JP2006078278A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system capable of outputting traffic information simply but plainly. <P>SOLUTION: A traffic jam process part 35 in the (main control part 11) stores traffic jam information in a traffic jam information memory part 25 extracted from traffic information every time the receiving part 17 of the traffic information communication system receives the traffic information, and retrieves whether interval between the facilities the interval of traffic jam or traffic rush is existing or not ahead of the present position in a travelling direction. If the interval of traffic jam or traffic rush is existing, the traffic jam display icon is capable of being depressed on the traffic jam display image. When the traffic jam display icon is depressed the degree of congestion is "traffic jam" or "traffic rush", display intervals of two intervals ahead from a present position, the traffic jam information, together with only the names of the facilities in the display interval, the name of kinds and the distances are displayed on a guidance screen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device.

  Conventionally, a car navigation device mounted on a vehicle is known as a navigation device for guiding a route to a destination. The car navigation device is widely used from the convenience that a route search from the current location to the destination can be performed simply by setting the destination, and the route of the searched route can be guided by voice or image. Yes.

Such a navigation device includes a facility selected by a user among facilities located ahead of the current position in a traveling direction while traveling on a road that cannot be changed by a facility other than a preset interchange such as an expressway, and the like. There is one that sets a predetermined number of facilities ahead of the facility as a display target facility and displays the facility name (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, there is also a display that displays information on the traffic between facilities together with the display of the facility name.
JP-A-8-304085

  However, in the car navigation device described in Patent Document 1, the facility selected by the user and a predetermined number of facilities ahead of the facility are set as display target facilities and the facility name is displayed. When the traffic information is displayed together, not only a section with traffic jam but also a section without traffic jam is displayed. For this reason, in order for the user to check on the display screen a section with traffic jam ahead of the current position on the display screen, it is necessary to perform troublesome operations such as repeatedly selecting a facility and checking for traffic jam information.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device that can output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a navigation device that outputs traffic information between facilities along a road to an output unit together with the road, and stores facility information of the facility along the road. Searching for a section where the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value among sections between the facility information storage means for storing, the traffic information storage means for storing the traffic information, and a facility ahead of the present location in the traveling direction The section search means and an output that outputs a predetermined number of sections from the section closer to the current location among the searched sections as an output section, and outputs the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section together with the road And a means.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a navigation device that outputs traffic information between facilities along a road to an output unit together with the road, a facility information storage means for storing facility information of the facility along the road, and the facility The traffic information storage means for storing the traffic information of the section between the vehicle and the facility, and the section in which the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value among the sections ahead of the current location in the traveling direction is searched from the traffic information storage means. The section search means and an output that outputs a predetermined number of sections from the section closer to the current location among the searched sections as an output section, and outputs the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section together with the road And a means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a navigation device for outputting traffic information between facilities along a road to an output unit together with the road, facility information storage means for storing facility information of the facility along the road, and the traffic Traffic information storage means for storing information, traffic information search means for searching the traffic information in the section between the facility ahead of the current location in the traveling direction from the traffic information storage means, and the searched traffic information Based on the section, a section search means for searching for a section having traffic information exceeding a predetermined value, and among the searched sections, a predetermined number of sections closer to the current location are set as output sections, and the output sections And output means for outputting facility information of the facility in the output section together with the road.

The invention according to claim 4 is the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the road is a general road and the facility is an intersection.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the section further includes a vicinity of the general road between the facilities, and the traffic information storage The means is to store the traffic information of the section.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the road is an expressway, and the facility is at least one of a service area, a parking area, an interchange, and a junction. The gist of this is

  The invention according to claim 7 is the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising route search means for searching for a guide route from the current location to the destination, wherein the output means comprises: The gist is that the section on the guide route is an output section, and the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility in the output section are output together with the guide route.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, a difference index for emphasizing and outputting the section when the traffic information exceeds the predetermined value. The present invention further includes a difference index forming means to be formed, wherein the output means outputs the difference index and facility information of facilities in the output section together with the road.

The gist of the invention described in claim 9 is that, in the navigation device according to claim 8, the difference index is changed according to a difference between the traffic information and the predetermined value.
The invention according to claim 10 is the navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, for outputting the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section to the output means. Input means for inputting a traffic information output signal, the output means, when the traffic information output signal is input, the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section together with the road The gist is to output to the output unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the facility information storage means for storing the facility information of the facility along the road and the traffic information storage means for storing the traffic information are provided. And the section search means searches the section where the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value among the sections between the facilities ahead of the current position in the traveling direction, and the output means is close to the current position among the searched sections. A predetermined number of sections from the direction is set as an output section, and the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility in the output section are output together with the road. As a result, among the sections ahead of the current position in the traveling direction, only the section where the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value is set as the output section, and only the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section can be output together with the road. it can. Therefore, it is possible to output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

According to the invention described in claim 2, there is provided facility information storage means for storing facility information of a facility along the road, and traffic information storage means for storing traffic information of a section between the facility and the facility. It was. Then, the section search means searches the traffic information storage means for a section where the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value among the sections ahead of the current position in the traveling direction, and the output means determines the predetermined section from the closest to the current position among the searched sections. The number of sections is set as the output section, and the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility in the output section are output together with the road. As a result, among the sections ahead of the current position in the traveling direction, only the section where the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value is set as the output section, and only the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section can be output together with the road. it can. Therefore, it is possible to output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the facility information storage means for storing the facility information of the facility along the road and the traffic information storage means for storing the traffic information are provided. The traffic information search means searches the traffic information storage means for traffic information in a section between the facility ahead of the current location in the traveling direction, and the section search means searches for the section based on the searched traffic information. The output means searches for a section having traffic information exceeding a predetermined value from the output section, and the output means sets a predetermined number of sections closer to the current location among the searched sections as an output section, and the traffic information of the output section and the output section The facility information of the facility is output together with the road. As a result, among the sections ahead of the current position in the traveling direction, only the section where the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value is set as the output section, and only the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section can be output together with the road. it can. Therefore, it is possible to output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the road is a general road and the facility is an intersection, for example, while traveling on a general road, traffic information is predetermined in a section ahead of the current position in the traveling direction. Only the section exceeding the value can be set as the output section, and only the traffic information of the output section and the intersection of the output section can be output together with the road. Therefore, it is possible to output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, the section further includes the vicinity of the general road between the facilities, and the traffic information storage means stores the traffic information of the section. As a result, not only the traffic information of the traveling general road but also the traffic information of the vicinity of the traveling general road can be output. When changed, the traveling general road can be changed to another general road that does not receive the change of the traffic information. Therefore, it is possible to output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, since the road is an expressway and the facility is at least one of a service area, a parking area, an interchange, and a junction, for example, traveling from the current location while traveling on the expressway Of the sections ahead in the direction, only the section where the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value can be set as the output section, and only the traffic information of the output section and the service area of the output section can be output together with the road. Therefore, it is possible to output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, route search means for searching for a guide route for traveling from the present location to the destination is provided, and the output means sets a section on the guide route as an output section, and traffic in the output section. The information and the facility information of the facility in the output section are output together with the guidance route. As a result, it is possible to output the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section without disturbing the route guidance even during the route guidance. Therefore, it is possible to output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, when the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value, it further comprises a difference index forming means for forming a difference index for emphasizing and outputting the section, and the output means outputs the difference index and the output. The facility information of the facility in the section is output together with the road. As a result, it is possible to output a section where traffic information exceeds a predetermined value in an easy-to-understand manner. Therefore, it is possible to output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  According to the invention described in claim 9, since the difference index is changed according to the difference between the traffic information and the predetermined value, it is possible to easily determine how much the traffic information differs from the predetermined value. Therefore, it is possible to output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  According to the invention described in claim 10, the output means further includes an input means for inputting a traffic information output signal for outputting the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section. When the traffic information output signal is input, the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section are output to the output unit together with the road. As a result, for example, the traffic information can be output to the output unit only when the user wants to know the traffic information. Therefore, it is possible to output traffic information in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a navigation device in which the present invention is mounted on an automobile will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the navigation device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a navigation device (hereinafter referred to as “navigation device”) 1 includes an input / output unit 3, a current position detection unit 5, an information storage unit 7, and a main control unit 11. The input / output unit 3, the current position detection unit 5, and the information storage unit 7 are electrically connected to the main control unit 11, and various data can be exchanged between the units.

  The input / output unit 3 includes input means such as a remote controller having various operation icons, for example, and inputs various operation signals for performing route guidance to the main control unit 11. The input / output unit 3 includes a display unit 13 as an output unit. The display unit 13 is, for example, a touch panel type LCD that displays an image, and displays various calculation processing results by the main control unit 11. Display output. In addition, the display unit 13 detects a position on the screen pressed by a finger or the like by pressing a predetermined position with a finger or the like, and performs main control on various operation signals for performing route guidance corresponding to the position. To the unit 11. That is, the display unit 13 functions as an input unit while being an output unit.

  The current position detection unit 5 detects the current position of the vehicle. The current position detecting unit 5 includes a GPS receiving unit (Global Positioning System) 15, a road traffic information communication system receiving unit 17, a vehicle speed sensor 19, and a direction sensor 21. Then, the current position detection unit 5 receives various data received by the GPS reception unit 15 and the road traffic information communication system reception unit 17, and data of each sensor value detected by the vehicle speed sensor 19 and the direction sensor 21. Each is output to the main control unit 11. In the present embodiment, the current position detection unit 5 always detects the coordinates of the current position while the navigation apparatus 1 performs route guidance.

  The information storage unit 7 is a database provided with a storage medium such as a hard disk or a DVD-ROM, a program for route search, route guidance, etc., a program for displaying a map, route guidance, etc. on the display unit 13, etc. Various programs and data are stored. The information storage unit 7 stores destination data and map data used by the main control unit 11 for destination setting, road data used for route search, and the like.

  Further, the information storage unit 7 includes a facility information storage unit 23 as a facility information storage unit that stores facility information. Facility information in this embodiment is information such as names, types, location data, icons, etc. of facilities such as toll roads as roads, such as interchanges along the expressway, service areas, parking areas, junctions, etc. It is stored for each route and for each vertical line. In the present embodiment, the facility information is stored in advance in the same manner as the map data and the like.

  Further, the information storage unit 7 includes a traffic information storage unit 25 as traffic information storage means for storing traffic information. The traffic congestion information is extracted from the traffic information of each link on a certain range of roads from the road traffic information communication system that the road traffic information communication system receiving unit 17 receives from time to time (hereinafter referred to as a section). ), The degree of congestion, the length of congestion, the travel time, and the like, which are stored for each section and each traveling direction (upline or downline). And every time new traffic information is transmitted from the road traffic information communication system, the traffic jam information is updated.

  Incidentally, the degree of congestion is a predetermined degree of congestion, and three types of highway, urban highway, and general road are prepared. For example, on a highway, the degree of congestion on each road is “congested” when the vehicle speed is 40 km / h or lower, “no traffic jam”, “no traffic jam”, “no traffic jam” when the vehicle speed is 61 km / h or higher. The space is "crowded". On urban highways, there is traffic jams when the vehicle speed is 20 km / h or less, no traffic jams when the vehicle speed is 41 km / h or more, and congestion between “no traffic jam” and “no traffic jam”. When the vehicle speed is 10 km / h or less, there is traffic jam, when the vehicle speed is 21 km / h or more, there is no traffic jam, and between “traffic jam” and “no traffic jam”.

  The main control unit 11 includes a search processing unit 31, a search processing unit 33, and a traffic jam display processing unit 35. In the present embodiment, the main control unit 11 executes the route guidance program and the traffic jam information display processing program stored in the information storage unit 7. As a result, the main control unit 11 functions as section search means, traffic information search means, difference index formation means, and output means.

  The search processing unit 31 calculates a coordinate value indicating the current position of the vehicle based on various data relating to the current position of the vehicle from the current position detection unit 5. The search processing unit 31 queries the map data stored in the information storage unit 7 and searches for the current position (hereinafter referred to as the current location) of the vehicle on the map data corresponding to the calculated coordinate value. Further, the search processing unit 31 refers to the map data for the registered destination and searches for a position on the map data. The search processing unit 31 forms image data corresponding to map data around the current location of the vehicle and the destination obtained as a result of the search. Then, the search processing unit 31 outputs image data corresponding to the map data of the current location of the vehicle obtained as a result of the search to the input / output unit 3 and causes the display unit 13 to display the image data. In the present embodiment, for example, as in the guidance screen M1 shown in FIG. 2, the current location is displayed with an arrowhead-shaped index P at a position on the screen of the display unit 13 that is opposite to the coordinates of the current location.

  The search processing unit 33 as route search means searches for a route between two arbitrary points, that is, a guide route, automatically by a user instruction or automatically. When a search operation signal for searching for a guide route is input from the input / output unit 3, the search processing unit 33 searches for the guide route R1 from the departure point to the destination and displays and guides the guide route R1. Create information. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the guide route R1 is displayed on the guide map of the guide image GP1 on the guide screen M1.

  In the present embodiment, the guidance screen M1 is composed of two types of images: a guidance image GP1 that provides route guidance and a traffic jam information display image D1 that displays traffic jam information. The guide image GP1 is displayed on the left side of the guide screen M1, and the traffic jam information display image D1 for displaying traffic jam information is displayed on the right side of the guide screen M1.

In this traffic jam information display image D1, before the traffic jam information display processing is performed, as shown in FIG. 2, along the road included in the guide route R1, together with the indicator P indicating the current location and the guide route R1, the current location Three facility names 39 and type names 40 of the facilities are displayed from the closest to the present location among all the facilities ahead in the traveling direction. Further, in the traffic jam information display image D1, distances 41 from the current location to the three facilities where the facility name 39 is displayed are displayed. Incidentally, the traffic jam information display image D1 shown in FIG. 2 indicates that there are facilities in the order of “Togo Parking Area”, “Tomei Miyoshi Interchange”, and “Toyota Interchange” ahead.

  Furthermore, the traffic jam information display image D1 displays a traffic jam display icon 43 that can be pressed (selectable) only when there is a section where the traffic jam degree is “traffic jam” or “crowded” ahead of the current location in the traveling direction. When the user depresses and selects the traffic jam display icon 43, the traffic jam information display processing is executed by the traffic jam display processing unit 35.

  More specifically, the traffic jam display processing unit 35 selects a zone with a traffic jam degree “congested” or “crowded” among the zones ahead of the current location in the direction of travel according to the user's instruction. D1) is displayed. Every time the road traffic information communication system receiving unit 17 receives traffic information, extracts traffic jam information from the traffic information and stores it in the traffic jam information storage unit 25, the traffic jam display processing unit 35 is ahead of the current direction in the traveling direction. Among the sections, a section having a congestion degree of “congested” or “congested” (corresponding to a section in which the traffic information according to claim 1 or 2 exceeds a predetermined value) is searched. Then, two sections (corresponding to the predetermined number of claims 1 to 3) from the side closer to the current location to the front of the sections with the searched congestion levels “congested” and “congested” are displayed. It is set as a display section as an output section. Further, the traffic information of the display section is set as display target traffic information. For example, when the congestion degree of three sections ahead of the current location in the traveling direction is “congested” or “congested”, the number of display sections is three.

  When the traffic congestion display icon 43 is pressed (corresponding to the traffic information output signal described in claim 10), the facility name 39 and the type name 40 of the facility in the display section, and the distance 41 from the current location to each facility 41 And the display target traffic jam information is displayed on the traffic jam information display image D1 of the guidance screen M1. In the present embodiment, a congestion degree index 44 and a congestion length index 45 are displayed as the display target congestion information. The traffic congestion degree index 44 as a difference index is an image having the same shape as the guidance route R1 of each display section displayed in the traffic congestion information display image D1 and slightly smaller than the guidance route R1. The congestion degree index 44 changes in color according to the congestion degree of each display section (corresponding to the difference described in claim 9). For example, as shown in FIG. If it is, it will be displayed as red, if the congestion level is “congested”, it will be displayed as orange. The congestion length index 45 displays the congestion level and the congestion length in text. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, if the congestion level is 10 km, the congestion level is “10 km” and the congestion level is “ When the state of “crowded” continues for 3 kilometers, it is displayed as “3 km crowded”.

  In the present embodiment, only two display sections are displayed on the guidance screen M1, but when the two display sections are continuous, as shown in FIG. 3, the facility at the end of the first display section is displayed. And the facility at the start point of the second display section overlap, the displayed facility information (facility name 39) is three. On the other hand, when the two display sections are discontinuous, there are no facilities overlapping at the boundaries of the display sections, so that the displayed facility information (facility name 39) is four.

  Incidentally, FIG. 3 shows the traffic jam information display image D1 after the traffic jam information display process. In this case, the guidance screen M1 displays a display section ahead of the current position in the traveling direction, display target traffic jam information, and facilities in the display section. In other words, a red traffic congestion index 44 and a traffic jam length indicator 45 corresponding to “10 km traffic jam” are displayed in the display section from the Shinshiro parking area to the Mikkabi interchange, and orange in the display section from the Mikkabi interchange to the Hamanako service area. The congestion degree index 44 and the congestion length index 45 corresponding to “3 km congestion” are displayed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the section from the Togo parking area to the Shinshiro parking area where the degree of traffic congestion is “no traffic jam” even in the vicinity of the current location is not displayed. And the facility information (facility name 39, type name 40) of Shinshiro parking area, Mikkabi interchange, Hamanako service area, which is the facility of the display section where the congestion level is “congested”, “congested”, and the respective traffic to be displayed Only information (congestion degree index 44, congestion length index 45) is displayed. Therefore, only necessary information is displayed concisely.

  Also, the distance from the current location to the Shinshiro parking area is 62 km, the distance from the current location to the Mikkabi interchange is 72 km, and the distance from the current location to the Hamana Lake service area is 75 km. Therefore, since the distance from the current location to each display target traffic jam information can be easily grasped, it is possible to easily grasp, for example, how far the current location is congested with reference to this distance 41.

  Next, the operation of the navigation device 1 described above will be described. FIG. 4 shows an overall flowchart of the navigation processing (route search, route guidance). First, the user inputs the destination address and the like from the input / output unit 3 to the main control unit 11 (search processing unit 33), and sets the destination (step S11). The search processing unit 33 searches for a destination from the map information stored in the information storage unit 7, and performs a route search from the departure point to the destination based on the map information and road information (step S15). . In the present embodiment, for example, the search processing unit 33 searches for a plurality of guide routes, calculates the required time to the destination of each guide route based on the traffic information of each link constituting the guide route, The search processing unit 33 selects the guide route having the shortest required time among the guide routes as the guide route R1. In the present embodiment, the selected guide route R1 includes an expressway, and the guide route R1 is displayed on the display unit 13 as a guide screen M1 as shown in FIG.

Then, when the route guidance is started (step S20), processing as shown in steps S25 to S45 in FIG. 5 (hereinafter referred to as traffic jam information display processing) is performed.
First, the road traffic information communication system receiving unit 17 receives traffic information (congestion information) of a plurality of links in the section from the road traffic information communication system, and stores it in the traffic information storage unit 25 (step S25). Next, the congestion information storage unit 25 is searched to determine whether or not there is a section with a congestion degree of “congested” or “congested” among sections ahead of the current location in the traveling direction (step S30). If the main control unit 11 determines that there is no section with the degree of congestion “congested” or “congested” (NO in step S30), the main control unit 11 ends the congestion information display process and performs route guidance without displaying the congestion information ( Step S20) is continued. On the other hand, when the main control unit 11 determines that there is a section with the congestion degree of “congestion” and “congestion” (YES in step S30), the main control unit 11 can press the congestion display icon 43 of the congestion information display image D1 on the guidance screen M1 ( Selectable) (step S35).

  When the user presses the traffic congestion display icon 43 (step S40), the display section ahead in the traveling direction from the current position, the display target traffic congestion information, the facility name 39 of the facility in the display section, the type name 40, the current position to those facilities. A guidance screen M1 displaying the distance 41, which is a distance, is displayed on the display unit 13 (step S45).

  The main control unit 11 repeats the traffic information display process (steps S25 to S45) according to a user instruction until the destination is reached, and ends the route guidance (step S20) when the destination is reached.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) According to the present embodiment, while traveling on a road such as an expressway, the congestion display processing unit 35 has a congestion degree of “congested” or “congested” in a section ahead of the current location in the traveling direction. A section was searched. Then, of the sections with the congestion levels of “congestion” and “congestion”, the display section that is the two sections ahead from the current location, the traffic information (display target traffic information) of the display section, Only the facility name 39, the type name 40, and the distance 41 of the facility in the display section are displayed on the guidance screen M1. As a result, it is possible to display on the guidance screen M1 only the display sections and the like whose congestion levels are “congested” and “congested”. Therefore, only the traffic information necessary for the user can be displayed in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  (2) According to the present embodiment, the user can simply press (select) the traffic jam display icon 43, and the zone with the traffic jam degree “congested” or “crowded” among the zones ahead of the current location in the traveling direction. Only the display section which is can be displayed. Therefore, only the traffic information necessary for the user can be displayed in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  (3) According to the present embodiment, traffic information necessary for the user is displayed on one screen, so that it is not necessary to perform troublesome operations such as scrolling. Therefore, only the traffic information necessary for the user can be displayed in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  (4) According to the present embodiment, since the distance 41 from the current location to the facility in the display section is displayed in the traffic jam information display image D1, the degree of traffic jam from the current location to the display section of “congestion” and “congestion” is displayed. The distance can be easily grasped. Therefore, for example, with reference to the distance 41, it is possible to easily grasp how far the current location is congested.

(5) According to the present embodiment, traffic information necessary for the user is displayed together with the guidance image GP1, so that route guidance is not hindered. Therefore, even during route guidance, only the traffic information necessary for the user can be displayed in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is characterized in that the traffic jam display processing unit 35 described in the first embodiment displays traffic jam information between facilities on a general road (along the general road). In the embodiment, portions similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, in the guidance image GP2 of the guidance screen M3 displayed on the display unit 13, on the guidance route R2 using only the general road as the road searched by the search processing unit 33. Shall be traveling. And in this embodiment, the facility information memorize | stored in the facility information storage part 23 is the names, positions of facilities, such as intersections on a general road, facilities, such as a bridge and a tunnel, public facilities along a general road, and a stadium. Information such as data, icons, etc. is stored for each route and for each vertical line. The traffic jam information stored in the traffic jam information storage unit 25 is a traffic jam degree of a link between the facilities (sections), and is stored for each route, for each vertical line, and for each segment.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the present embodiment also includes a guidance screen M3 shown in FIG. 6 that is composed of two types of images: a guidance image GP2 that provides route guidance and a traffic jam information display image D2 that displays traffic jam information. . On the left side of the guidance screen M3, a guidance image GP2 displaying map data, the current location and the guidance route R2 is displayed. On the right side of the guidance screen M3, the facility name (intersection name) is displayed before the traffic jam information display processing is performed. 39, a traffic jam information display image D2 that displays a distance 41 that is a distance from the current location to the facility (intersection) is displayed. In the traffic jam information display image D2, before the traffic jam information display process is performed, as shown in FIG. 6, the current location of all sections ahead of the current location along with the indicator P indicating the current location and the guide route R2 is displayed. Two consecutive sections are displayed from the side closest to. That is, three facility names (intersection names) 39 are displayed as facilities in each of the two consecutive sections. Incidentally, in the traffic jam information display image D2 shown in FIG. 6, the facility names 39 of “Edobashi Minami”, “Edobashi Kita”, and “Honmachi 2-chome” are displayed. Further, in the traffic jam information display image D2, the distance 41 from the current location to the facility in the section is displayed.

  Then, as in the first embodiment, the traffic jam display processing unit 35 receives the traffic information from the road traffic information communication system receiving unit 17, extracts the traffic jam information from the traffic information, and stores it in the traffic jam information storage unit 25. Every time, a section having a congestion degree of “congested” or “congested” is searched from the sections ahead of the current location in the traveling direction. Of the sections with the retrieved congestion levels “congested” and “congested”, two sections from the closest to the current location to the front are set as display sections. Further, the traffic information of the display section is set as display target traffic information. The traffic jam information display image D2 displays a traffic jam display icon 43 that can be pressed (selectable) only when there is a section with a traffic jam degree of “traffic jam” or “crowded” ahead of the current location in the traveling direction. When the user depresses and selects the traffic jam display icon 43, the traffic jam information display processing is executed by the traffic jam display processing unit 35.

  Incidentally, FIG. 7 shows the traffic jam information display image D2 after the traffic jam information display process. In this case, the guidance screen M3 displays the display target traffic jam information ahead of the current location in the traveling direction, the display section with the display target traffic jam information, and the facilities in the display section. In other words, the red traffic congestion index 44 corresponding to the traffic congestion level is displayed in the display section from Edobashi Kita intersection to Honmachi 2-chome intersection, and in the display section from Higashi Matsushitacho intersection to Iwamotocho intersection. An orange traffic degree index 44 corresponding to the congestion level “congested” is displayed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, even in the vicinity of the current location, the section from the Edobashi Minami intersection to the Edobashi north intersection where the degree of congestion is “no traffic jam” is not displayed. Similarly, the section from the Honcho 2-chome intersection to the Higashi Matsushitacho intersection is not displayed because the congestion level is “no traffic jam”. And the facility information (facility name 39) of the Edobashi Kita intersection, Honmachi 2-chome intersection, Higashimatsushitacho intersection, Iwamotocho intersection, which are the facilities of the section with "congestion" and "crowded", and the respective display target congestion information Only (congestion degree index 44) is displayed. Therefore, only necessary information is displayed concisely.

  In addition, the distance from the present location to the Edobashi Kita intersection is 780 meters, the distance from the present location to Honcho 2-chome intersection is 1 km, the distance from the present location to Higashi Matsushitacho intersection is 1.8 km, and the present location to Iwamotocho intersection The distance is displayed as 2 kilometers. Therefore, since the distance from the current location to each display target traffic jam information can be easily grasped, the distance 41 can be easily grasped with reference to the distance 41, for example, The user can re-search the guidance route by himself and avoid the traffic jam ahead of the current location of the guidance route R2.

Next, the operation of the navigation device 1 described above will be described.
Also in this embodiment, it is assumed that the navigation apparatus 1 has previously performed destination setting and route search (step S11 and step S15 in FIG. 4) in advance. Also in the present embodiment, for example, the search processing unit 33 searches for a plurality of guide routes, and calculates the required time to the destination of each guide route based on the traffic information of each link constituting the guide routes. The search processing unit 33 selects the guide route having the shortest required time among the guide routes as the guide route R2. In the present embodiment, the selected guide route R2 includes only a general road, and the guide route R2 is displayed as a guide image GP2 on the display unit 13 as shown in FIG. Then, route guidance is started (step S20 in FIG. 4), and traffic jam information display processing (steps S25 to S45 in FIG. 5) is performed.

First, the road traffic information communication system receiving unit 17 receives traffic information (congestion information) of a plurality of links in the section from the road traffic information communication system that is received from time to time, and stores it in the traffic information storage unit 25 (step S25). . Next, the traffic jam information storage unit 25 is searched to determine whether or not there is a section having a traffic jam level “congested” or “crowded” ahead of the current location in the traveling direction (step S30).
). If the main control unit 11 determines that there is no section with the degree of congestion “congested” or “congested” (NO in step S30), the main control unit 11 ends the congestion information display process and performs route guidance without displaying the congestion (step S20) is continued. On the other hand, if the main control unit 11 determines that there is a section with the congestion level “congested” or “congested” (YES in step S30), the main control unit 11 can press the traffic congestion display icon 43 of the traffic congestion information display image D2 on the guidance screen M3. (Selectable) is displayed (step S35).

  When the user depresses the traffic congestion display icon 43 (step S40), the display target traffic congestion information ahead of the current position in the traveling direction, the facility name 39 of the facility in the display section where the display target traffic congestion information exists, the current location to the facility A guidance screen M3 displaying the distance 41, which is a distance, is displayed on the display unit 13 (step S45).

  The main control unit 11 repeats the traffic information display process (steps S25 to S45) according to a user instruction until the destination is reached, and ends the route guidance (step S20) when the destination is reached.

According to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) According to the present embodiment, while traveling on a road such as a general road, among the sections ahead of the current location in the traveling direction, the degree of congestion is “congested” or “congested”, and from the closest to the current location Only the display section which is two sections ahead, and the facility name 39 and the distance 41 of the facility in the display section are displayed on the guidance screen M3. As a result, it is possible to display on the guidance screen M3 only the sections where the degree of congestion is “congested” or “congested”. Therefore, only the traffic information necessary for the user can be displayed in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  (2) According to the present embodiment, the user can display only the sections of the traffic congestion degree “congested” and “congested” among the sections ahead of the current location by simply pressing the traffic congestion display icon 43. can do. Therefore, only the traffic information necessary for the user can be displayed in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  (3) According to the present embodiment, traffic information necessary for the user is displayed on one screen, so that it is not necessary to perform troublesome operations such as scrolling. Therefore, only the traffic information necessary for the user can be displayed in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

  (4) According to the present embodiment, since the distance 41 from the current location to the display target facility is displayed on the traffic jam information display image D2, the distance to the display target traffic jam information can be easily grasped. Therefore, it is possible to easily grasp how far the current location is congested with reference to this distance 41, and for example, the user re-searches the guide route himself and is ahead of the current location of the guide route R2. You can avoid traffic jams.

  (5) According to the present embodiment, the traffic information necessary for the user is displayed together with the guidance image GP2, so that route guidance is not hindered. Therefore, even during route guidance, only the traffic information necessary for the user can be displayed in a simple but easy-to-understand manner.

In addition, you may change each said embodiment as follows.
In the first embodiment, the search processing unit 33 searches for the guidance route R1 using the expressway, and the congestion display processing unit 35 determines the degree of congestion ahead of the current position in the section on the guidance route R1. Searched for sections with "congestion" and "congestion". When the user travels on the expressway without searching for the guide route R1, a search is made for a section on the expressway where the degree of congestion in the forward direction from the current location is “congested” or “congested”. You may do it. At this time, the search range of the section having the congestion degree of “congested” or “congested” is from the current position to the end of the highway that is running because no destination is set. As a result, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the second embodiment, the search processing unit 33 searches for a guidance route R2 using a general road, and among the sections on the guidance route R2, the congestion degree ahead of the current direction in the traveling direction is “congestion”, “congestion” ”Was searched. When this travels on a general road without searching for the guide route R2, a section on the general road where the degree of traffic congestion ahead of the current location is “congested” or “congested” is searched. You may do it. At this time, the search range of the section where the degree of congestion is “congested” or “congested” is assumed to be ahead of the current location and to the end of the traveling general road. As a result, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

In the second embodiment, the facility name 39 is displayed on the guidance screen M3. The facility type name may be displayed together with the facility name 39.
In the second embodiment, a section between facilities on a general road (along the general road) is a section, and the congestion display processing unit 35 has a congestion degree of “congested” in a section ahead of the current position in the traveling direction. A search was made to see if there was a “crowded” section. This may include a general road and a range of about 100 m perpendicular to the general road (corresponding to the vicinity of the general road according to claim 5). Thereby, it is possible to display not only the guidance route R2 but also the traffic jam information in the vicinity of the guidance route R2. On general roads, traffic jam information in the vicinity of the guide route R2 may affect traffic jam information in the guide route R2. By displaying not only the guide route R2 but also traffic information in the vicinity of the guide route R2, for example, the user can By re-searching the guide route by itself, it is possible to avoid traffic congestion in the vicinity of the guide route R2.

  In each of the above embodiments, the traffic jam information storage unit 25 obtains traffic jam information from the traffic information of each link on a certain range of roads from the road traffic information communication system that the road traffic information communication system receiving unit 17 receives from time to time. The extracted congestion degree, congestion length, travel time, etc. of the links between facilities (sections) between the facilities are stored for each section and travel direction (upline or downline). You may make it memorize | store the traffic congestion degree, traffic congestion length, travel time, etc. of several links extracted from this traffic information as it is. In this case, for each section ahead of the current direction of travel, the degree of congestion of all the links in the section is searched, and if there is a link that is “congested” or “congested”, the section is designated as “congested”, “ It is also possible to search for a section that is “congested”.

In each of the above embodiments, a section having a congestion degree of “congested” or “congested” is searched ahead of the current location in the traveling direction. Alternatively, only the “traffic jam” section may be searched.
In each of the above-described embodiments, the two sections that are searched from the side closer to the current location to the front of the sections having the congestion levels “congested” and “congested” are displayed on the guidance screens M1 and M3 as output sections. Scroll buttons may be provided on the guide screens M1 and M3, and the scroll screens may be pressed to scroll the guide screens M1 and M3. That is, for example, when the guide screens M1 and M3 are scrolled in the traveling direction, the degree of traffic jam ahead of the display direction displayed on the guidance screens M1 and M3 is “congested” or “congested”. It is possible to display the section and the traffic information to be displayed in order. As a result, it is possible to confirm a section in which the degree of congestion other than the two sections is “congested” or “congested” from the side closer to the current location.

In each of the above embodiments, the traffic jam information is between facilities extracted from the traffic information of each link on a certain range of roads from the road traffic information communication system that the road traffic information communication system receiving unit 17 receives from time to time ( The traffic congestion degree, the traffic congestion length, the travel time, etc. of a plurality of links in the section) are stored in the traffic jam information storage unit 25 for each section and traveling direction (upline or downline). In addition to the traffic jam information received from the road traffic information communication system, statistical traffic jam information obtained by statistically processing past traffic jam information for each day of the week and each time zone can be stored in the traffic jam information storage unit 25 in advance. As a result, even when the road traffic information communication system receiving unit 17 cannot receive traffic information from the road traffic information communication system, by using the statistical traffic jam information, only the traffic jam information necessary for the user can be easily understood. It can be displayed easily.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, a section having a congestion degree of “congested” or “congested” is searched for and displayed ahead of the current position in the traveling direction. This is not the degree of traffic congestion but the required time, which is the time required to travel through the section calculated based on the travel time included in the traffic congestion information, is greater than the required time when traveling through the section at legal speed. You may search and display a section (corresponding to a section in which the traffic information described in claim 1 or 2 exceeds a predetermined value) having a proportion or more.

  In each of the above embodiments, when the user presses the traffic congestion display icon 43, the display target traffic congestion information, the facility name 39 of the facility in the display section with the display traffic congestion information, and the distance from the current location to the facility The distance 41 etc. was displayed. Even if the user does not press the traffic congestion display icon 43, when there is a traffic congestion degree “congested” or “congested” in a section ahead of the current location, the traffic to be displayed is automatically displayed. Information, the facility name 39 of the facility in the display section where the display target traffic jam information is present, the distance 41 from the current location to the facility, and the like may be displayed.

  In each of the above embodiments, the traffic jam display icon 43 is always displayed in the traffic jam information display image D1 (D2), and the traffic jam degree is “traffic jam” and “crowded” in the zone ahead of the current location. Only when there is a traffic jam icon 43, it can be selected. The traffic congestion display icon 43 can be displayed and pressed on the traffic congestion information display image D1 (D2) only when there is a traffic congestion level “congested” or “congested” among the sections ahead of the current location in the traveling direction (selection). The traffic congestion display icon 43 may not be displayed on the traffic congestion information display image D1 (D2) when there is no section with the traffic congestion degree “congested” or “congested”.

In each of the above embodiments, a suitable result has been obtained by applying to the navigation device 1, but this may be applied to the navigation device 1 and a navigation system provided with the navigation device 1.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the navigation device 1 is a navigation device attached to the automobile CA, and the navigation device 1 can communicate with the information center NC via a network M such as a cellular phone network. It is a state. Thus, the navigation system A is comprised by the navigation apparatus 1 and the information center NC. The navigation device 1 in the navigation system A is registered in advance in the information center NC, and each navigation device 1 is managed by a user ID.

  The navigation device 1 does not include the traffic jam information storage unit 25, but the traffic information storage unit 25 corresponding to the user ID of each user is provided in the information center NC. Then, when the navigation device 1 transmits the user ID and the guidance route to the information center NC via the network M during the traffic information display process, the information center NC transmits the traffic information on the guidance route to the navigation device 1. To do.

By doing in this way, since it is not necessary to provide the traffic jam information storage part 25 in the navigation apparatus 1, the navigation apparatus 1 can be reduced in size.
Further, the traffic information display processing unit 35 and the traffic information display unit 35 corresponding to the user ID of each user are provided in the information center NC without providing the traffic display processing unit 35 in the navigation device 1. When the navigation device 1 transmits the user ID and the guidance route to the information center NC via the network M, the information center NC transmits the display section and the display target traffic jam information on the guidance route to the navigation device 1. Then, the navigation device 1 displays the display section and the display target traffic jam information on the display unit 13.

By doing in this way, since it is not necessary for the navigation apparatus 1 to perform a traffic jam information display process, the number of processes which the navigation apparatus 1 performs can be reduced. Therefore, although it is a simple and small device, only the traffic information that the user wants to display can be displayed more easily and easily.

  In each of the above embodiments, the traffic jam information is extracted from the traffic information of each link on a certain range of roads from the road traffic information communication system that the road traffic information communication system receiving unit 17 receives from time to time. You may extract from the received traffic information.

  In each of the above embodiments, the traffic information display image D1 displays the distance 41 from the current location to each facility. Alternatively, an estimated travel time that is a time required to travel from the current location to each facility, or an estimated arrival time that is an estimated time to arrive at each facility may be displayed. As a result, it is possible to easily grasp the time required to travel from the current location to a section where the degree of congestion is “congested” or “congested”. The expected travel time and expected arrival time can be calculated by a known method using traffic information received from the road traffic information communication system, traffic information received from the information center, or the like.

  In each of the above embodiments, the route search is performed by the navigation device 1 first searching for a plurality of guide routes, and based on the traffic information of each link constituting the guide routes, the required route to the destination of each guide route. Calculate time. And the navigation apparatus 1 selects the guidance route with the shortest required time among the respective guidance routes. Alternatively, the navigation device 1 may search for only one optimum guide route during route search. That is, using the link traffic information and connection information between links such as traffic restrictions, etc., the guide route cost (evaluation value for the guide route) from the departure point (current location) to each node is calculated, and the route to the destination is calculated. When all cost calculations are completed, a link that minimizes the guide route cost may be connected to search for only one optimum guide route.

The block diagram of the navigation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. Similarly, explanatory drawing explaining the guidance screen before the traffic information display process. Similarly, explanatory drawing explaining the guidance screen after traffic information display processing. Similarly, the flowchart explaining a navigation process. Similarly, the flowchart explaining traffic information display processing. Explanatory drawing explaining the guidance screen before the traffic jam information display process of 2nd Embodiment. Similarly, explanatory drawing explaining the guidance screen after traffic information display processing. The block diagram of the navigation system of another example.

Explanation of symbols

P ... index, GP1, GP2 ... guidance image, D1, D2 ... traffic jam information display image, M1, M3 ... guidance screen, R1, R2 ... guidance route, 1 ... navigation device (navigation device), 23 ... facility information storage unit, 25 ... Congestion information storage unit, 33 ... Search processing unit, 39 ... Facility name, 40 ... Type name, 41 ... Distance, 43 ... Congestion display icon, 44 ... Congestion degree index, 45 ... Congestion length index

Claims (10)

In a navigation device that outputs traffic information between facilities along the road to the output unit together with the road,
Facility information storage means for storing facility information of facilities along the road;
Traffic information storage means for storing the traffic information;
Section search means for searching for a section where the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value among sections between the facility ahead of the current location and the facility,
An output means for outputting a predetermined number of sections closer to the current location among the searched sections as an output section, and outputting the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility in the output section together with the road A navigation device characterized by that. In a navigation device that outputs traffic information between facilities along the road to the output unit together with the road,
Facility information storage means for storing facility information of facilities along the road;
Traffic information storage means for storing traffic information of a section between the facility and the facility;
Section search means for searching the traffic information storage means for a section in which the traffic information exceeds a predetermined value among the sections ahead of the current location in the traveling direction;
An output means for outputting a predetermined number of sections closer to the current location among the searched sections as an output section, and outputting the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility in the output section together with the road A navigation device characterized by that. In a navigation device that outputs traffic information between facilities along the road to the output unit together with the road,
Facility information storage means for storing facility information of facilities along the road;
Traffic information storage means for storing the traffic information;
A traffic information search means for searching the traffic information storage means for the traffic information in a section between the facility ahead of the current location and the traveling direction;
Based on the searched traffic information, section search means for searching a section with traffic information exceeding a predetermined value from the section;
An output means for outputting a predetermined number of sections closer to the current location among the searched sections as an output section, and outputting the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility in the output section together with the road A navigation device characterized by that. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The navigation apparatus characterized in that the road is a general road and the facility is an intersection. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The section further includes the vicinity of the general road between facilities, and the traffic information storage means stores the traffic information of the section. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the road is an expressway, and the facility is at least one of a service area, a parking area, an interchange, and a junction. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A route search means for searching for a guide route from the current location to the destination,
The output means uses the section on the guide route as an output section, and outputs the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility in the output section together with the guide route. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
When the traffic information exceeds the predetermined value, further comprising a difference index forming means for forming a difference index for emphasizing and outputting the section,
The said output means outputs the said difference parameter | index and the facility information of the facility of this output area with the said road, The navigation apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The navigation device according to claim 8, wherein
A navigation device, wherein the difference index is changed according to a difference between the traffic information and the predetermined value. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The output means further comprises an input means for inputting a traffic information output signal for outputting the traffic information of the output section and the facility information of the facility of the output section,
The said output means outputs the traffic information of the said output area and the facility information of the facility of this output area to the output part with the said road when the said traffic information output signal is input.

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