JP2006322782A - Navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation system which specifies a predetermined range on a recommended route searched for by route search and changes route search conditions in the range to perform another route search. <P>SOLUTION: A recommended route is searched for on expressway-priority search conditions and is displayed on a road map 20. After pressing a range specifying button 28, an ellipse 31 is drawn with a finger to specify a range for another route search. When the ellipse 31 drawn is by a finger, the ellipse 31 is displayed on a display monitor 16. A search conditions button 29 is then pressed to display a search conditions menu and select general-road-priority search conditions. Another route search is then performed to search for a route leading to a destination 26 going along a general road within the ellipse 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that searches for a route from a departure place to a destination.

A navigation device is known in which a passenger can designate a free-form area by touching the touch panel with a finger or the like, and calculates a route so as to pass or avoid the designated area (Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-184168 A

  In the navigation device described in Patent Document 1, although it is possible to specify an area to pass through, it is only possible to specify passing through the area, and it is desired to use an expressway or use an ordinary road. There is a problem that the passing method cannot be specified according to the passenger's preference such as wanting to pass.

(1) The invention of claim 1 is a first route search means for searching for a recommended route from a departure place to a destination under a first search condition; a display monitor for displaying a road map on which the recommended route is displayed; In the navigation apparatus comprising: a designation unit that designates a part of the recommended route displayed on the display monitor; and a part of the recommended route designated by the designation unit according to a second search condition that is different from the first search condition. Second route searching means for searching for a route, and route setting for replacing a part of the recommended route with a route searched for by the second route searching means and setting the replaced route as a route from the starting point to the destination Means.
(2) The invention of claim 2 is the navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a touch panel is provided on the screen surface of the display monitor, and the designation means includes a part of the recommended route while pressing the touch panel. And the range enclosed by the diagram is specified as a part of the recommended route.
(3) The invention of claim 3 is the navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second route searching means searches for a route on a road in a range surrounded by a diagram.
(4) The invention according to claim 4 is the navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a touch panel is provided on the surface of the screen of the display monitor, and the specifying means presses two points on the recommended route, and between the two pressed points Is specified as a part of the recommended route.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to specify a part of the recommended route that has been searched for, and to perform a re-route search by changing the conditions of the route search for a part of the recommended route. The route can be searched under conditions according to preference.

  A configuration of a navigation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The navigation device 1 in FIG. 1 can designate a desired position on the road map by pressing the touch panel 18. The navigation device 1 includes a control circuit 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a current location detection device 14, an image memory 15, a display monitor 16, an input device 17, a touch panel 18, a VICS (road traffic information system) information receiving unit 110, and a disk drive 111. is doing.

  The touch panel 18 is a transparent touch switch laminated on the surface of the display monitor 16, and an image displayed on the display monitor 16 is displayed through the touch panel 18. The touch panel 18 sends a signal corresponding to the operation position on the touch panel 18 to the touch panel control unit 19, and the touch panel control unit 19 calculates the pressed position of the touch panel 18. The disc drive 111 is loaded with a DVD-ROM 112 on which map data to be displayed on the display monitor 16 is recorded.

  The control circuit 11 includes a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits, and performs various controls by executing a control program stored in the ROM 12 using the RAM 13 as a work area. When the control circuit 11 performs a predetermined route search process based on the map data stored in the DVD-ROM 112, the processing result is displayed on the display monitor 16 as a recommended route.

  The current position detection device 14 is a device that detects the current position of the vehicle. For example, a vibration gyro 14a that detects the traveling direction of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor 14b that detects the vehicle speed, and a GPS signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. It consists of a GPS sensor 14c and the like. The navigation device 1 determines a map display range, a route search start point, and the like based on the current location of the vehicle detected by the current location detection device 14, and displays the current location on the map.

  The image memory 15 stores image data to be displayed on the display monitor 16. This image data includes road map drawing data and various graphic data, which are appropriately generated based on map data stored in the DVD-ROM 112 read by the disk drive 111. The navigation device 1 can perform map display and the like by using the image data generated in this way.

  The display monitor 16 provides the occupant with various information such as a road map near the vehicle position as a screen display based on various information such as map data. The input device 17 has an input switch for a passenger to set various commands, and is realized by a remote controller or the like. The occupant manually operates the input device 17 according to instructions on the display screen of the display monitor 16 to select the destination and set the destination.

  As described above, the touch panel 18 is a transparent panel provided on the monitor screen of the display monitor 16, and the display screen displayed on the display monitor 16 is displayed through the touch panel 18. Further, when the display screen of the display monitor 16 is pressed, the touch panel 18 is pressed. The touch panel 18 has an input function like the input device 17. When the map screen, various buttons, display menu, etc. displayed on the display monitor 16 are pressed with a finger, the touch panel 18 is pressed, and the touch position is calculated by the touch panel control unit 19. Then, the calculated pressing position is input to the control circuit 11, and a destination is set, or functions corresponding to various buttons and display menus are executed.

  When the destination is set by the occupant, the navigation apparatus 1 performs a route calculation from the current location detected by the GPS sensor 14c to the destination based on a predetermined algorithm. The route thus obtained (hereinafter referred to as a recommended route) is displayed on the screen separately from other roads by changing the display form, for example, the display color. Thus, the passenger can recognize the recommended route on the map on the screen. In addition, the navigation device 1 instructs the occupant to travel in the traveling direction using a screen or voice so that the vehicle can travel according to the recommended route, thereby guiding the route of the vehicle.

  The VICS information receiving unit 110 receives VICS information such as traffic jam information supplied from a VICS information center (not shown), and outputs it to the control circuit 11. This VICS information is transmitted mainly by radio beacons installed on highways, optical beacons installed mainly on general roads, or FM multiplex broadcasting. Radio wave beacons and optical beacons transmit VICS information to vehicles passing near the installation site, and FM multiplex broadcasting covers a wider communication area. The navigation device 1 receives the VICS information transmitted by them by the VICS information receiving unit 110.

  The disk drive 111 reads map data for displaying a map on the display monitor 16 from the loaded DVD-ROM 112. The map data includes map display data, route search data, and the like. The route search data includes road link information and node information stored in the map data. The map display data has map data of a plurality of scales from a wide area to details, and the scale of the display map can be changed according to the passenger's request. The map data may be read from a recording medium other than the DVD-ROM 112, such as a CD-ROM or a hard disk.

  Next, the reroute search operation in the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a display screen of the display monitor 16 that displays a recommended route searched for a route. A road map 20 is displayed on the display monitor 16, and a route search is performed on the road map 20 along with roads such as a highway 21 and general roads 22, 23, and 24, as well as a starting point 25, a destination 26, and a highway priority condition. The recommended route 27 is displayed. Here, the recommended route 27 is a route that passes from the departure point 25 through the general road 22, passes through the highway 21 through the general road 24, and reaches the destination 26.

  In addition to the road map 20, a range designation button 28 and a search condition button 29 are displayed on the display monitor 16. The range designation button 28 is a button for designating a range for performing a reroute search by changing a search condition. After the occupant presses the range specifying button 28 to enable the range specifying process, the occupant presses the road map 20 displayed on the display monitor 16 and draws a diagram so that a part of the recommended route 27 is included. Then, the portion of the recommended route 27 included in the diagram is designated as a range for reroute search. Here, the range specifying process refers to a process for setting a range surrounded by a drawn diagram as a range for re-route search. The search condition button 29 is a button for selecting a search condition within a specified range. When the search condition button 29 is pressed after designating the range, a search condition selection menu displaying various search conditions is displayed. Then, a desired condition can be selected from the search condition menu, and the designated range can be searched again.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an operation for designating a range for reroute search. In the range of the ellipse 31 on the recommended route 27 in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the occupant does not use the expressway and uses a general road while looking at the street. Therefore, after the range specifying button 28 is pressed and the range specifying process is enabled, an ellipse 31 is drawn with a finger as shown in FIG. When the ellipse 31 is drawn with a finger, the drawn ellipse 31 is displayed on the display monitor 16, and the inside of the ellipse 31 is designated as a range for re-route search.

  Next, the occupant presses the search condition button 29. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the search condition menu 41. When pressed, a search condition menu 41 is displayed as shown in FIG. The search condition menu 41 includes search condition buttons 42 to 46 that can select a search condition by pressing, and a reroute search button 47 that starts a route search in a range specified by the pressed search condition. Is done. Since the occupant passes through the general road in the ellipse 31 and proceeds to the destination 26, the occupant performs a re-route search in the ellipse 31 under the general road priority search condition. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation for performing a reroute search under a general road priority condition. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the general road priority search condition button 42 is pressed, and the reroute search button 47 is pressed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a route that has been searched for again. When a reroute search is performed in the ellipse 31, a route 61 in which the recommended route in the ellipse 31 is rerouted is displayed on the display monitor 16, as shown in FIG. In the route 61 within the ellipse 31, the passing road is changed from the highway 21 to the general road 23. As described above, in the range of the ellipse 31, the occupant can search for a route that can be passed while using the general road and watching the state of the streets without using the highway.

  Next, reroute search processing of the navigation device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processing in FIG. 7 is executed in the control circuit 11 by a program that starts when the recommended route searched for a route is displayed on the display monitor 16.

  In step S701, it is determined whether the range designation button 28 has been pressed. If the button is pressed, an affirmative determination is made in step S701 and the process proceeds to step S702. If it is not pressed within the predetermined time range, the reroute search process is terminated. In step S <b> 702, a locus drawn by pressing the display monitor 16 is detected from the pressed position detected from the touch panel 18. In step S703, two links that intersect with the drawn trajectory are extracted from the links constituting the recommended route. In step S704, the node on the departure side of the link on the departure side of the two extracted links is set as the starting point of the reroute search. In step S705, the destination side node of the destination side link among the two extracted links is set as the end point of the reroute search.

  In step S706, it is determined whether the search condition button 29 has been pressed. If the button is pressed, an affirmative decision is made in step S706 and the process proceeds to step S707. If not pressed, a negative determination is made in step S706, and step S706 is repeated. In step S707, the search condition menu 41 is displayed.

  In step S708, it is determined whether the search condition buttons 42 to 46 are pressed. When the search condition buttons 42 to 46 are pressed, an affirmative determination is made in step S708 and the process proceeds to step S709. If not pressed, a negative determination is made in step S708, and step S708 is repeated. In step S709, search conditions are set by the pressed search condition buttons 42 to 46. In step S710, it is determined whether the reroute search button 47 is pressed. If it is pressed, an affirmative decision is made in step S710 and the process proceeds to step S711. If not pressed, a negative determination is made in step S710, and step S710 is repeated.

  In step S711, a re-route search is performed using the start point set in step S704, the end point set in step S705, and the search conditions set in step S709. In step S712, the two links that intersect the trajectory of the links constituting the recommended route and the links between the links are replaced with the links of the route that has been searched for again. In step S713, a route in which some links are replaced is displayed. Then, the reroute search process ends.

The navigation device 1 according to the above embodiment has the following operational effects.
(1) A desired range 31 is specified on the road map 20 so that a part of the recommended route 27 searched for a route is included, and the re-route search is performed by changing the route search conditions of the recommended route 27 included in the range 31. Therefore, the route can be searched in the designated range 31 under conditions according to the passenger's preference, and convenience is improved.
(2) Since the range for the reroute search can be specified by pressing and drawing the display monitor 16, the range for the reroute search can be easily and freely specified.

The navigation apparatus 1 of the above embodiment can be modified as follows.
(1) When the reroute search range is specified, the start point and end point for the reroute search are set. In addition to setting the start point and end point for the reroute search, the range of the road to be reroute searched. May be specified. For example, in FIG. 3, in order to pass the road in the ellipse 31 even after the reroute search, the reroute search may be performed using only the links existing in the ellipse 31. In this way, not only the re-route search range but also the route range to be passed can be specified, and a route according to the passenger's preference can be searched.

(2) After a recommended route is searched, a predetermined range is specified, and a re-route search is performed within the range. However, before a recommended route is searched, a predetermined range is specified and the range is passed. May be routed and rerouted within that range. In this way, it is possible to specify not only the reroute search range but also the waypoints where the user wants to pass, and it is possible to search for a route according to the passenger's preference.

(3) If the search condition for the recommended route is different from the search condition for the reroute search executed by designating a range on the recommended route, the search condition is not limited to the search condition of the above embodiment. For example, the search condition for the recommended route may be given priority to general roads, and the search condition for reroute search may be given priority to expressways. Alternatively, the search condition for the recommended route may be given priority to time, and the search condition for the reroute search may be given priority to distance.

(4) The reroute search range on the recommended route 27 is specified by drawing an ellipse 31, but the reroute search range on the recommended route 27 is specified by pressing two points on the recommended route 27. Also good. In this case, the point between the two points pressed by the recommended route 27 is designated as a range for the re-route search. Here, the node on the departure side of the link on the departure side of the two links corresponding to the pressed location is set as the starting point of the reroute search, and the node on the destination side of the link on the destination side is re-established. Set as the end point of route search. Specifying the range is easier than drawing a diagram.

The correspondence between the elements of the claims and the embodiments will be described.
The first route search means and the second route search means of the present invention correspond to the control circuit 11, and the range designation means corresponds to the control circuit 11 and the touch panel 18. The first search condition corresponds to highway priority, and the second search condition corresponds to general road priority. The route setting means corresponds to the control circuit 11. In addition, the above description is an example to the last, and when interpreting invention, it is not limited to the correspondence of the component of said embodiment and the component of this invention at all.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the navigation apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the display screen of the display monitor which displayed the recommended path | route searched for the path | route. It is a figure for demonstrating operation for designating the range which carries out a reroute search. It is a figure for demonstrating a search condition menu. It is a figure for demonstrating operation which carries out a reroute search on the general road priority conditions. It is a figure for demonstrating the path | route searched for the reroute. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a reroute search process.

Explanation of symbols

1 Navigation device 11 Control circuit 12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Current location detection device 15 Image memory 16 Display monitor 17 Input device 18 Touch panel 19 Touch panel control unit 110 VICS information reception unit 111 Disk drive 112 DVD-ROM
20 Road Map 21 Expressway 22-24 General Road 25 Departure Point 26 Destination 27 Recommended Route 28 Range Specification Button 29 Search Condition Button 31 Ellipse 41 Search Condition Menu 42-46 Search Condition Button 47 Reroute Search Button 61 Route

Claims (4)

First route search means for searching for a recommended route from the departure point to the destination under a first search condition;
In a navigation device comprising a display monitor for displaying a road map on which the recommended route is displayed,
Designation means for designating a part of the recommended route displayed on the display monitor;
Second route search means for searching for a part of the recommended route specified by the specification means according to a second search condition different from the first search condition;
A route setting unit that replaces a part of the recommended route with a route searched by the second route search unit, and sets the replaced route as a route from the departure place to the destination. Navigation device. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein
A touch panel is provided on the screen surface of the display monitor,
The designation means draws a diagram so as to include a part of the recommended route while pressing the touch panel, and designates a range surrounded by the diagram as a part of the recommended route. apparatus. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2,
The navigation apparatus characterized in that the second route search means searches for a route on a road in a range surrounded by the diagram. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein
A touch panel is provided on the surface of the display monitor screen,
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit presses two points on the recommended route, and specifies between the pressed two points as a part of the recommended route.

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