intersect with the traveling road at the intersection as one. This is in consideration of many things.
Other links 531 to 534 in front of the guidance target intersection on the passing direction side of the guidance target intersection with respect to the traveling road include a one-way link 531 that cannot be directly entered from the guidance route 510. Each is counted as one.
[0044]
That is, a link that can be entered, a link that forms an entrance road for a motorway, a link that cannot be entered (such as a one-way road in the direction toward a running road) other than the above-mentioned uncounted link, and a road that is running are on the entrance side. The links forming the dedicated lane are counted as one link if they are on the passing direction side of the guidance target intersection with respect to the traveling road and are in front of the guidance target intersection.
[0045]
Now, more specifically, the main control unit 107 calculates the number of roads according to the above rules and notifies the user as follows.
That is, when the guide route data 403 is set by the route search unit 104, the main control unit 107 activates the intersection guidance process.
FIG. 6 shows the procedure of the intersection guidance process.
As shown, in the intersection guidance process, the current position data 4011 indicates that the vehicle has approached the guidance target intersection at a predetermined distance or a distance determined according to the road conditions or the road configuration in front of the guidance target intersection (step 601). If so, the passing direction of the right turn / left turn of the guidance target intersection according to the guidance route is obtained, and the obtained passing direction is set as the target direction (step 603). The passing direction of the right turn / left turn of the guidance target intersection according to the guidance route is immediately after the intersection on the guidance route in the direction information record in which the link immediately before the intersection on the guidance route is the entry link in the intersection direction information of the intersection data record. 3c may be obtained from the passing direction of the direction information as an exit link, or as shown in FIG. 3c, the link direction of the link record of the link 322 immediately after the guidance target intersection of the traveling road and the guidance route 321 Based on the link direction of the link record of the link 324 immediately after the guidance target intersection and the link direction of the link record of the link 323 immediately before the guidance target intersection of the traveling road, the link 324 immediately after the guidance target intersection on the guidance route 321 is used. Is viewed in a clockwise direction from the link 322 immediately after the guidance target intersection of the traveling road, Right if until the link 323, the left direction otherwise, may be obtained passing direction.
[0046]
Now, the main control unit 107 determines a node between the current position and the guidance target intersection by referring to the guidance route data 403, and refers to the link table for all links connected to the determined node. Extract (step 605).
Then, the number of extracted links is set to n, the variable i is set to 1, and the number of roads P is set to 1 (step 607). Is set as a determination node (step 609). Then, it is determined whether or not the determination link is set to the non-count link (step 611). If the determination link is set to the non-count link, the process proceeds to step 625.
Further, it is checked whether or not the judgment node is set to be counted (step 613). If it is set to be counted, the process proceeds to step 625.
On the other hand, if the judgment link is not set to the out-of-count link and the judgment node is not set to the counted state, the process proceeds to step 615. When the first steps 611 and 613 are executed, there is no link set as a non-counted link or a node set as counted, so the process proceeds to step 615.
[0047]
In step 615, it is determined whether the determination link is connected to the guidance route in the target direction. The calculation of the direction in which the determination link is connected to the guidance route is performed in the same manner as the calculation of the passing direction of the guidance intersection when the vehicle enters the link immediately after the guidance target intersection on the guidance route from the traveling road. Do. If the determination link is not connected to the guidance route in the target direction, the process proceeds to step 625.
[0048]
On the other hand, if the judgment link is connected to the guidance route in the target direction, it is determined whether the link immediately before the judgment node on the guidance route can enter the judgment link by the traffic in the node record of the judgment node. The determination is made with reference to the regulation information record (step 617).
[0049]
Then, if it is possible to enter, the number of roads P is incremented by 1 (step 619), the determination node is set to be counted (step 621), and the process proceeds to step 625. It is to be noted that the determination node is set to be already counted because this node does not count the number of roads in step 613 to connect to the same node on the running road. This is because a plurality of links in front of the guidance target intersection on the passing direction side of the guidance target intersection with respect to the middle road are counted as one in total.
[0050]
Next, it is determined whether the determination link is a multilink by referring to the multilink information of the link record of the determination link (step 623). If the link is not a multilink, the process directly proceeds to step 625; A link that is obtained from the multilink information and represents the same road as the determination link is set as a non-countable link (step 627). This is because the link representing the same road as the determination link is excluded from the count of the number of roads by the process of step 611, so that the road ahead of the guidance target intersection on the passing direction side of the guidance target intersection with respect to the traveling road is determined. If the link is a multi-link, this is to count as one together with another multi-link representing the same road.
[0051]
Now, in step 617, if it is determined that the determination link is connected to the guidance route in the target direction, but it is not possible to enter from the link immediately before the determination node on the guidance route, first, the median strip is It is determined whether it is impossible to enter the judgment link due to the existence of a right turn due to the existence of the road. The median strip information of the road information of the link record of the link before and after the judgment node on the traveling road, and the upstream traffic regulation information of the link table of the judgment link Alternatively, the determination is made with reference to the downstream traffic regulation information or the like (step 629).
[0052]
Then, if it is not possible to enter the judgment link due to the inability to turn right due to the existence of the median strip, the judgment link is set to the weak display link (step 635), and the process proceeds to step 625; Proceed to.
In step 631, it is determined whether or not the determination link is a link that forms an automobile exclusive road exit road by referring to the direction information of the intersection record corresponding to the determination node, and is a link that forms an automobile exclusive road exit road. For example, after setting the judgment link to the weak display link (step 635), the process proceeds to step 625; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 633.
[0053]
In step 633, it is determined whether or not the determination link is a dedicated lane for left turn by referring to the direction information of the intersection record corresponding to the determination node. If the determination link is a dedicated lane, the determination link is set as a weak display link. (Step 635), and then proceed to Step 625.
[0054]
On the other hand, if it is not impossible to enter by the median strip, it is neither the entrance to the exclusive road for the car nor the lane only for the left turn, the process proceeds to step 619, and the number of roads P is increased by 1, and the above-mentioned processes of steps 621 to 623 and 627 are performed. .
Now, in step 625 performed after the above processing, it is checked whether or not i is equal to n. If it is not, i is increased by 1 (step 637), and the process returns to step 609 to return to the next of the extracted links. Perform the above processing for the link.
On the other hand, if i becomes equal to n, in step 639, a voice for guiding the number of roads P, for example, a voice such as "turn right at the P-th front intersection" is output from the speaker 7 to the voice processing device. Let it. In addition, it activates the road number marking process and displays the intersection guidance screen.
[0055]
Then, if the current position data 4011 indicates that the vehicle has passed the guidance target intersection (step 641), the road number display processing is terminated, and the display of the intersection guidance screen is terminated (step 643). The variables such as the setting of the link not to be counted are cleared (step 645), and the process returns to step 601 to monitor the approach of the next guidance target intersection.
[0056]
By the way, the road number display process started in step 639 displays the number of roads P and passes through the node where the current position data 4011 is set to be counted, that is, the node to which the link that has counted the number of roads is connected. Each time it is indicated that the road number P to be displayed is reduced by one.
[0057]
Here, in FIG. 7, the image is displayed on the display device 6 by executing step 639. 3 shows a display screen.
As shown in the figure, on this display screen, the number of roads P is displayed in the number of roads window 702 arranged on the above-described navigation image 701, and each time a link that has counted the number of roads passes through a connected node. , The display of the number of roads P is updated so that the displayed number decreases by one.
[0058]
As shown in the figure, on this display screen, an intersection guidance screen 703 is displayed on the navigation image 701 described above. This intersection guidance screen is a display of a map around the guidance target intersection enlarged from the navigation image, and the main control unit 107 displays a link 704 (in the figure, a link for a left-turn lane) in which a weak display is set. By using a method such as gray display, the tone is displayed lower than other links. In addition, on this intersection guidance screen, a mark figure or the like is also displayed based on the guidance information of the intersection data record of the guidance target intersection.
[0059]
The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.
By the way, the case where the left lane of the road is the driving lane when viewed from the traveling direction such as Japan has been described above, but the right lane of the road when viewed from the traveling direction is the driving lane such as the United States. In such a case, the direction obstructed by the above-described median strip is a left turn, and the dedicated lane is often provided for a right turn.
In the above-described embodiment, a link that cannot be entered from a guidance route due to one-way traffic, for example, has an exit route from an automobile exclusive road, a dedicated lane for turning left or right that cannot be directly entered from a guidance route, or a central separation zone. The links are counted as the number of roads except for links that cannot be entered due to the existence. However, links that cannot be entered from the guidance route due to one-way traffic may not be counted as the number of roads. Alternatively, if the vehicle is traveling on a narrow road, links that cannot be entered from the guidance route due to one-way traffic etc. are not counted as the number of roads, and if the vehicle is traveling on a thick road, one-way traffic etc. For example, the number of links that cannot enter from the guidance route may be counted as the number of roads, and whether or not the counting may be performed may be switched according to the traveling state of the vehicle.
Further, the above embodiment can be similarly applied to a case where a user is notified of the number of roads in front of a point on an arbitrary guidance route other than an intersection.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in the navigation device, the number of roads estimated to be recognized by the user, not the actual number of roads, is calculated for the road in front of the intersection to be guided and notified to the user. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing contents of map data according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a correspondence between a link represented by map data and a road according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing contents of a parameter memory of the navigation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a rule for counting the number of roads according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an intersection guidance process performed by the main control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display screen for intersection guidance according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: control device, 2: recording medium drive, 3: GPS receiver, 4: running state sensor, 5: remote control, 6: display device, 7: speaker, 21: storage medium, 101: map data buffer, 102: map Data read processing unit, 103: current position calculation unit, 104: route search unit, 105: navigation image generation unit, 106: parameter memory, 107: main control unit, 108: GUI control unit,

Claims (9)

A navigation device for guiding travel along a guidance route,
Route search means for searching for a guide route to a destination based on road map data required for the navigation,
At a predetermined timing, between a current position and a guide point set on the guidance route, a road number counting unit that counts the number of roads of the roads connected to the guidance route based on the road map data,
Road number notifying means for notifying the user of the number of roads counted by the road number counting means,
The road number counting means connects to the guidance route at the same intersection on the guidance route in counting the number of roads connected to the guidance route between the current position and the guide point set on the guidance route. A navigation device, wherein the number of roads is counted by one for a plurality of roads. A navigation device for guiding travel along a guidance route,
Route search means for searching for a guide route to a destination based on road map data required for the navigation,
At a predetermined timing, between a current position and a guide point set on the guidance route, a road number counting unit that counts the number of roads of the roads connected to the guidance route based on the road map data,
Road number notifying means for notifying the user of the number of roads counted by the road number counting means,
The road map data includes information on a road that represents a single road as a plurality of roads on the road map data,
The road number counting means counts a plurality of roads representing a single road in counting the number of roads connected to the guidance route between the current position and the guide point set on the guidance route. A navigation device, wherein the number of roads is counted by one for roads on map data. A navigation device for guiding travel along a guidance route,
Route search means for searching for a guide route to a destination based on road map data required for the navigation,
At a predetermined timing, between a current position and a guide point set on the guidance route, a road number counting unit that counts the number of roads of the roads connected to the guidance route based on the road map data,
Road number notifying means for notifying the user of the number of roads counted by the road number counting means,
The road map data includes information on a median strip provided on the road,
The road number counting means excludes roads that cannot be directly entered from the guidance route due to the existence of the median strip from the counting target, and connects the current position and the guidance point set on the guidance route to the guidance route. A navigation device for counting the number of roads on which a vehicle is traveling. A navigation device for guiding travel along a guidance route,
Route search means for searching for a guide route to a destination based on road map data required for the navigation,
At a predetermined timing, between a current position and a guide point set on the guidance route, a road number counting unit that counts the number of roads of the roads connected to the guidance route based on the road map data,
Road number notifying means for notifying the user of the number of roads counted by the road number counting means,
The road map data includes information on road traffic regulation,
The road number counting unit excludes roads that cannot be directly entered from the guidance route due to traffic regulation from the target of counting, and connects the guidance route set between the current position and the guide point set on the guidance route. A navigation device for counting the number of roads on a road. A navigation device for guiding travel along a guidance route,
Route search means for searching for a guide route to a destination based on road map data required for the navigation,
At a predetermined timing, between a current position and a guide point set on the guidance route, a road number counting unit that counts the number of roads of the roads connected to the guidance route based on the road map data,
Road number notifying means for notifying the user of the number of roads counted by the road number counting means,
The road map data includes information about the type of road,
The road number counting means excludes roads that indicate that the type of the road is a road designed exclusively for entry from the road to the connection point on the road and the guidance route from the target of the counting, A navigation device for counting the number of roads connected to a guidance route between a current position and a guide point set on the guidance route. The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein
The type of the road indicating that the road is designed exclusively for entering the guidance route includes a road that is an exit road from a motorway and a right or left turn from another road connected to the guidance route to the guidance route. A navigation device including at least one of a dedicated road for use in a vehicle. The navigation device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5,
A guide image display unit configured to generate and display a map image in which the roads counted by the road number counting unit and the roads not counted by the road number counting unit are identifiably displayed based on the road map data. A navigation device characterized by the above-mentioned. The navigation device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5,
The number of roads counted by the road number counting means is displayed, and each time the current position passes through a connection point between the road on which the road number counting means counts the number of roads and the guide road, the number of displayed roads is reduced by one. A navigation device comprising a road number display means. In a navigation device for guiding traveling along a guidance route, a guide point set on the guidance route is determined at a predetermined timing based on road map data necessary for the navigation, by a road between a current position and the guidance point. A guidance method that provides guidance by notification of the number,
For each road connected to the same side of the guidance point indicated by the guidance route on the same side as the guidance direction of right turn or left turn, the guidance route indicated by the road map data and the road Connection relationship, or the mode of travel restriction between the guidance route and the road, or based on the type of the road, determines whether the road is counted as the road in front of the guide point. Deciding;
Counting the roads determined to be counted as the number of roads;
Presenting the counted number of roads.

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