JP2008241314A - Route guidance apparatus and route guide method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately perform route guidance according to the degree of familiarity to a route of a user. <P>SOLUTION: A route guidance apparatus is provided with a travel history storage means 11a for storing travel history information, a representative spot storage means 11b for storing information on representative spots, a first route splitting means 10b for splitting a route traveled by its own vehicle from the travel history information, with a route from a spot near the representative spot up to a spot near another representative spot as one split section, a travel frequency storage means 11c for storing travel frequency information, a second route splitting means 10c for splitting a route up to a destination, with a route from a spot near a representing spot up to a spot near another representative spot as one split section, a degree-of-familiarity determination means 10d which extracts a travel frequency corresponding to a split section from the travel frequency information, and when the travel frequency exceeds a predetermined value, determines this split section as a familiar section, and a route guidance means 10f for performing route guidance so as to guide the vehicle toward the representative spot when the own vehicle travels this split section determined as a familiar section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a route guidance device and a route guidance method for performing route guidance of a host vehicle according to a user's proficiency level of a route.

  A navigation device installed in a vehicle provides a function of measuring a current position of the vehicle and guiding a route from the measured current position to a destination set by a user. This function allows the user to reach the destination easily and reliably.

  Here, the route guidance by the conventional navigation device is performed by showing the left and right turning directions and the road destination such as “to the XX” in front of the intersection that needs to bend on the route. However, in this method, guidance is performed at each intersection that needs to bend, so it is difficult for the user to imagine the entire route to the destination. In addition, particularly when traveling in an area with a land intuition, there is a case where a route that can run more efficiently for the user is not guided.

Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the degree of recognition of each node is calculated from the user's travel history, nodes with high recognition degree are registered as landmarks, and when these landmarks are in the vicinity of the host vehicle, A navigation device has been proposed in which it is determined that a user has a sense of land in the area and guidance is performed along a route including the landmark.
JP 2003-156349 A

  However, the navigation device described in Patent Document 1 detects an area that is presumed to have land intuition, and guides the route using a road that the user is accustomed to, so no matter how familiar the user is. Also, the navigation device guides a specific road. For this reason, the user feels the route guidance awkward, and the route guidance provided by the navigation device causes stress.

  Also, the user may drive his / her vehicle while listening to music. In such a case, in the conventional navigation device, in order to output the route guidance information by voice, there is a case where the volume of the music being played temporarily is set low. As described above, when the navigation device lowers the music playback volume and the route guidance information unnecessary for the user is output excessively finely even though the user is traveling on the road that the user is familiar with, In many cases, discomfort occurred.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance device and a route guidance method that perform appropriate route guidance according to the user's proficiency level.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned object, the first feature of the route guidance device according to the present invention is a travel history storage means for storing a route traveled by the host vehicle as travel history information, and a point on the map. Representative point storage means for storing information on a representative point indicating a highly recognized point, and the travel history information stored in the travel history storage means are read out, and the representative point located in the vicinity of the route indicated by the read travel history information From the representative point storage means, and calculate a point near the read representative point and on the route indicated by the travel history information as a representative neighboring point, and determine a section from this representative neighboring point to the neighboring representative neighboring point. The vehicle travels for each divided section divided by the first route dividing means and the first route dividing means for dividing the route indicated by the travel history information as one divided section. Travel frequency storage means for storing travel frequency information indicating the frequency of the vehicle and representative point storage means for indicating a representative point located in the vicinity of the route to the destination searched by the route search means when performing route guidance of the host vehicle. , The point near the read representative point and on the route to the destination is calculated as a representative neighboring point, and the section from this representative neighboring point to the neighboring representative neighboring point is defined as one divided section. The second route dividing unit that divides the route up to and the traveling frequency information stored in the traveling frequency storage unit are read, and the traveling corresponding to the divided section divided by the second route dividing unit from the read traveling frequency information If a frequency is extracted, and the extracted traveling frequency exceeds a predetermined value, a proficiency level determination unit that determines a divided section divided by the second route dividing means as a learning section If, in the case where the divided sections is determined that proficiency segment by proficiency level determination means has vehicle is traveling is to have a route guidance means for route guidance to be directed to the representative point.

  According to the route guidance device and route guidance method of the present invention, appropriate route guidance can be performed according to the user's proficiency level of the route.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a route guidance apparatus which is an embodiment for carrying out the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the route guidance device 1 includes a CPU 10, a storage unit 11, an input panel 12, a vehicle speed sensor 13, a direction sensor 14, a gyro sensor 15, a GPS sensor 16, and an audio output unit connected to the CPU 10. 17 and a display unit 18.

  By executing the route guidance program, the CPU 10 has, as its internal function configuration, a current location calculation unit 10a, a first route division unit 10b, a second route division unit 10c, a proficiency level determination unit 10d, a route search unit 10e, The route guidance unit 10f and the output control unit 10g function and function to calculate the current position, route division processing of the travel history, route division processing of the route to be guided, determination processing of proficiency for each divided section in the route to be guided, A route search process to the destination, a route guidance process, and an output control process are executed.

  The storage unit 11 is a storage medium such as a memory or a HDD, and includes a travel history storage unit 11a, a representative point storage unit 11b, and a travel frequency storage unit 11c as its internal functional configuration. In addition to the route guidance program, the CPU 10 However, data necessary for executing various processes is also stored as appropriate.

  The input panel 12 receives an input signal from the user such as setting a destination or changing a display method, and transmits the received input signal to the CPU 10.

  The vehicle speed sensor 13, the azimuth sensor 14, and the gyro sensor 15 detect the vehicle speed, the azimuth direction, and the rotation direction, respectively, and transmit the detected signals to the CPU 10.

  The GPS sensor 16 receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite for detecting the position of the vehicle, and transmits the received signal to the CPU 10.

  The voice output unit 17 outputs a route voice guidance at an appropriate timing during traveling, and the display unit 18 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. It is a device to do.

  The current position calculation means 10a of the CPU 10 includes a GPS reception signal received by the GPS sensor 16, and detection signals of the vehicle speed, current direction, and rotation direction detected by the vehicle speed sensor 13, the direction sensor 14, and the gyro sensor 15. The current location and traveling direction of the host vehicle are calculated every predetermined time.

  The first route dividing unit 10b reads the travel history information stored in the travel history storage unit 11a, reads the representative point located near the route indicated by the read travel history information from the representative point storage unit 11b, A point on the route indicated by the travel history information that is in the vicinity of the read representative point is calculated as a representative nearby point, and a section from this representative nearby point to an adjacent representative nearby point is defined as one divided section. The route indicated by is divided.

  When performing route guidance of the host vehicle, the second route dividing unit 10c reads the representative point located in the vicinity of the route to the destination searched by the route searching unit 10e from the representative point storage unit 11b. The point near the read representative point and on the route to the destination is calculated as a representative neighboring point, and the section from this representative neighboring point to the neighboring representative neighboring point is set as one divided section, Divide the route.

  The proficiency level determination unit 10d reads the travel frequency information stored in the travel frequency storage unit 11c, and extracts the travel frequency corresponding to the divided section divided by the second route division unit 10c from the read travel frequency information. When the extracted traveling frequency exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the user is familiar with the divided section divided by the second route dividing means 10c.

  The route search unit 10e calculates a route from the current position calculated by the current location calculation unit 10a to the destination.

  The route guidance unit 10f performs guidance to the destination determined by the route search unit 10e. Further, when it is determined that the host vehicle is traveling in the divided section determined to be proficient by the proficiency level determination means 10d, the route is guided toward the representative point.

  The output control unit 10g controls the outputs of the audio output unit 17 and the display unit 18 based on the guidance of the route guidance unit 10f.

  The travel history storage unit 11a of the storage unit 11 stores the route traveled by the host vehicle as travel history information, and the representative point storage unit 11b stores information on the representative points on the map.

  Here, the representative point is a point that is highly recognizable for the user, that is, a well-known point that must be known by a person familiar with the area. In addition, it is determined in advance by the manufacturer of the route guidance device 1 what kind of attribute point or target corresponds to this representative point.

  For example, a large famous intersection on a main road, a typical monument or entrance if it is a tourist spot, a large store, a characteristic shape, a famous building, or a station if it is an urban area. A target or point is defined as a representative point.

  The traveling frequency storage unit 11c associates and stores the divided sections divided by the first route dividing unit 10b and the traveling frequency indicating the frequency of traveling of the host vehicle for each divided section as traveling frequency information.

<Operation of the route guidance device>
Next, a processing procedure in the route guidance device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the CPU 10 of the route guidance device 1 determines whether or not a destination is set from the input panel 12 (step S201).

  When the CPU 10 determines that the destination is not set, the process proceeds to step S202, and determines whether there is a representative point in the vicinity (step S202). Specifically, the CPU 10 determines whether or not there is a representative point in the vicinity of the current position from the current position information of the host vehicle calculated by the current position calculation unit 10a and the representative point information stored by the representative point storage unit 11b. Determine. If it is determined that there is a representative point in the vicinity of the current position, the process proceeds to step S203.

  In step S203, when the vehicle approaches a point at a predetermined distance from the representative point determined to be in the vicinity, the first route dividing means 10b divides the route traveled (step S203). Specifically, the first route dividing unit 10b reads the travel history information stored in the travel history storage unit 11a, and the representative point located in the vicinity of the route indicated by the read travel history information is the representative point storage unit. 11b, a point that is in the vicinity of the read representative point and on the route indicated by the travel history information is calculated as a representative neighboring point, and a section from this representative neighboring point to an adjacent representative neighboring point is one divided section. As shown, the route indicated by the travel history information is divided.

  Next, the CPU 10 associates the divided section divided by the first route dividing unit 10b with the traveling frequency indicating the frequency at which the host vehicle has traveled for each divided section, and stores it in the traveling frequency storage unit 11c as traveling frequency information. (Step S204).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of travel frequency information stored by the travel frequency storage unit 11c.

  According to FIG. 3, the travel frequency information is uniquely assigned to the “section ID” (reference numeral 301) assigned to the divided section divided by the first route dividing means 10b and a part of the route on the map. The assigned “route number” (symbol 302) and “running frequency” (symbol 303) indicating the frequency with which the host vehicle has traveled for each “classification ID” are stored in association with each other.

  For example, in entry 1, the divided section whose “section ID” is “1” indicates a route including the route number 513 and the route number 515, and the history of the vehicle traveling “5” times in this divided section. It shows that there is.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 2, when the entry of the divided section in which the host vehicle is currently traveling already exists in the traveling frequency information stored by the traveling frequency storage unit 11 c, the CPU 10 indicates that in FIG. 3. Further, the value of “running frequency” (reference numeral 303) is incremented by 1 (step S205). Then, the process proceeds to step S201.

  In step S201, when the CPU 10 determines that the destination is set from the input panel 12, the process proceeds to step S206. Then, the proficiency level determination means 10d of the CPU 10 includes a travel frequency in which the segment where the vehicle is currently traveling is present in the travel frequency information stored in the travel frequency storage means 11c, and the value of the travel frequency is predetermined. It is determined whether or not the set value is exceeded (step S206).

  Then, the proficiency level determination means 10d of the CPU 10 includes a travel frequency in which the segment where the vehicle is currently traveling is present in the travel frequency information stored in the travel frequency storage means 11c, and the value of the travel frequency is predetermined. If the value is equal to or greater than the set value, the user determines that the route of the divided section is well learned, and the process proceeds to step S207.

  Here, if the travel frequency setting value is set too low, detailed route guidance is not performed only by route guidance to the representative point even when traveling on routes that the user is not familiar with. If it is set too much, a detailed route guidance will be performed every time the host vehicle reaches an intersection that needs to be turned, even if the user is traveling on a route that the user has mastered. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate and set an appropriate value based on actual measurement in advance.

  In addition, the traveling frequency setting value can be set as a variable value. For example, the travel frequency setting value is set to increase as the travel frequency information stored in the travel frequency storage unit 11c increases, or the travel frequency setting value is increased as the use period of the route guidance device 1 increases. Or may be set to

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 2, next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the route guidance provided by the route guidance unit 10f performs route guidance at the representative point (step S207).

  If the CPU 10 determines that the route guidance provided by the route guidance unit 10f does not perform route guidance at the representative point, the CPU 10 proceeds to step S211, and the route search unit 10e of the CPU 10 Route search from to the destination. Then, the second route dividing means 10c of the CPU 10 reads the representative point located in the vicinity of the route to the destination searched by the route searching means 10e from the representative point storage means 11b, and in the vicinity of the read representative point. A point on the route to the destination is calculated as a representative neighborhood point, and the route from the representative neighborhood point to the adjacent representative neighborhood point is divided into one division interval (step S211).

  FIG. 4 is a schematic route diagram for explaining an example in which the second route dividing means 10c of the CPU 10 divides the route from the current location to the destination.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, a route when the route is guided from the current location 409 of the host vehicle to the destination 405 is shown. The representative point storage means 11b stores “abc electric appliance” (reference numeral 406), “xx shrine” (reference numeral 407), and “YY intersection” (reference numeral 408) as representative points. The dividing unit 10c divides this route into one divided section from the representative neighborhood point near the read representative point to the representative neighborhood point near the other representative point read out.

  As described above, when the route to the destination is divided by the second route dividing means 10c of the CPU 10, the route numbers 501 and 505 are divided into the divided sections 401, the route numbers 508 and 511 are divided into the divided sections 402, and the route numbers. 513 and 515 are divided as a divided section 403, and route numbers 519 and 520 are divided as a divided section 404.

  Then, the proficiency level determination means 10d of the CPU 10 has the divided sections divided by the second route dividing means 10c in the traveling frequency information stored in the traveling frequency storage means 11c, and the traveling frequency information When the value is equal to or greater than a predetermined traveling frequency setting value, the user determines that the route of this divided section is well-skilled, and sets the divided section as a learning section. In addition, when the travel frequency information stored in the travel frequency storage unit 11c does not exist or the value of the travel frequency is less than a predetermined travel frequency setting value, the user is familiar with the route of this divided section. It is determined that there is not, and the divided section is set as an unfamiliar section.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the divided section 401 and the divided section 403 are set as learning sections, and the divided section 402 and the divided section 404 are set as unskilled sections.

  Then, the proficiency level determination unit 10d supplies the setting of the proficiency zone and the unskilled zone set in the route guidance unit 10f.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 2, the route guidance unit 10 f then acquires the proficiency level determination unit 10 d based on the path information searched by the path search unit 10 e and the setting information set by the proficiency level determination unit 10 d. When the host vehicle is traveling in the divided section determined to be proficient by the route guidance to the representative point (step S212).

  In this way, when the vehicle is traveling in the divided section determined to be proficient, the route guidance is directed toward the representative point, so the user does not feel the route guidance as a nuisance. Does not cause stress.

  In other words, in the example shown in FIG. 4, when the vehicle approaches the “YY intersection” (reference numeral 408), if only the guidance “go to“ xx shrine ”(reference numeral 407)” is output, the vehicle is used. The person can reach “xx shrine” (reference numeral 407) without detailed route guidance of the route through which the person passes. Since the user should be familiar with the route at that time, the user can select a favorite route and reach “xx shrine” (reference numeral 407).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S207 that the route guidance provided by the route guidance unit 10f is performing route guidance at the representative point, the CPU 10 determines that the route being routed is a certain distance from the representative point. It is determined whether it is within (step S208). If it is determined that the route being routed has exceeded a certain distance from the representative point, the CPU 10 performs route search and route division again (step S213).

  Specifically, first, the route search means 10e of the CPU 10 performs a route search from the current location to the destination. Then, the second route dividing means 10c of the CPU 10 reads the representative point located in the vicinity of the route to the destination searched by the route searching means 10e from the representative point storage means 11b, and in the vicinity of the read representative point. A point on the route to the destination is calculated as a representative neighborhood point, and a route from the representative neighborhood point to an adjacent representative neighborhood point is divided into one division interval.

  If the CPU 10 determines in step S208 that the route being routed is within a certain distance from the representative point, the CPU 10 determines whether the host vehicle has reached the representative point (step S209), and It is determined whether the destination has been reached (step S210), and the processes of steps S206 to S214 are repeated until the host vehicle reaches the destination.

  On the other hand, in step S206, the proficiency level determination means 10d of the CPU 10 determines that the divided section in which the vehicle is currently traveling does not exist in the travel frequency information stored in the travel frequency storage means 11c, or the value of the travel frequency is If it is less than the predetermined travel frequency setting value, the user determines that the route of this divided section is not familiar, and performs route guidance for outputting instructions in detail (step S215).

  Specifically, first, the route search means 10e of the CPU 10 performs a route search from the current location to the destination. Then, the route guidance unit 10f performs route guidance for outputting an instruction for each intersection that needs to be turned on the route according to the route to the destination searched by the route search unit 10e.

  Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the host vehicle currently traveling has deviated from the route to the destination searched by the route search means 10e (step S216), and determines that the vehicle has deviated from the route. The route search means 10e of the CPU 10 again searches for a route from the current location to the destination (step S218).

  Then, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the destination has been reached (step S217), and when the host vehicle has not reached, the processing of steps S206 to S218 is repeated until the destination is reached.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, when the own vehicle reaches the “YY intersection” (reference numeral 408) and the “abc electric appliance” (reference numeral 302), the route ahead is the learning sections 403 and 401. Only the guidance toward “xx shrine” (reference numeral 407) or “abc electric appliance” (reference numeral 302) is output, and route guidance is not performed for outputting an instruction at each intersection that needs to be turned on the route.

  On the other hand, when the host vehicle is traveling in the unskilled sections 404 and 402, the route guidance unit 10f performs route guidance that outputs an instruction for each intersection that needs to be turned on the route.

  As described above in detail, according to the route guidance device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the vehicle is traveling in the divided section determined to be proficient, the route guidance is performed only so as to go to the representative point. However, when the host vehicle is traveling in a divided section determined not to be proficient, route guidance that outputs an instruction at each intersection that needs to be turned on the route is performed. It is possible to perform appropriate route guidance according to the proficiency level of the user. Thereby, the user can drive comfortably without feeling the route guidance as a nuisance and hence without feeling the route guidance as stress.

  In addition, when performing route guidance by voice, detailed route guidance is not performed when traveling on routes that the user is familiar with, so the user is driving while listening to music or listening to the radio. In some cases, route guidance by voice is not frequently output, and a comfortable in-vehicle environment can be provided.

  The representative point may be located at a point slightly off from the entire route to the destination. The route guidance device 1 is not intended to route the host vehicle to the representative point, but is intended to route the host vehicle in the direction of the representative point. In this case as well, route guidance should be performed appropriately. Can do.

  Further, during route guidance to the representative point, the route guidance device 1 holds a route search result recommended internally, and always compares it with the position of the host vehicle. When it is determined that it is better to change the target direction according to the position of the vehicle, that is, it has not reached the representative point, but if you go to that point, it will be a detour to go to the final destination In such a case, route guidance to another representative point may be performed.

  Further, for route guidance of the host vehicle, route guidance may be performed not on the representative point on the route but on the representative point on the extension of the target transit point on the route with the host vehicle.

  For example, when the route guidance device 1 travels in the direction of the xx station and wants to guide the route to the left 3 km before the xx station, the route guidance device 1 is 10 km from the current location to “xx station”. First, route guidance with the content “Please drive toward xx station” may be provided, and the next route guidance may be performed when the host vehicle reaches near 3 km in front of xx station.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the route guidance apparatus which is one form for implementing this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence in the route guidance apparatus 1 which is this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the driving frequency information memorize | stored by the driving frequency memory | storage means. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example which the 2nd path | route division | segmentation means of CPU divided | segmented the path | route from the present location to the destination.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Route guidance device 10 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10a ... Present location calculation means 10b ... 1st route division means 10c ... 2nd route division means 10d ... Proficiency level judgment means 10e ... Route search means 10f ... Route guidance means 10g ... Output control means 11 ... Storage part 11a ... Travel history Storage means 11b ... Representative point storage means 11c ... Travel frequency storage means 12 ... Input panel 13 ... Vehicle speed sensor 14 ... Direction sensor 15 ... Gyro sensor 16 ... GPS sensor 17 ... Audio output part 18 ... Display part

Claims (2)

A display unit that displays a map based on map data; and a route search unit that searches for a route from the current location of the host vehicle to a destination set on the map, according to the route searched by the route search unit In the route guidance device for performing route guidance of the host vehicle,
Travel history storage means for storing a route traveled by the host vehicle as travel history information;
Representative point storage means for storing information on a representative point that is a point on the map and indicates a point that is highly recognized by the user;
The travel history information stored in the travel history storage means is read out, a representative point located in the vicinity of the route indicated by the read travel history information is read out from the representative point storage means, the vicinity of the read representative point, A point on the route indicated by the travel history information is calculated as a representative neighborhood point, and a section from the representative neighborhood point to an adjacent representative neighborhood point is defined as one divided section, and the route indicated by the travel history information is divided first. Route dividing means,
Travel frequency storage means for storing travel frequency information indicating the frequency of travel of the host vehicle for each of the divided sections divided by the first route dividing means;
When performing route guidance of the host vehicle, a representative point located in the vicinity of the route to the destination searched by the route search means is read from the representative point storage means, and is in the vicinity of the read representative point and A second route division that calculates a point on the route to the destination as a representative neighborhood point, and divides the route to the destination by using a section from the representative neighborhood point to an adjacent representative neighborhood point as one division interval Means,
The travel frequency information stored in the travel frequency storage means is read out, the travel frequency corresponding to the divided section divided by the second route dividing means is extracted from the read travel frequency information, and the extracted travel frequency is predetermined. If the value exceeds the proficiency level determination means for determining the division section divided by the second route division means as a learning section,
A route guidance means for guiding a route so as to go to the representative point when the host vehicle is traveling in the divided section determined as the familiar section by the skill level determination means; Guidance device. A route that is displayed by the route search step, including a display step of displaying a map based on map data, and a route search step of searching for a route from the current location of the host vehicle to a destination set on the map. In the route guidance method for guiding the route of the vehicle according to
A travel history storage step of storing a route traveled by the host vehicle in a storage device as travel history information;
A representative point storage step of storing in the storage device information about a representative point that is a point on the map and indicates a point that is highly recognized by the user;
The travel history information stored in the travel history storage step is read out, the representative point located near the route indicated by the read travel history information is read out from the storage device stored in the representative point storage step, and the read representative A point on the route indicated by the travel history information is calculated as a representative neighborhood point, and the travel history information indicates a section from the representative neighborhood point to an adjacent representative neighborhood point as one divided section. A first route dividing step for dividing the route;
A travel frequency storage step of storing in the storage device travel frequency information indicating the frequency of travel of the host vehicle for each of the divided sections divided by the first route split step;
When performing route guidance of the host vehicle, the representative point located in the vicinity of the route to the destination searched in the route search step is read from the storage device stored in the representative point storage step, and the read representative A point near the point and on the route to the destination is calculated as a representative neighborhood point, and the route from the representative neighborhood point to an adjacent representative neighborhood point is divided into a single divided section. A second path splitting step,
The travel frequency information stored in the travel frequency storage step is read out, the travel frequency corresponding to the divided section divided in the second route division step is extracted from the read travel frequency information, and the extracted travel frequency is predetermined. If the value exceeds the proficiency level, a proficiency level determining step of determining the divided section divided by the second path dividing step as a proficient section;
A route guidance step for guiding a route toward the representative point when the host vehicle is traveling in the divided section determined as the master section by the master level determination step. Guidance method.

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