JP2004125448A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retrieve a pathway which better suits user's performance, by substantially increasing alternates of explore criteria, when making pathway planning. <P>SOLUTION: At setting explore criteria in path planning, i.e., two of "reduction in work hours (optimal period) revise" and "signal revise", in an initial setting screen V1 for performing initial setting of system, a user sets (selects) "perform (ON)" or "do not perform (OFF)" according to preference. When the user designates a destination in a designation input screen V2, a control circuit performs path planning which combines respectively setting explore criteria beforehand established by user's taste, on each fixed explore criteria ("recommendations", "general road precedence", "charged path precedence", "metric precedence", "alternative route"). When path planning is finished, routing screen V3 is displayed. The user selects one desired pathway from five pathways searched for. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation device having a function of searching for a recommended route to a designated destination.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A navigation device, for example, a car navigation system generally includes a main body including a microcomputer and the like, a display device including a full-color LCD, a position detector including a GPS receiver, a drive device for reading road map data from a map data recording medium such as a DVD, and the like. It is configured with. A location function for detecting the current position of the vehicle based on GPS or the like and displaying the current position on a display device by superimposing the map on a display device, and calculating a recommended route from the current position (departure point) to the destination designated by the user. And a route guidance function for guiding the route by screen display or voice.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described car navigation system, a plurality of fixed search conditions (for example, “recommended”, “general road priority”, “paid In some cases, the search (calculation) of a plurality of different routes according to the five conditions of “road priority”, “distance priority”, and “another route” is performed simultaneously (collectively). In this case, the user can select any of the searched (five) routes as a route to be traveled. Note that the user can set a passing point together with the setting of the destination. In this case, a route search is performed so as to sequentially pass through the passing point and reach the destination.
[0004]
However, in the route search function in the above-described conventional car navigation system, although a plurality of (five) routes are searched for, the user as a user searches among the routes searched under previously fixed conditions. However, since it is not possible to select a route to be traveled, it is not always possible to select a route that meets the taste of the user (driver).
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a route search function, which can substantially increase the number of search condition options at the time of a route search, thereby improving the user's preference. An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device capable of searching for a route suitable for a vehicle.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the navigation device of the present invention is provided with setting means for allowing a user to arbitrarily set a secondary search condition different from a basic fixed search condition in advance, and a route search means. Is characterized in that a route is searched by combining the set search condition set by the setting means with the fixed search condition (the invention of claim 1).
[0007]
According to this, the route search is performed by combining the set search condition with the basic fixed search condition by the user arbitrarily setting the set search condition in advance by the setting unit, so that only the fixed search condition is used. Compared to the case of searching for a route, a route can be searched with a variety of combinations of conditions. As a result, the number of route options substantially increases for the user, and a route that better matches the user's preference can be searched.
[0008]
If the route search means is configured to search for a plurality of routes corresponding to a plurality of fixed search conditions (the invention of claim 2), the user can select a desired route from the plurality of searched routes. become able to. In this case, all of the plurality of routes take into account the preference setting search conditions set by the user, so that the number of practical options for the user further increases. Since it is set, the amount of calculation at the time of route search does not increase unnecessarily.
[0009]
Furthermore, in the apparatus having external information input means for acquiring dynamic information related to traffic that fluctuates depending on the situation from the outside, the setting search condition includes information using the dynamic information. (The invention of claim 3). According to this, it is possible to perform a more appropriate route search corresponding to an actual road condition, for example, to avoid an obstacle such as traffic congestion.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 schematically shows the entire electrical configuration of a car navigation system 1 as a navigation device according to the present embodiment.
[0011]
Here, the navigation device 1 includes a position detector 3, a map data input device 4, an operation switch group 5, and an external control circuit 2, which is mainly configured by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O. It is configured by connecting a memory 8, for example, a display device 9 composed of a full-color liquid crystal display, a remote control sensor 11 for detecting a signal from a remote controller 10, and the like. Further, a wireless communication device 6 such as a mobile phone is detachably connected to the control circuit 2 to enable communication with an external network 7 such as the Internet or a traffic information center.
[0012]
The position detector 3 includes a geomagnetic sensor 12, a gyroscope 13, a distance sensor 14, and a GPS receiver 15 for a GPS (Global Positioning System) that detects the position of a vehicle based on radio waves from satellites. have. Since the sensors 12 to 15 of the position detector 3 have errors having different properties, the control circuit 2 is configured to use the sensors while interpolating them. Thus, the current position, traveling direction, speed, traveling distance, and the like of the vehicle are detected with high accuracy. Note that, depending on the accuracy, a position detector may be configured from a part of the sensors 12 to 15 described above. In addition, a rotation sensor for steering, a wheel sensor for rolling wheels, or the like may be used. It is possible.
[0013]
The map data input device 4 comprises a drive device for reading out various data such as road map data and associated data such as destination data (facility data) from a map data recording medium. As the medium, for example, a large-capacity storage medium such as a DVD or a CD-ROM is used. The road map data includes data of a road shape, a road width, a road name, a signal, a railroad crossing, a building, various facilities, a place name, a terrain, and the like, and also reproduces the road map on the screen of the display device 5. Contains data.
[0014]
In addition, the destination data, transportation facilities such as stations, leisure facilities, accommodation facilities, facilities such as public facilities, and various stores such as retail stores, department stores, restaurants, residences and condominiums, information on place names and the like, This data includes data such as telephone numbers, addresses, latitudes and longitudes, and data for displaying landmarks and the like indicating facilities on a screen of the display device 5 by superimposing them on a road map. It is composed of
[0015]
Although not shown in detail, the operation switch group 5 includes a mechanical switch provided near a screen of the display device 9 and a touch panel provided on the screen of the display device 9. Using the operation switch group 5, various commands such as designation of a destination and a passing point, selection of a scale of a road map displayed on the display device 9, and the like can be input. The remote controller 10 also has a function equivalent to the operation switch group 5. Incidentally, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a voice can be input for designating the destination or the like.
[0016]
On the screen of the display device 9, a map around the current position of the vehicle is displayed at various scales at normal times, and a current position mark indicating the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle is displayed so as to be superimposed on the display. It has become. The display device 9 also displays an input screen for the user to perform various inputs and settings (selection) such as destinations, various messages, and the like.
[0017]
At this time, as will be described later, the screen of the display device 9 includes, as screens related to the route search to the destination, an initial setting screen for the user to perform initial settings of the system including setting of setting search conditions described later. V1 (see FIG. 2A), a destination input screen V2 for the user to specify (search for) a destination (and a passing point) (see FIG. 2B), a route for the user to select a route A selection screen V3 (see FIG. 2C) and the like are displayed. Although not shown, a route guidance screen is displayed on the display device 9 when the route guidance to the destination is executed.
[0018]
The control circuit 2 realizes a location function for knowing the current position of the vehicle and a route guidance function for searching for and guiding a route to a designated destination by its software configuration (execution of a program). It is supposed to. Among them, the location function displays the road map on the display device 9 based on the map data from the map data input device 4 as described above, and determines the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle based on the detection of the position detector 3. The current position mark is displayed. In this case, the display of the current position moves on the map as the vehicle travels, and the map is scroll-displayed according to the position of the vehicle. At this time, map matching for putting the current position of the vehicle on the road is performed.
[0019]
The control circuit 2 functions as route searching means for searching for a recommended route to a designated destination based on a user's operation of the operation switch group 5 (or the remote controller 10). In this route search, a recommended traveling route from the departure point (current position) of the vehicle to the destination designated by the user is automatically calculated, and the well-known Dijkstra method is used as a method thereof. . In addition, the user can specify one or more passing points in addition to the designation of the destination, and if there is a designation of a passing point, a route that passes through those passing points in order to reach the destination is designated. A search is performed. Details of this route search will be described later. At the time of this route search, the estimated time required to reach the destination through the route is also calculated.
[0020]
Further, the control circuit 2 functions as route guidance means for guiding a traveling route to the destination (selected by the user) obtained by the above route search (route calculation). This route guidance superimposes the current position (current position mark) of the vehicle on the screen of the display device 9 along with the road map and displays the route to be traveled in a conspicuous color to guide the user to the destination. The guidance function is realized. During the route guidance, when the vehicle comes near the intersection, an enlarged view of the vicinity of the intersection is automatically displayed on the display device 9, and in addition to this, the voice synthesizing function is used to display, for example, “the intersection 200 m ahead”. Left. "
[0021]
Here, a route search method (Dijkstra method) realized by the control circuit 2 will be briefly described. The road map data stored in the above-described map data recording medium includes road data for route search. This road data is divided into a plurality of parts by using intersections on the map as nodes and the like. It is given as link data that defines a portion between the nodes as a link. The link data includes link ID, link length, position data of the start point and end point of the link, angle (direction) data, road width, road type and other data.
[0022]
In the route search, an intersection (node) that can be reached next from the departure point (current position) to the destination (next pass point) according to search conditions to be prioritized (fixed search condition and set search condition) as described later. The search for roads (links) up to and the calculation of their costs (evaluation values) are sequentially performed, and a route (link train) having the minimum cost to the destination is obtained. The cost of each link is calculated by a predetermined formula based on the road length, road type, road width, whether toll is free, congestion degree, right / left turn, presence / absence of a signal or level crossing, and the like. In the case of the road, the value becomes large in proportion to the road length.
[0023]
As will be described later in the description of the operation, the control circuit 2 performs the above-described route search in five cases in accordance with a plurality of fixed base conditions which are preset in this case by a software configuration. This is done for the route. In the present embodiment, the fixed search conditions include, for example, “recommended” for finding a recommended route that minimizes the evaluation value (cost), “general road priority” for finding a route that does not pass through a toll road, and an expressway. "Toll road priority" to find a route that gives priority to toll roads, "distance priority" to find the shortest route, "another route" to find a next-best (different) route to the above "recommended" Are set.
[0024]
Then, the control circuit 2 arbitrarily sets a setting search condition to be a secondary (subordinate) condition of the route search in advance on the initial setting screen V1 of the display device 9 by operating the operation switch group 5 to the user. It is made to let. Therefore, the operation switch group 5 functions as a setting unit. When performing the route search, the control circuit 2 searches the route by combining the set search conditions with respect to each of the fixed search conditions (so-called AND condition).
[0025]
At this time, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, as the setting search conditions, “yes” and “no” are set for the two conditions of “time reduction (optimum time) consideration” and “signal light consideration”, respectively. It has become. Among them, “time saving consideration” is to search for a route that can reach the destination in the shortest possible time, and “signal consideration” is to search for a route having as few traffic signals as possible. Therefore, four combinations are generated as the set search conditions, and the route search can be performed from substantially twenty different combination conditions in addition to the five fixed search conditions.
[0026]
Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2 shows a specific example of a screen of the display device 9 related to the route search. First, FIG. 2A shows a specific example of an initial setting screen V1 for performing the initial setting of the system. On the “function” screen, the home registration and the auto reroute (the route when the route deviates) are displayed. Re-search) is set, and setting search conditions in the route search are set.
[0027]
In this case, as described above, the user sets “ON (ON)” and “OFF (OFF)” as the setting search conditions for “time saving (optimal time) consideration” and “signal light consideration”, respectively. It can be set (selected) according to your preference. Note that the setting of the setting search condition can be performed at an appropriate time, such as when the user wants to change the setting, as well as when the use of the apparatus 1 is started.
[0028]
FIG. 2B shows a destination input screen V2 for the user to specify a destination. When the user operates the operation switch group 5 to instruct execution of the route guidance, the display device 9 displays this destination. The ground input screen V2 is displayed. Although a detailed description is omitted, there are various methods for specifying the destination, such as a method of inputting the name of the destination, an input of the address, and a search from various genres such as facilities. At this time, it is also possible to designate one or more passing points (passing points) together.
[0029]
When the destination is designated, the control circuit 2 performs a route search (route calculation). As described above, this route search is performed in accordance with a condition in which the fixed search condition is combined with the set search condition set in advance by the user, and each fixed search condition (“recommended”, “general road priority”) is used. , "Toll road priority", "distance priority", "different route"). Note that all of these five routes are not necessarily different from each other, and a partially identical route may be calculated. Although not shown, during this route calculation, a display to that effect is displayed on the screen of the display device 9.
[0030]
In this case, for each of the five searched routes, the user's preference (for example, wanting to travel on a road with as few traffic signals as possible, or to arrive at the destination as soon as possible) is added to the fixedly determined condition. It becomes. Also, at this time, since the set search conditions are set in advance, even if there are substantially 20 combinations in the search conditions, the actual route calculation only needs to be performed for five types, and the calculation amount at the time of the route search is small. It doesn't increase.
[0031]
When the route search is completed, a route selection screen V3 for the user to select a route is displayed on the display device 9 as shown in FIG. In the route selection screen V3, for each of the five searched routes, a map (not shown) indicating the route is displayed on the right side of the screen, and the mileage, the required time, and the toll (high speed) are displayed on the left side. ) Road sections and tolls are displayed. The user looks at this screen and operates the operation switch group 5 to select any desired route. When the user selects a route and gives a guidance start instruction, the route guidance is started.
[0032]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can arbitrarily set the set search conditions in advance, and the route search is performed by combining the set search conditions with the basic fixed search conditions. It is possible to search for a route with a wider variety of combinations of conditions than when searching for a route using only fixed search conditions. As a result, the route options are substantially increased for the user, and an excellent effect of being able to search for a route more suited to the user's preference can be obtained.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the setting search conditions set by the user in advance are set to “Yes” and “No” for “Time saving consideration” and “Signaling consideration”, respectively. In addition, "consideration on bad roads" to avoid as much as possible on sharp curves, steep slopes, extremely narrow roads, unpaved roads, etc. "Consider obstacle points" to avoid traffic restrictions and roads with natural traffic congestion as much as possible. Various conditions are conceivable, such as "weather considerations" that minimizes the passage of a certain road.
[0034]
In this case, the conditions of “consideration of obstacles” and “consideration of weather” vary depending on conditions such as traffic information and weather information from a traffic information center (VICS center) by the wireless communication device 6 as external information input means. Dynamic information related to traffic can be acquired from the outside, and a route search can be performed using the information, so that a more appropriate route search corresponding to an actual road condition or the like can be performed. Also, the fixed search condition is not limited to the above five types of conditions, and various changes are possible, for example, only the availability of toll roads may be used as the fixed search condition.
[0035]
In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, various modifications can be considered for the hardware configuration of the entire car navigation system, the form of screen display on the display device 9, and the like. The present invention is not limited to the navigation system, and can be applied to various navigation devices such as a pedestrian navigation device, and can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the gist of the invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an electric configuration of a car navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a screen related to a route search on a display device. 3 is a diagram showing types of combinations of fixed search conditions and set search conditions.
In the drawings, 1 is a car navigation system (navigation device), 2 is a control circuit (route searching means), 5 is an operation switch group (setting means), 6 is a wireless communication device (external information input means), and 9 is a display device. Show.

Claims (3)

A navigation device including a route search unit that searches for a route to a specified destination according to a fixed base search condition that is fixedly set,
Along with providing setting means for the user to arbitrarily set a secondary search condition different from the fixed search condition in advance,
A navigation device, wherein the route search means is configured to search for a route by combining the fixed search condition with a set search condition set by the setting means. 2. The navigation according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the fixed search conditions are provided, and the route search means is configured to search a plurality of routes corresponding to the respective fixed search conditions. apparatus. In addition to providing external information input means for acquiring dynamic information related to traffic that fluctuates depending on the situation from outside, the setting search condition includes one that uses the dynamic information. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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