JP2010139515A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device capable of easily comparing a difference of the recommended guide routes at each point of time different in time factor by easily making the designation of a time factor such as a time or a date, and more over by determining and displaying the recommended guide routes based on the traffic information under the time factor at the every time of change of such the time factor. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation device includes: a storage means which stores the traffic information; a designation acceptance means which accepts the designation of the time factor as a determination factor of the guide route R to a destination G; a guide route determination means which determines the guide route R based on the traffic information under the designation time factors T1, T2 accepted by the designation acceptance means; a designated time factor; a time factor display formation means which forms time factor displays Ft, Fd indicating the range of assignable time factors or a plurality of time points of the assignable time factors; and a display means which displays the time factor displays Ft, Fd together with the guide route R. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation device that searches for a guidance route to a specified destination and performs display for route guidance to a user such as a vehicle driver based on the search result.

  Receiving traffic information sent from outside the vehicle for a navigation device with a function to guide the vehicle driver and other users to the destination by displaying information such as maps and routes to the destination To the destination in the shortest time using the latest traffic information and past traffic information stored in the storage device when searching for guidance routes. A technique for searching for a guidance route that is expected to be reached is known.

  As such a navigation apparatus, for example, Patent Document 1 below discloses the following technique. That is, this navigation device extracts the link travel time from the traffic information received via the optical beacon or radio beacon received by the beacon receiver or the FM multiplex broadcast received by the FM multiplex receiving unit, and stores it in the memory. In this memory, for example, an average value of link travel times for the past four weeks is stored separately every 10 minutes. The navigation device itself calculates the required time to the destination based on the latest traffic information received via the beacon receiver or the FM multiplex receiving unit. For example, if it is less than 1 hour, the latest traffic information is used. When the guide route is searched and the time exceeds one hour, the guide route is searched using the past traffic information (link travel time information) stored in the memory for the guide route exceeding one hour. If the latest traffic information cannot be received depending on the location, the guidance route is searched using only the past traffic information (link travel time information) stored in the memory.

  Here, if the time required to reach the destination is less than 1 hour, searching for the guidance route using the latest traffic information will greatly change the degree of traffic congestion if it is within 1 hour from the current time. This is because searching for a guide route using the latest traffic information within that time range is considered to be more accurate than using past traffic information.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-113290 (pages 2-7 and 4-8)

  However, in the above navigation device technology, when the time required to reach the destination is 1 hour or less, as is clear from searching for a guidance route using the latest traffic information, the current time is always set as the departure time. It is assumed that a search for a guidance route is performed. Therefore, it is necessary to change the setting of departure time to search for guidance routes and calculate the estimated required time to the destination so that the user can easily consider at which time it is best to leave. It does not have a configuration. Therefore, even if you can reach the destination sooner if you change the departure time, or if you can reach the destination in almost the same time by a simpler guide route by changing the departure time, It has not been easy for a user to examine a guidance route including such a change in departure time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to make it possible to easily change the specification of time factors such as time and date, and to change such time factors. By determining and displaying recommended guidance routes based on traffic information under each time factor, it is possible to easily compare and use differences in recommended guidance routes at different time points. The present invention is to provide a navigation device that enables a person to easily examine a guidance route including a change in departure time and departure date.

In order to achieve the above object, the navigation apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores traffic information, a route candidate search unit that searches for a plurality of route candidates to a destination , and the plurality of route candidates. Based on the traffic information stored in the storage means , the designation receiving means for receiving the display means for displaying, the designation receiving means for accepting the designation of the time factor that is the determining factor of the guide route to the destination , and received by the designation receiving means Guide route determining means for determining one guide route from among the plurality of route candidates under a specified time factor that is a time factor, and the display means is determined by the guide route determining means. In addition, the one guidance route is displayed with emphasis on other route candidates .

  According to this feature configuration, the user can be provided with information on what kind of route is possible as a route candidate, and based on the traffic information under the designated time factor designated by the designated receiving means. Information indicating which of the route candidates is the determined guidance route can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. Therefore, the user can easily study which guidance route is used to reach the destination in relation to time factors.

  The display means includes a time factor display generating means for generating a time factor display that represents the specified time factor and a range of the time factor that can be specified or a plurality of time points of the time factor that can be specified. Displays the plurality of route candidates, displays the one guide route with emphasis on other route candidates, and displays the time factor display generated by the time factor display generation means A configuration is preferable.

  According to this characteristic configuration, the range or point of time that can be specified for time factors such as time and date, as well as the guide route determined based on traffic information under the specified time factors specified by the specified receiving means. Since it is displayed as a time factor display in an easily understandable state, the user can easily change the designation of the time factor and be guided based on traffic information under various time factors Can be compared. Therefore, the user can easily study the guidance route to the destination including the departure time and the change of the departure date.

  Further, the plurality of route candidates searched by the route candidate search means are preferably route candidates to a destination searched under a plurality of different search conditions excluding conditions related to the temporal factor. .

  In addition, the guidance route determination unit has the shortest travel time from the plurality of route candidates to the destination based on the traffic information stored in the storage unit under the designated time factor. It is preferable that the route candidate is determined as the one guidance route.

In addition, when the designation accepting means accepts the designation of a new time factor, the guide route determining means , based on the traffic information stored in the storage means , A part that represents the designated time factor based on a newly received designated time factor, wherein the one guide route is determined from the plurality of route candidates under the factor. the generated time factor displayed after the change has been changed, the display means displays the plurality of path candidates, to newly said one other path candidate for a guidance route based on the specified time factor accepted And the time factor display after the change is displayed.

  As a result, when the designated time factor is changed by the designated receiving means, information on the guide route determined based on the traffic information under the designated time factor after the change is used as the designated time factor. It can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the user in a corresponding state. That is, it is possible to provide the user with information on the change in the guidance route due to the change in the designated time factor in a visually easy-to-understand state. Therefore, the user can easily compare and examine the guide routes determined based on the traffic information under various time factors.

Further, based on the traffic information stored in the storage unit, a predicted required time to the destination under the designated time factor for the one guidance route determined by the guidance route determination unit is derived. expected with the required time obtaining means, said display means displays said plurality of route candidates, with emphasis to display the guide route of the one relative to the other candidate routes, displaying the expected time to A configuration is preferable.

  By adopting such a configuration, the guidance route determined based on the traffic information under the designated time factor designated by the designated receiving means and the destination under the designated time factor of the guidance route. The estimated travel time can also be displayed at the same time, so that the user can determine the guide route determined based on traffic information under various time factors and the expected travel time to the destination by the guide route. Both of these can be compared and the guidance route to the destination including the departure time and the change of the departure date can be examined more appropriately.

  Preferably, the designation receiving means is configured to accept designation of a time factor on the time factor display displayed on the display means.

  By adopting such a configuration, an intuitive operation in which the user simply indicates the position on the display of the time factor display indicating a range that can be specified as a time factor or a plurality of time points that can be specified. Therefore, it is possible to provide a device with high operability that can easily specify a time factor.

  Here, the time factor may be any one or more of time, date, and day of the week.

  In addition, the time factor display is a display that continuously represents a certain range of time, date, or day of the week that can be specified along a predetermined time axis, or a plurality of points in time that can be specified, date, or day of the week. A configuration having a display arranged and represented according to a predetermined rule is preferable.

  Thereby, the time factor which can be specified by the user can be displayed in such a manner that it can be intuitively easily understood and specified.

Further, based on the traffic information stored in the storage means, a temporal congestion degree derivation for deriving a congestion degree with different temporal factors for the one guidance route determined by the guidance route determination means. It is preferable that the display unit is configured to display the degree of congestion that is different from the temporal factor derived by the temporal congestion degree deriving unit in association with the temporal factor display.

  By adopting such a configuration, the determined guidance route and the time factor are displayed together with the degree of congestion with different time factors for the guidance route. It is possible to provide information on how the degree of congestion on the guidance route changes depending on time factors such as time and date in an easily understandable manner. Therefore, the user can consider the guidance route to the destination including the departure time and the departure date in consideration of the congestion degree of the guidance route.

Further, it comprises: a congestion degree deriving unit on the route for deriving a congestion degree of each position on the one guiding route determined by the guiding route determining unit under the designated time factor, the display unit, It is preferable that the degree of congestion at each position on the one guidance route derived by the route congestion degree deriving unit is displayed in correspondence with the one guidance route.

  With this configuration, the degree of congestion at each position on the guidance route for the designated time factor designated by the designation accepting means is displayed in correspondence with the guidance route. Thus, it is possible to provide the user with more detailed information such as which position on the guidance route is highly crowded. Therefore, the user can study the guidance route to the destination in consideration of the degree of congestion at each position on the guidance route.

The block diagram which shows the outline of the hardware constitutions of the navigation apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the contents of the link information of each link which the map database has Diagram showing contents of traffic information database The figure which shows the example of the display screen of the navigation apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the relationship of the link and node which are used for search of a guidance route The flowchart which shows the operation control at the time of performing guidance of the recommended guidance route by the designated date and the designated time by the navigation apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the display screen of the navigation apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the outline of the hardware constitutions of the navigation apparatus which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the display screen of the navigation apparatus which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation control at the time of performing the guidance of the several route candidates containing a recommended guidance route, and the congestion degree of each of those routes with the navigation apparatus concerning 3rd embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the display screen of the navigation apparatus which concerns on 4th embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the display screen in the case of performing also the display of a congestion degree in the navigation apparatus which concerns on 4th embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the display screen of the navigation apparatus which concerns on other embodiment (1) of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the display screen of the navigation apparatus which concerns on other embodiment (2) of this invention.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where the navigation device according to the present invention is applied to a car navigation device mounted on a vehicle will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation device according to the present embodiment mainly includes a current position detection device 1, an information storage device 2, an arithmetic processing device 3, a display input device 4, a remote control input device 5, and a VICS reception. A machine 9 is provided.

Here, the current position detection device 1 includes a GPS (global positioning system) receiver 6, an orientation detection sensor 7, and a distance detection sensor 8. The GPS receiver 6 is a device that receives a signal from an artificial satellite and has various information such as a signal transmission time, position information of the GPS receiver 6, a moving speed of the GPS receiver 6, and a traveling direction of the GPS receiver 6. Can be obtained. The azimuth detection sensor 7 includes a geomagnetic sensor, a gyro sensor, an optical rotation sensor attached to the rotating part of the steering wheel, a rotary resistance volume, an angle sensor attached to the wheel part, etc., and detects the traveling direction of the vehicle. can do. The distance detection sensor 8 is configured by a combination of a sensor that detects the number of rotations of the wheel, a sensor that detects the acceleration of the vehicle, and a circuit that integrates the detected acceleration twice, and can detect the moving distance of the vehicle. it can.

  A VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System: registered trademark) receiver 9 is a device that receives a signal transmitted from a signal transmitter installed at a predetermined point on a road. The apparatus can receive a VICS signal multiplexed in FM broadcast. The arithmetic processing device 3 can acquire various traffic information such as traffic jam information, current position information, and parking lot information from the signal received by the VICS receiver 9.

  The information storage device 2 includes a recording medium capable of storing information and its driving means, such as a hard disk drive, a DVD drive equipped with a DVD-ROM, a CD drive equipped with a CD-ROM, and the like. Is done. Here, the information storage device 2 stores a map database 2a and a traffic information database 2b. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the information storage device 2 corresponds to a “storage unit”.

  The map database 2a is a database that stores map information to be displayed on a display unit 4a (to be described later) of the display input device 4. The map information includes a road layer, a background layer having background information such as facilities, a character layer for displaying characters such as a city name, and the like. Among these, the road layer is configured to include a large number of nodes N having position information on a map expressed by latitude and longitude, and a large number of links L that connect the two nodes N to form a road. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, each link L includes a link number, node numbers of nodes N at both ends, a road type (type of highway, toll road, national road, prefectural road, etc.), link length, as shown in FIG. And road attribute information such as width.

  In the present embodiment, the traffic information database 2b, as shown in FIG. 3, has a date (here, month and day, January 1 to December 31) and time (here 15 minutes, 00:00:00). 23:45) is a database that stores congestion degree and travel time information corresponding to each of all links L (link numbers 1 to nnn) included in the map database 2a. Here, the degree of congestion is expressed in five stages from “1” to “5”, “1” indicates no congestion, “2” indicates slightly congestion, “3” indicates congestion, and “4” indicates slightly congestion. “5” is expressed such that the degree of congestion increases as the number increases, such as a traffic jam. Note that the degree of congestion is classified into five levels of “1” to “5” is merely an example, and it is naturally possible to further subdivide or simplify the degree of congestion. The travel time is the time required to pass the distance from one node N to the other node N of each link L, and is represented by a numerical value in seconds in FIG. Note that the information stored in the traffic information database 2b is based on past VICS information, road traffic census information, or information obtained from the traveling history information of the vehicle, etc. It can be obtained by statistically processing the travel time and the degree of congestion in the link L.

Returning to FIG. 1, the display input device 4 includes a display unit 4 a for displaying various information for route guidance such as a map and a guidance route R (see FIG. 4), and a vehicle driver who is a guided person. And an input unit 4b for receiving the input. As the display unit 4a, for example, a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display device, a CRT (cathode-ray tube) display device, or the like can be used. In the present embodiment, the display unit 4a of the display input device 4 corresponds to “display means”. As the input unit 4b, here, a touch panel provided on the display screen of the display unit 4a and various switches arranged around the display screen are provided. The remote control input device 5 is a device that receives an input from a vehicle driver and transmits it to the arithmetic processing device 3 side by remote control. The transmitted input information is sent to the arithmetic processing device 3 via the remote control receiver 10. Is input. In the present embodiment, the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 and the remote control input device 5 constitute “designation accepting means” of the present invention that accepts designation of time factors such as date and time, as will be described later. To do.

  The arithmetic processing unit 3 displays various information such as a map and a guidance route R based on a predetermined operation program, data, input information, and the like, the position of the destination G, and the guidance route R to the destination G (FIG. 4). Search processing such as reference), route calculation to the destination G, guidance processing such as guidance for traffic information, and the like, and various operation processing and operation control of each unit are performed. As this arithmetic processing unit 3, for example, a CPU that performs various arithmetic processing and operation control of each part of the navigation device, a RAM that is used as a working memory when the CPU performs arithmetic processing, and a CPU for operating the CPU It can be configured to include a ROM or the like in which software such as various operation programs and control programs is stored. A current position detection device 1, an information storage device 2, a display input device 4 and a remote control input device 5 are connected to the arithmetic processing device 3.

  The arithmetic processing unit 3 stores software for achieving a predetermined purpose, and is configured to work with hardware to achieve a certain purpose. That is, the software and hardware constitute a processing unit that realizes a predetermined purpose by working together. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the arithmetic processing device 3 includes a temporal factor display generation means 11, a guidance route determination means 12, and an expected required time derivation means 13.

  The time factor display generating means 11 includes the designated time factor received by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 constituting the designation receiving means or the remote control input device 5, the range of the time factor that can be designated, or the time that can be designated. A process for generating a temporal factor display that represents a plurality of time points of the statistical factor is performed. Here, the “time factor” corresponds to, for example, time, date, day of the week, time and date, or time and day of the week. In the present embodiment, a case where the time factor is time and date will be described as an example. FIG. 4 shows a time factor display (hereinafter referred to as “time factor display”) related to the time generated by the time factor display generating unit 11 together with the guide route R determined by the guide route determining unit 12 in the navigation device according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen which displayed Ft and the time factor display (henceforth "date factor display") Fd regarding date.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the time factor display generating means 11 can be specified along a specified time T2 received by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 or the remote control input device 5 and a predetermined time axis. A time factor display Ft that continuously represents a certain range of time, a designated date T1 received by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 or the remote control input device 5, and a plurality of dates that can be designated as the designated date T1. A date factor display Fd representing the time points arranged according to a predetermined rule is generated. Specifically, here, the time factor display Ft has a band-shaped display Fta that continuously represents the time along the horizontal time axis in the range of 10:00 to 24:00. In addition, a cursor-shaped designated time display Ftb representing the designated time T2 is arranged at a position on the time axis corresponding to the designated time T2 of the band-like display. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the display of the designated time T2 by characters is also arranged on the designated time display Ftb. In addition, the date factor display Fd displays the designated date T1 in the central designated date area Fda, and the change date display Fdb in the form of a triangular icon representing the dates before and after the designated date T1 is arranged on both sides thereof. The time factor display Ft and the date factor display Fd generated in this way are displayed on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4 as shown in FIG.

  Further, when the time factor display generating means 11 receives a new designated time T2 by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 or the remote control input device 5, the designated time display Ftb is newly received. When the time factor display Ft changed to is generated and a new specified date T1 is received by the input unit 4b or the remote control input device 5 of the display input device 4, the display of the specified date area Fda is newly received. The date factor display Fd changed to the date T1 is generated.

  The designation of the designated time T2 can be received by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 or the remote control input device 5. Here, as one means for accepting the designation, as shown in FIG. In addition, based on an indication of a position on the time factor display Ft displayed on the display unit 4a by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4, a designation of a time corresponding to the position can be accepted. Specifically, using the input unit 4b which is a touch panel, the position on the time factor display Ft displayed along the time axis from 00:00 to 24:00 displayed by the user on the display unit 4a. By touching, the time on the time axis corresponding to the position is accepted as the designated time T2. Then, the received designated time T2 is displayed as a designated time display Ftb in a superimposed manner on the band-like display Fta of the time factor display Ft as described above. By the way, in the present embodiment, the current time is set as the specified time T2 as a default value when the specified time T2 is not specified by the user. In addition to this, for example, when the remote control input device 5 is operated and the designated time display Ftb on the band-like display Fta of the time factor display Ft is moved, the input of the designated time T2 is accepted. can do.

  The designation date T1 can be accepted by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 or the remote control input device 5. Here, as one means for accepting the designation, as shown in FIG. On the basis of an instruction of a position on the date factor display Fd displayed on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4, a designation of a date corresponding to the position can be accepted. Specifically, using the input unit 4b which is a touch panel, the user can place the change date display Fdb in a triangular icon shape indicating dates before and after the specified date T1 displayed on the display unit 4a. By touching, the date before or after the designated date T1 is accepted as the designated date T1. The accepted designated date T1 is displayed in the central designated date area Fda. By the way, in the present embodiment, the current date is the designated date T1 as a default value when the designated date T1 is not designated by the user. In addition to this, for example, the input of the designated date T1 can be received by operating the remote control input device 5.

  When the destination G is specified by the user and the specified date T1 and the specified time T2 are received as described above (the current date as the default value before being specified by the user) And the designated time T1 and the designated time T2), the guide route R from the departure point S to the destination G based on the traffic information database 2b under the designated date T1 and the designated time T2. The process of searching and determining is performed. Here, the departure point S is determined based on the current position of the host vehicle detected by the current position detection device 1, but the user inputs and designates it using the input unit 4 b of the display input device 4 or the remote control input device 5. You can also The process of searching for and determining the recommended guide route R by the guide route determination means 12 is a process using a method in which the recommended guide route R may change due to time factors such as date and time. In the embodiment, the following method is used.

  That is, this method is based on travel time in each link L that constitutes the guide route R. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the departure point S and the destination G are specified, a plurality of route candidates r1, r2, and r3 connecting both points can be listed. Each route candidate r1, r2, r3 is recognized as a set of continuous links L1, L2,... Lnnn that constitute the route candidate. For each link L, information on travel time required to pass through each link L for each date and time is stored in the traffic information database 2b.

That is, according to the traffic information database 2b shown in FIG. 3 described above, each link L1, L2, identified by a link number, for a specific date (for example, January 1) and time (for example, 00:00), ... The degree of congestion (1 to 5) and travel time (for example, 20 seconds, 135 seconds, 42 seconds, etc.) are determined for all Lnnn. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the estimated required time required to pass through the entire route under the specified date T1 and the specified time T2 for all the route candidates r1, r2, r3. The estimated required time is regarded as the search cost (weighting) required for route passage, and the route candidate having the lowest search cost is determined as the recommended guidance route R.

  The guidance route determination means 12 is based on the traffic information database 2b when one or both of the new designated date T1 and designated time T2 is received by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 or the remote control input device 5. Then, a process for searching for and determining the recommended guidance route R under the newly received designated date T1 and designated time T2 is performed.

  In the above description, for the sake of simplicity, only the travel time has been described as an element for determining the search cost. However, as is conventionally known, roads included in the link information La of each link L Type (type of expressway, toll road, national road, prefectural road, etc.), width, time when passing through the intersection when the node N connecting the links L is an intersection, and the link L or The distance to the node N, the right / left turn, the number of road lanes, and the like may be included in the search cost calculation.

  Based on the traffic information database 2b, the estimated required time deriving unit 13 determines the recommended guidance route R determined by the guidance route determination unit 12 up to the destination G when the designated time T2 on the designated date T1 is set as the departure time. A process for deriving the estimated required time 16 is performed. Specifically, the estimated required time deriving means 13 reads the travel time under the specified time T2 of each specified date T1 of all the links L constituting the recommended guide route R from the traffic information database 2b, and extracts them. The total travel time of the recommended guidance route R obtained by integrating is assumed to be the estimated required time 16. And the estimated required time 16 derived | led-out in this way is displayed on the display part 4a of the display input device 4, as shown in FIG.

  Next, operation control when the navigation apparatus according to the present embodiment guides the recommended guidance route R based on the specified date T1 and the specified time T2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The operation processing of the navigation device shown in this flowchart is performed under the control of the arithmetic processing device 3.

  As shown in this flowchart, when the destination G is designated by the user (step # 01: YES), the arithmetic processing unit 3 of this navigation device proceeds to step # 02 and designates the designated date T1. Is not designated (step # 02: NO), the current date is designated as the designated date T1 (step # 03), and when the designated date T1 is designated (step # 02: YES), The designated date is designated as designated date T1 (step # 04). Normally, at the beginning when the destination G is designated, the designated date T1 is not designated by the user, so the current date is first designated as the designated date T1. Similarly, for the designated time T2, if the designated time T2 is not designated (step # 05: NO), the current time is designated as the designated time T2 (step # 06), and the designated time T2 is designated. If this is the case (step # 05: YES), the designated time is set as the designated time T2 (step # 07). Normally, at the beginning when the destination G is designated, the designated time T2 is not designated by the user, so the current time is first designated as the designated time T2. The current date and time information can be acquired from a signal received by the GPS receiver 6 or the VICS receiver 9, or a clock with a calendar function (not shown) provided in the navigation device.

Next, based on the traffic information database 2b, the guidance route determination means 12 has the shortest travel time to the designated destination G under the designated date T1 and the designated time T2 (the search cost is the lowest). ) The guidance route R is searched to determine one recommended guidance route R (step # 08). Further, the estimated required time deriving means 13 derives the estimated required time 16 when going to the destination G through the recommended guidance route R using the specified time T2 of the specified date T1 as the departure time based on the traffic information database 2b. (Step # 09). Then, the time factor display generation means 11 generates a time factor display Ft based on the specified time T2, and generates a date factor display Fd based on the specified date T1 (step # 10).

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4A, the recommended guidance route R, the estimated required time 16, the time factor display Ft, and the date factor display Fd are displayed on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4 (step # 11). The example shown in FIG. 4A shows a display screen at the time of the first display in which the designated date T1 and the designated time T2 are not designated by the user, and the designated date T1 is the current date (designated). The default time of the date T1 is January 1, 2004, and the designated time T2 is 8:00 which is the current time (default value of the designated time T2).

  Thereafter, when the route guidance is started (step # 12: YES), the actual route guidance is started, and the process for guiding the recommended guidance route R based on the designated date T1 and the designated time T2 ends. On the other hand, when the route guidance is not started (step # 12: NO), the process returns to step # 02, and when the user designates the designated date T1 (step # 02: YES) or at the designated time T2. If specified (step # 05: YES), the processes of step # 08 to step # 11 are performed again based on the specified date T1 and specified time T2, and the newly specified specified date T1 and specified time are specified. The recommended guidance route R derived or generated based on T2, the estimated required time 16, the time factor display Ft, and the date factor display Fd are displayed on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4 (step # 11).

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the case where one recommended guidance route R is determined by the guidance route determination means 12 and displayed on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4 has been described. However, the navigation device according to this embodiment A plurality of route candidates (here, r1 to r5) to the destination G are searched by the guidance route determination means 12 and one recommended guidance route R is determined from the plurality of route candidates, and the display input device 4 A plurality of route candidates are displayed on the display unit 4a, and one recommended guidance route R is highlighted with respect to other route candidates. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the navigation device according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the guide route determination means 12 has five route candidates r1 to r5 from the departure point S to the destination G after the destination G is designated by the user. Explore. The process of searching for the five route candidates r1 to r5 can be a process using various known methods that are not affected by time factors such as date and time. In the present embodiment, The following method is used.

That is, in this method, each of the five route candidates r1 to r5 is searched for under the different search conditions (here, the condition relating to the time factor is excluded). Specifically, for example, the guidance route determination means 12 uses the first route candidate r1 as a basic route, the second route candidate r2 as a toll road priority route, the third route candidate r3 as a general road priority route, and a fourth route candidate r4. Is a distance priority route, and the fifth route candidate r5 is another route, and the route candidate is searched for under different purposes and conditions. Here, the “basic route” is a route that can be recommended most generally, and is a route that is searched under conditions set so that the road type, distance, etc. are considered in a well-balanced manner, and “toll road priority route” Is a route that preferentially passes through toll roads, and is a route that is searched under the condition that the road type is set to include as many links L that are highways and toll roads as much as possible, “general road priority route” Is a route that preferentially passes on general roads except for toll roads, and is a route that is searched under the condition that the road type is set so as not to include as much as possible an expressway or a toll road, “distance priority” The “route” is a route that travels the shortest distance to the destination G, and is searched for under the condition that the sum of the distances of the links L constituting the route is the shortest regardless of the road type, etc. “Alternate route” is the basic route A loophole pathway without line is a path to be searched with the set conditions so as not to include as much as possible the links L constituting the basic path.

  After the five route candidates r1 to r5 are searched for as described above, the guidance route determination unit 12 determines, for example, the destination G under the specified date T1 and the specified time T2 based on the traffic information database 2b. Is selected from among the five route candidates r1 to r5 and is determined as the recommended guidance route R. Note that, before the designated date T1 and the designated time T2 are designated by the user, as in the case of the first embodiment, the current date and time as the default values are designated as the designated date T1 and the designated time T2 and the recommended guidance route. R is determined.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the five route candidates r1 to r5 searched in this way and the recommended recommended route R determined together with the estimated required time 16, the time factor display Ft, and the date factor display Fd, It is displayed on the display unit 4 a of the display input device 4. At this time, the determined one recommended guidance route R is displayed with emphasis on the other four route candidates. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 7A, when the designated date T1 is January 1, 2004 and the designated time T2 is 8:00, the route candidate r1 is determined as the recommended guidance route R. The recommended guidance route R is displayed as a thick line with respect to the other route candidates r2 to r5.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B, when one or both of the designated date T1 and the designated time T2 are received by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 or the remote control input device 5, the guidance route is determined. Based on the traffic information database 2b, the means 12 selects five route candidates with the shortest travel time to the destination G (the lowest search cost) under the new designated date T1 and designated time T2. A route is selected from the route candidates r1 to r5, determined as a new recommended guidance route R, and displayed with emphasis on the other four route candidates. In the example shown in FIG. 7B, the designated date T1 remains January 1, 2004, the designated time T2 is changed to 12:00, the route candidate r2 is determined as the recommended guidance route R, and the other The route candidates r1 and r3 to r5 are displayed with thick lines. The recommended guidance route R is changed in this way because when the designated time T2 is 8:00, the travel time of the route candidate r1 is the shortest (the search cost is the lowest), while the designated time is This is because when T2 is 12:00, it becomes the route candidate r2.

  Note that the method of highlighting the recommended guidance route R is not limited to the method of displaying a thick line with respect to the other route candidates as described above. For example, only the recommended guidance route R is different from the other route candidates. It is also possible to use a method of displaying with colors or patterns.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The navigation device according to the present embodiment searches for five route candidates r1 to r5 to the destination G as in the second embodiment, determines one recommended guidance route R, and provides five route candidates. r1 to r5 are displayed and one recommended guidance route R is highlighted with respect to other route candidates, and the time factors for each of the five route candidates r1 to r5 are different. The degree of congestion to be determined and the degree of congestion at each position on the recommended recommended route R are derived and displayed on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a hardware configuration of the navigation device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the navigation device according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, the arithmetic processing unit 3 of the navigation apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a temporal congestion degree deriving unit 14 and a route in addition to the configuration described based on FIG. 1 with respect to the first embodiment. An upper congestion degree deriving unit 15 is further provided.

  Based on the traffic information database 2b, the temporal congestion degree deriving unit 14 determines each of the five route candidates r1 to r5 (including the recommended guiding route R) searched by the guiding route determining unit 12 as described above. A process of deriving a congestion degree having different time factors, here, a congestion degree having different times (hereinafter also referred to as “congestion degree by time” as appropriate) C1 is performed. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the temporal congestion degree deriving means 14 is based on the traffic information database 2b, and the congestion degrees of the route candidates r1 to r5 at each time along a predetermined time axis ( The degree of congestion by time) C1 is derived. Specifically, the temporal congestion degree deriving means 14 is the congestion degree of all the links L configuring each of the route candidates r1 to r5 for all the times (here 00: 0 to 23:45) of the designated date T1. And one or both of the travel times are read out from the traffic information database 2b, and based on these information, each time along the time axis ranging from 10:00 to 24:00 (in this case, 00:00:00) 23:45 (each time every 15 minutes), the overall congestion degree C1 for each of the route candidates r1 to r5 is derived.

  As a method for deriving the overall congestion degree of each of the route candidates r1 to r5 at each time used for deriving the congestion degree by time C1, here, as an example, the first congestion degree deriving method and the second congestion degree deriving method are used. Two methods will be described below. In the following, one route candidate r1 among the five route candidates r1 to r5 will be described as an example, but the other route candidates r2 to r5 are also congested in the entire route at each time by the same method. Degrees can be derived.

1. First Congestion Derivation Method In this method, first, the link lengths of all the links L constituting the route candidate r1 are read from the link information La of each link L included in the map database 2a, and these are integrated to obtain. The travel distances of all the links L constituting the route candidate r1 for one time of the specified date T1 are read from the total distance of the route candidate r1 and the traffic information database 2b, and the route candidates r1 obtained by integrating them are read. Based on the total travel time, an average speed for the route candidate r1 is calculated. The calculation formula of this average speed is as the following formula (1).
(Average speed) = (total distance of route candidate r1) / (total travel time of route candidate r1) (1)
On the other hand, the temporal congestion degree deriving unit 14 of the arithmetic processing device 3 classifies the average speed of the route candidate r1 into five stages “1” to “5” in order from the higher speed, and sets this as the congestion degree. An average speed-congestion degree table is provided. Then, depending on which stage in the average speed-congestion degree table the average speed for the route candidate r1 calculated by the above formula (1) belongs, the route candidate r1 for the entire time in the five stages is congested. Deriving degrees.

2. Second Congestion Derivation Method In this method, first, all the distances of the route candidate r1 obtained by the same method as described above and all of the route candidates r1 for one time of the designated date T1 in the traffic information database 2b are configured. From the link information La, the link length of each link L on the route candidate r1 whose congestion level is greater than or equal to a predetermined level (here, for example, the congestion level is “3” or more) is read from the link information La The traffic jam distance ratio for the route candidate r1 is calculated on the basis of the traffic jam accumulated distance obtained by integrating. The calculation formula of this traffic jam distance ratio is as shown in the following formula (2). (Congestion distance ratio) = (Congestion distance integrated distance) / (Total distance of route candidate r1) (2)
On the other hand, the temporal congestion degree deriving unit 14 of the arithmetic processing device 3 classifies the congestion distance ratio of the route candidate r1 into five stages “1” to “5” in order from the lowest ratio, and classifies this as the congestion degree. A congestion distance ratio / congestion degree table is provided. Then, depending on which stage in the congestion distance ratio-congestion degree table the congestion distance ratio for the route candidate r1 calculated by the above formula (2) belongs, the overall five stages of the route candidate r1 for the one time. Deriving the degree of congestion.

  By using one or both of the first congestion degree deriving method and the second congestion degree deriving method, it is possible to derive the entire congestion degree of the route candidate r1 at one time of the designated date T1. Therefore, the calculation process shown in this derivation method is performed for all times of the designated date T1 (here, each time every 15 minutes from 00:00 to 23:45), so that one day of the designated date T1 is set as the range. The degree of congestion (time-based congestion degree) C1 of the entire route candidate r1 at each time along the time axis is derived. Similarly, the time-based congestion degrees C1 for the route candidates r2 to r5 are derived for the other route candidates r2 to r5, respectively.

  Then, the congestion degree C1 classified by time for each of the route candidates r1 to r5 derived in this way is the colors and patterns corresponding to the congestion degree on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4, as shown in FIG. Are displayed for each of the route candidates r1 to r5 along the time axis of 00:00 to 24:00 arranged in the horizontal direction. At this time, the time-specific congestion degree C1 for the route candidate r1 determined as the recommended guidance route R is a continuous range of times (here 00: 0 to 24:00) that can be specified in the time factor display Ft. A cursor-like display indicating the designated time T2 at a position on the time axis corresponding to the designated time T2 on the belt-like display Fta (indicated by time congestion C1). A designated time display Ftb is arranged. Thereby, the congestion degree C1 according to time is displayed in association with the time factor display Ft.

  Further, in the example shown in FIG. 9, in order to display the correspondence between the route display of each route candidate r1 to r5 and the congestion degree C1 for each time, the route display of each route candidate r1 to r5 is as follows: Numbers 1 to 5 are circled in order from the shortest travel time to the destination G under the designated date T1 and the designated time T2 (in descending order of search cost). Corresponding to the numbers ˜5, the degree of time congestion C1 of the route candidates r1 to r5 (including the recommended guidance route R) is arranged on the right side of the numbers 1 to 5 circled. That is, in this case, each of the route candidates r1 to r5 (recommended guidance route R) from top to bottom in ascending order of travel time to the destination G under the specified date T1 and the specified time T2 (in the order of low search cost). The time-based congestion degree C1 is included. In addition, the expression method of the color and the pattern corresponding to the congestion degree in the congestion degree by time C1 is not particularly limited. For example, the higher the congestion degree, the closer the color to red, and the lower the congestion degree. It can also be a color close to blue.

  The congestion degree deriving unit 15 on the route relates to the recommended guidance route R determined by the guidance route determination unit 12 based on the traffic information database 2b on the recommended guidance route R under the designated date T1 and the designated time T2. A process of deriving the congestion degree of position (hereinafter also referred to as “the congestion degree on the route” as appropriate) J is performed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the on-route congestion degree deriving unit 15 determines the designated time T2 of the designated date T1 when deriving the hourly congestion degree C1 derived by the temporal congestion degree deriving unit 14. The degree of congestion of all links L constituting the recommended guidance route R is read from the traffic information database 2b, and the degree of congestion of the links L constituting each position on the recommended guidance route R is determined on each position on the recommended guidance route R. The degree of congestion J.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the congestion degree J on the route thus derived is determined by one or both of colors and patterns corresponding to the congestion degree for each link L in the display unit 4a of the display input device 4. It is expressed and displayed superimposed on the position of each link L on the recommended guidance route R displayed on the display unit 4a. The expression method of colors and patterns corresponding to such a degree of congestion is not particularly limited, but is an expression that matches the expression method in the hourly congestion degree C1 derived by the temporal congestion degree deriving means 14. It is desirable to do.

Here, the time-based congestion degree C1 derived by the temporal congestion degree deriving means 14 and the guidance route congestion degree J at the designated time T2 derived by the on-route congestion degree deriving means 15 are both past VICS information. It is derived based on the traffic information database 2b obtained by statistically processing past traffic information such as road traffic census information and the like, and is an expected value of the degree of congestion.

  Next, using the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 for operation control when guiding the five route candidates r1 to r5 including the recommended guidance route R and the congestion degree of each route by the navigation device according to the present embodiment. I will explain. The operation processing of the navigation device shown in this flowchart is performed under the control of the arithmetic processing device 3.

  As shown in this flowchart, when the destination G is designated by the user (step # 21: YES), the arithmetic processing unit 3 of this navigation device proceeds to step # 22, and the designated date T1. Is not designated (step # 22: NO), the current date is designated as the designated date T1 (step # 23), and when the designated date T1 is designated (step # 22: YES), The designated date is designated as designated date T1 (step # 24). Normally, at the beginning when the destination G is designated, the designated date T1 is not designated by the user, so the current date is first designated as the designated date T1. Similarly, for the designated time T2, if the designated time T2 is not designated (step # 25: NO), the current time is designated as the designated time T2 (step # 26), and the designated time T2 is designated. If this is the case (step # 25: YES), the designated time is set as the designated time T2 (step # 27). Normally, at the beginning when the destination G is designated, the designated time T2 is not designated by the user, so the current time is first designated as the designated time T2. The above processing is the same as step # 01 to step # 07 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 according to the first embodiment.

  Next, the guide route determination means 12 searches for five route candidates r1 to r5 to the destination G (step # 28). Note that the process of step # 28 is irrelevant to the designated date T1 and the designated time T2, and is the same even if performed before step # 22. Next, based on the traffic information database 2b, five route candidates having the shortest travel time (the lowest search cost) to the designated destination G are designated under the designated date T1 and the designated time T2. One of the route candidates r1 to r5 is selected, and one recommended guidance route R is determined (step # 29). Further, the estimated required time deriving means 13 derives the estimated required time 16 when going to the destination G through the recommended guidance route R using the specified time T2 of the specified date T1 as the departure time based on the traffic information database 2b. (Step # 30). Further, the time factor display generation means 11 generates a time factor display Ft based on the specified time T2, and generates a date factor display Fd based on the specified date T1 (step # 31).

  Next, based on the traffic information database 2b, the temporal congestion degree deriving means 12 calculates the time-specific congestion degrees C1 of the five route candidates r1 to r5 including the recommended guidance route R for the designated date T1 as described above. Deriving in this way (step # 32). The route congestion degree deriving unit 13 derives the route congestion degree J of the recommended guidance route R at the specified time T2 on the specified date T1 as described above based on the traffic information database 2b (step #). 33).

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, the recommended guidance route R and the five route candidates r1 to r5, the estimated required time 16, the time factor display Ft, the date factor display Fd, and the five route candidates r1 to r5. The congestion degree C1 by time and the congestion degree J on the recommended guidance route R are displayed on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4 (step # 34). At this time, the hourly congestion degree C1 for the recommended guidance route R among the hourly congestion degrees C1 for the five route candidates r1 to r5 is associated with the time factor display Ft, specifically, the time factor display Ft. Are superimposed on the band-like display Fta.

Thereafter, when the route guidance is started (step # 35: YES), the actual route guidance is started, and the recommended guidance route determined from the five route candidates r1 to r5 based on the designated date T1 and the designated time T2. The process for guiding the congestion degree of R and their respective routes ends. On the other hand, when the route guidance is not started (step # 35: NO), the process returns to step # 22, and when the designated date T1 is designated by the user (step # 22: YES) or at the designated time T2. If specified (step # 25: YES), the processes of step # 28 to step # 34 are performed again based on the specified date T1 and specified time T2, and the newly specified specified date T1 and specified time are specified. The recommended guidance route R derived or generated based on T2 and the five route candidates r1 to r5, the estimated required time 16, the time factor display Ft, the date factor display Fd, and the five route candidates r1 to r5 The congestion degree C1 by time and the congestion degree J on the recommended guidance route R are displayed on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4 (step # 34).

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The navigation device according to the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the forms of the time factor display Ft and the date factor display Fd. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, in this navigation device, the time factor display Ft generated by the time factor display generating means 11 displays the designated time T2 (here, 8:00) in the central designated time region Ftc. In addition, a triangular icon-shaped change time display Ftd representing the times before and after the specified time T2 is arranged on both sides thereof. The time assigned to the change time display Ftd before and after the designated time T2 can be any time, but here, as an example, the time is 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the designated time T2. Further, the date factor display Fd generated by the time factor display generating means 11 is such that all dates for one month including the designated date T1 (here, July 1st to 31st) are arranged in a calendar form for one week. It is arranged in a plurality of lines as one line in the direction. The time factor display Ft and the date factor display Fd generated in this way are displayed on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4 as shown in FIG.

  The designation of the designated time T2 can be received by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 or the remote control input device 5. Here, as one means for receiving the designation, as shown in FIG. Based on an instruction of a position on the time factor display Ft displayed on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4, a designation of a time corresponding to the position can be accepted. Specifically, by using the input unit 4b which is a touch panel, the user can place the change time display Ftd in the form of a triangular icon representing the time before and after the specified time T2 displayed on the display unit 4a. By touching, the time 15 minutes before or 15 minutes after the designated time T2 is accepted as the designated time T2. Then, the accepted designated time T2 is displayed in the central designated time region Ftc. In addition to this, for example, the input of the designated time T2 can also be received by operating the remote control input device 5.

  The designation date T1 can be accepted by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4 or the remote control input device 5. Here, as one means for accepting the designation, as shown in FIG. Based on the indication of the position on the date factor display Fd displayed on the display unit 4a by the input unit 4b of the display input device 4, the designation of the date corresponding to the position can be accepted. Specifically, by using the input unit 4b which is a touch panel, the user touches the position on the display of each date from July 1st to 31st displayed on the display unit 4a. The corresponding date is accepted as the designated date T1. Then, the accepted designated date T1 is highlighted on the date factor display Fd by, for example, a bold frame. In FIG. 11, July 20 is highlighted as the designated date T1. In addition to this, for example, the input of the designated date T1 can be received by operating the remote control input device 5.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, the recommended guidance route R corresponding to each date displayed on the date factor display Fd is superimposed on the date factor display Fd generated by the temporal factor display generation unit 11. It is also one of preferred embodiments to display the degree of congestion (congestion degree by date) C2. That is, in this case, the temporal congestion degree deriving unit 12 recommends the recommended guidance route R under the designated time T2 for all dates (here, July 1st to 31st) including the designated date T1. One or both of the congestion degree and travel time of all the links L constituting the link are read from the traffic information database 2b, and based on these pieces of information, the recommended guidance route under the designated time T2 for each date for one month The overall congestion degree (congestion degree by date) C2 of R is derived.

  As a method for deriving the overall congestion degree of the guidance route R under the designated time T2 at each date in one month including the designated date T1 used for deriving the congestion degree C2 by date, for example, the above third In the first congestion degree derivation method or the second congestion degree derivation method described in the embodiment, a date of one month including the designated date T1 is used instead of the designated date T1, and one time of the designated date T1. Instead, the method applied as the designated time T2 of the one date can be used. Then, the calculation process shown in this derivation method is performed for all dates in the month including the designated date T1 (here, from July 1st to 31st), so that each date in the month including the designated date T1 is processed. The total congestion degree C2 of the recommended guidance route R at the designated time T2 is derived. As shown in FIG. 12, the date-specific congestion degree C2 derived in this way is expressed by one or both of colors and patterns corresponding to the congestion degree on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4, and the date factor display Fd Is displayed overlaid on each date displayed. Thereby, the congestion degree C2 by date is displayed in association with the date factor display Fd.

[Other Embodiments]
(1) When one recommended guidance route R to the destination G is determined and displayed together with the time factor display Ft and the date factor display Fd as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. Congestion degree (congestion degree by time) C1 with different times for the recommended guidance route R under the date T1, and congestion degree of each position on the recommended guidance route R under the designated date T1 and the designated time T2. Deriving (the congestion degree on the route) J and displaying it on the display unit 4a of the display input device 4 is also one preferred embodiment. Here, the time-based congestion degree C1 is displayed by being superimposed on a band-shaped display Fta that continuously represents the time within a specified range (here, 00: 0 to 24:00) of the time factor display Ft. In addition, a cursor-shaped designated time display Ftb representing the designated time T2 is arranged at a position on the time axis corresponding to the designated time T2 on the band-like display Fta (the degree of congestion by time C1). Thereby, the congestion degree C1 according to time is displayed in association with the time factor display Ft.

(2) In the first embodiment, the time factor display generation unit 11 can specify a fixed range (here 00: 0 to 24:00) along the predetermined time axis as the time factor display Ft. As shown in FIG. 14, the time factor display generating unit 11 uses a plurality of points in time that can be specified as a time factor display Ft as a predetermined time. It is also a preferred embodiment to generate a display arranged and represented according to a rule. Specifically, in the example illustrated in FIG. 14, the time factor display generation unit 11 performs the specified time T2 (here, 8:00), 15 minutes before, 30 minutes before, 1 hour before, 15 minutes later, 30 The display of each time after 1 minute and 1 hour is generated. It is also a preferred embodiment to display the overall congestion degree of the recommended guidance route R under each time in correspondence with the display of each time.

(3) Further, in the case shown in each of the above embodiments, the date factor display Fd is changed from the date to the day of the week and the day of the week is displayed, so that the time factor is the day of the week and the time, and the traffic information database It is also preferable that the recommended guide route R is determined based on the specified day of the week and the specified time T2 based on 2b, and the day of the week display and the time factor display Ft are displayed together with the determined recommended guide route R. one of. In this case, the traffic information database 2b is preferably a database that stores information on the degree of congestion and travel time corresponding to all the links L included in the map database 2a for each day of the week and time.

(4) In each of the above embodiments, the case where the navigation device according to the present invention is applied to a car navigation device mounted on a vehicle has been described, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can naturally be applied to a mobile phone with a navigation function, other portable navigation devices, and the like.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is suitable for a navigation device that searches for a guidance route to a specified destination and performs display for route guidance to a user such as a vehicle driver based on the search result. Can be applied.

2 Information storage device (storage means)
2a Map database 2b Traffic information database (traffic information)
3 Arithmetic Processing Device 4 Display Input Device 4a Display Unit (Display Unit)
4b Input part (designated reception means)
5 Remote control input device (designated receiving means)
11 Time factor display generation means 12 Guidance route determination means 13 Expected required time derivation means 14 Temporal congestion degree derivation means 15 Route congestion degree derivation means C1 Congestion degree by time C2 Congestion degree by date Ft Time factor display Fd Date factor display G Destination J Route congestion C Node L Link R Recommended guidance route R
r1 to r5 Route candidate T1 Designated date T2 Designated time

Claims (10)

Storage means for storing traffic information;
A designation accepting means for accepting designation of a time factor that is a determinant of the guide route to the destination;
Guidance route determination means for determining the guidance route based on the traffic information stored in the storage means under a designated time factor that is a time factor accepted by the designation acceptance means;
A time factor display generating means for generating a time factor display representing the specified time factor and a range of the specifiable time factor or a plurality of time points of the specifiable time factor;
A navigation device comprising: display means for displaying a time factor display generated by the time factor display generating means together with the guide route determined by the guide route determining means.   When the designation accepting means accepts designation of a new time factor, the guidance route determining means is based on the traffic information stored in the storage means under the newly accepted designated time factor. Determining the guidance route, and the time factor display generating means generates a changed time factor display in which a part representing the specified time factor is changed based on a newly received specified time factor, The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the guidance route based on the newly received designated time factor and the time factor display after the change. Based on the traffic information stored in the storage means, an estimated required time for deriving an estimated required time to the destination under the specified time factor for the guidance route determined by the guidance route determination means A derivation means,
The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the estimated required time together with the guidance route.   The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the designation accepting unit accepts designation of a temporal factor on the temporal factor display displayed on the display unit. The guidance route determination means searches for a plurality of route candidates to the destination, and selects one of the plurality of route candidates based on the traffic information stored in the storage means under the designated time factor. Determine the route of guidance,
The navigation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display means displays the plurality of route candidates, and displays the determined one guidance route with emphasis on other route candidates. apparatus.   The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the time factor is any one or more of a time, a date, and a day of the week.   The time factor display is a predetermined range of time, date or day of the week that can be specified along a predetermined time axis, or a plurality of points in time, date or day of the week that can be specified. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation device has a display arranged and represented according to a rule. Based on the traffic information stored in the storage means, comprising a temporal congestion degree derivation means for deriving a congestion degree that makes the temporal factor different for the guidance route determined by the guidance route determination means,
8. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the degree of congestion that is different from the temporal factor derived by the temporal congestion degree deriving unit in association with the temporal factor display. 9. Navigation device. A route congestion degree deriving unit for deriving a congestion degree of each position on the guide route determined by the guide route determining unit under the designated time factor;
The said display means displays the congestion degree of each position on the said guidance route derived | led-out by the said congestion degree deriving means on the said path | route corresponding to the said guidance path | route. Navigation device. Temporal congestion degree derivation means for deriving a congestion degree with different temporal factors for each of the plurality of route candidates searched by the guidance route determination means based on the traffic information stored in the storage means. With
The navigation device according to claim 5, wherein the display means displays the degree of congestion with different temporal factors for each of the plurality of route candidates derived by the temporal congestion degree deriving means in a mutually comparable manner. .

Images