JP2011179868A - Navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus which enables searching surrounding facilities in the range that a user desires even if no path search has been performed with the possibility of traveling to roads in any directions from a branching point of a road. <P>SOLUTION: A control unit 7 extracts a branching point that a vehicle reaches next, calculates a distance from a current position to an extracted branch point, determines whether the calculated distance is not less than a prescribed distance, determines a search reference place according to the determination result, transmits a search condition including the determined search reference place to a server 20 via a communication unit 6, and lets the server 20 search surrounding facilities. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a peripheral facility search by a navigation device.

  Conventionally, navigation devices having various peripheral facility search functions have been developed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when a route search is not made, a sector having a predetermined angle (for example, ± 45 degrees) and a predetermined radius (for example, 2 km) with respect to the vehicle traveling direction with the current position of the vehicle as a fulcrum. A vehicle navigation apparatus that searches for facilities within a range of an area is disclosed. As a result, it is said that when going to the searched peripheral facility, the road that has already passed is not returned.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 2, an intersection near the current position is searched from intersections existing on the route searched between the current position and the destination, and the name of the searched intersection is indicated. There is disclosed a car navigation device that searches for facilities existing in the vicinity of a selected intersection when a user selects an output intersection name that is output. Thereby, it is supposed that the information regarding the facilities around the intersection can be presented by a simple operation.

JP 2006-266757 A (FIG. 5) JP 2006-78430 A

  However, if no route search is made, when the vehicle is located near the intersection, the vehicle may travel from the intersection to the road in any direction, for example, when the intersection turns left or right In Patent Document 1, the facility search of the fan-shaped area is performed based on the traveling direction before turning at the intersection, and therefore, the surrounding facility search considering the traveling direction after turning left and right cannot be performed.

  Moreover, in the said patent document 2, it is a premise that route search is carried out, and the case where route search is not made is not described.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention can search for surrounding facilities in a range desired by the user even when there is no route search and there is a possibility of traveling from a branch point of the road to a road in any direction. An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device.

In order to achieve the above object, a navigation device of the present invention includes a current position detection unit that detects a current position,
A traveling direction detector for detecting the traveling direction;
A road data storage unit for storing road data;
Based on the current position, the traveling direction, and the road data, a branch point extraction unit that extracts a branch point to be reached next;
A distance calculation unit for calculating a distance between the current position and the extracted branch point;
A distance determination unit that determines whether the calculated distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance;
A search reference point determination unit that determines a search reference point according to the determination result of the distance determination unit,
A communication unit that transmits a search condition including the determined search reference point to an external server and causes the external server to search for a peripheral facility and / or a peripheral facility search unit that performs a peripheral facility search based on the determined search reference point Is further provided.

  According to such a configuration, even when there is no route search, the current position is close to the branch point, and there is a possibility of traveling from the branch point to the road in any direction, an appropriately determined search criterion It is possible to search surrounding facilities within a range desired by the user depending on the location. In addition, even when the current position is far from the branch point, it is possible to search for surrounding facilities in a range desired by the user by using an appropriately determined search reference point.

In the above configuration, when the calculated distance is not equal to or greater than the predetermined distance, a second distance calculation unit that calculates a distance between the extracted branch point or the current position and the previously determined search reference point; ,
A second distance determination unit that determines whether the distance calculated by the second distance calculation unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance;
When the second distance determination unit determines that the calculated distance is not greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, the communication unit does not transmit the search condition to the external server, and / or the surrounding facility search unit It is good also as a structure which does not perform a facility search.

  According to such a configuration, when the branch point or current position extracted this time is close to the previous search reference point, the search ranges overlap, so that useless surrounding facility searches can be prevented.

  In the present configuration, when the calculated distance is determined to be greater than or equal to the predetermined distance by the second distance determining unit, the search reference point determining unit determines whether the extracted branch point or the current position Alternatively, the search reference point may be determined.

  According to such a configuration, if the branch point or current position extracted this time is far from the previous search reference point, the branch point or current position extracted this time can be determined as a new search reference point, and new surrounding facilities can be determined. You can search.

In this configuration, if the second distance determination unit determines that the calculated distance is not greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, it is determined whether the facility type to be searched is designated as the predetermined facility type. A facility type determination unit to
When it is determined that the predetermined facility type is designated, the search reference point determination unit determines a search reference point at the extracted branch point or the current position,
When it is determined that the predetermined facility type is not specified, the communication unit may not transmit the search condition to the external server, and / or the peripheral facility search unit may not perform a peripheral facility search. .

  According to such a configuration, when the branch point or current position extracted this time is close to the previous search reference point, the search range overlaps, but the predetermined facility related to dynamic information that is likely to change over time If the type (for example, a parking lot related to full sky information) is specified, a new search reference point is determined at the branch point or the current position extracted this time, and the latest neighboring facility search can be performed. If the predetermined facility type is not specified, there is little need to perform a new search, so a peripheral facility search is not performed, and a useless search can be prevented.

  In any one of the above configurations, the search reference point determination unit determines a search reference point at the extracted branch point or the current position when the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit is not equal to or greater than the predetermined distance. It is good also as composition to do.

  According to such a configuration, even if there is a possibility that the current position is close to the branch point and travel from the branch point to the road in any direction, the search reference point is determined at the branch point or the current position. A peripheral facility search within a range desired by the user can be performed.

Further, in any one of the above configurations, a speed detection unit that detects a moving speed is provided,
The search reference point determination unit may determine the search reference point based on the current position, the traveling direction, and the moving speed when the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance.

  According to such a configuration, when the current position is far from the branch point, an appropriate peripheral facility search can be performed in consideration of the time required for the search.

  According to the navigation device of the present invention, it is possible to search for surrounding facilities in a range desired by the user even when there is no route search and there is a possibility of traveling from a road branch point to a road in any direction. Become.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart regarding an example of the surrounding facility search process which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating determination of a search reference | standard point. It is a flowchart regarding another embodiment of the surrounding facility search process which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart regarding the modification of the periphery facility search process of FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  A navigation device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle, and a current position detection unit 1, a map storage unit 2, an input unit 3, a display unit 4, a voice notification unit 5, a communication unit 6, and a control unit. 7.

  The current position detection unit 1 includes a GPS receiver that receives radio waves including time information from a plurality of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites orbiting the earth, a gyro sensor that detects angular velocity, an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration, and the like. In addition to the current position of the vehicle, the traveling direction of the vehicle and the traveling speed of the vehicle are detected.

  The map storage unit 2 includes road node data including road node data whose nodes are nodes such as road junctions, road link data including road links connecting links between the nodes, and map images. Stores map information.

  The road node data includes road node numbers, position coordinates, number of connection links, branch point names, etc., and route guidance that provides route guidance such as turning left and right and straight ahead at a guide point that is a predetermined distance away from the branch point. Data and position coordinates of the guide point are stored.

  Further, the road link data includes a road node number as a start point and an end point, a road type, a link length (link cost) as distance information between nodes, a required time, the number of lanes, a road width, and the like. Further, data such as bridges, tunnels, railroad crossings, and toll gates are added to the road link data as link attributes. The road type is information including distinction between elevated roads and underpass roads, distinction between expressways and toll roads, distinction between national roads and prefectural roads.

  The input unit 3 includes various hard keys and a touch panel for performing various operation inputs.

  The display unit 4 displays various images such as a map image and an optimum route image so that the user can visually recognize the image. The display unit 4 includes a liquid crystal display.

  The voice notification unit 5 performs various voice notifications such as guidance notification in route guidance, and includes a speaker or the like.

  The communication unit 6 performs transmission / reception with the server 20 outside the navigation device 10. The server 20 stores facility data. Here, the facility data is composed of facility types such as parking lots and family restaurants, facility names, position coordinates, and detailed information. The detailed information includes, for example, parking lot availability information, family restaurant opening hours, and recommended menus. Information. The parking lot availability information and the like are dynamic information that easily changes over time.

  When the search condition is transmitted from the communication unit 6 to the server 20, the server 20 performs a peripheral facility search based on the received search condition and facility data, and transmits the search result to the communication unit 6.

  The control unit 7 includes a processor including a CPU and a RAM / ROM, and controls the operation of each unit of the navigation device 10 according to a control program recorded in the ROM.

  In addition, when the user inputs a destination using the input unit 3, the control unit 7 refers to the map information stored in the map storage unit 2 and changes from the current position or the departure point designated by the user to the destination. Search for the optimal route to reach. The search for the optimal route searches for links and nodes from the road node corresponding to the current position or starting point to the road node corresponding to the destination by various methods such as the Dijkstra method, the link length (link cost) and required A route that accumulates time and the like and has the shortest total link length (travel distance) or total required time is set as an optimum route, and road nodes and links belonging to the route are provided as optimum route data.

  Next, peripheral facility search processing according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, it is assumed that route search is not performed.

  When the facility type is specified by the input unit 3 from the facility type list (parking lot, family restaurant, etc.) displayed on the display unit 4, the flowchart of FIG. 2 is started. First, in step S21, the control unit 7 Reset the timer shown.

  And until predetermined time T (for example, 5 minutes) passes (N of step S23), the control part 7 continues acquiring the present position, the advancing direction, and speed of the vehicle from the present position detection part 1 ( Step S22). The predetermined time T may be set by the user in advance using the input unit 3. When the predetermined time T has elapsed (Y in step S23), the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S24, the control unit 7 extracts the next branch point that the vehicle can reach based on the current position and the traveling direction acquired in step S22 and the road data stored in the map storage unit 2. In step S25, the control unit 7 calculates the distance from the current position to the branch point extracted from the road data.

  And the control part 7 determines whether the calculated distance is more than predetermined distance (for example, 2 km), and if it is more than predetermined distance (Y of step S26), it will progress to step S27.

  In step S27, the control unit 7 determines a search reference point based on the current position, the traveling direction, and the speed acquired in step S22. More specifically, a point that is advanced from the current position by a distance corresponding to the speed in the traveling direction is determined as a search reference point. Here, for the distance according to the speed, for example, the control unit 7 has a table in which the speed range and the distance are associated with each other, and the distance according to the current speed may be specified with reference to the table. The distance in the table is, for example, a distance obtained by multiplying a predetermined speed within a corresponding speed range by an average required time for a peripheral facility search using the server 20 described later. As a result, an appropriate point that takes into account the time required for the peripheral facility search using the server described later can be set as the search reference point.

  In FIG. 3A, since the distance L1 from the current position to the branch point is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the point P1 that is advanced from the current position by the distance D according to the speed in the traveling direction is determined as the search reference point. To do. Instead of using the table, the distance may be calculated by multiplying the current speed by a predetermined search time. In addition, a point that has traveled a distance corresponding to the speed in the traveling direction is a point that identifies the road on which the vehicle is currently traveling and has traveled a distance corresponding to the speed in the traveling direction on the identified road. Is preferred.

  On the other hand, if the calculated distance is shorter than the predetermined distance in step S26 (N in step S26), the process proceeds to step S28, and the control unit 7 determines the branch point extracted in step S24 as the search reference point. Note that instead of the branch point, the current position acquired in step S22 may be determined as the search reference point. In FIG. 3B, since the distance L2 from the current position to the branch point P2 is shorter than a predetermined distance, the branch point P2 is determined as the search reference point. In step S28, when the current position acquired in step S22 is determined as the search reference point, the calculated distance in step S25 is a circular search range centered on the search reference point included in the search condition. It is preferably shorter than the radial distance. That is, when the current position is determined as the search reference point, it is preferable that the branch point is sufficiently included in a circular search range centered on the search reference point.

  After step S27 or step S28, the process proceeds to step S29, and the control unit 7 transmits a search condition for searching for surrounding facilities to the server 20 via the communication unit 6. Here, the search condition may be, for example, the determined search reference point, the radial distance of a circular search range centered on the search reference point, the designated facility type, and the upper limit number. The search range is not limited to a circle, and may be a rectangle, for example.

  When receiving the search condition from the communication unit 6, the server 20 performs a peripheral facility search based on the search condition and transmits the search result to the communication unit 6. The search results are, for example, facility names, position coordinates, and detailed information.

  In step S30, the control unit 7 acquires a search result via the communication unit 6, and in step S31, the control unit 7 causes the display unit 4 to display the search result based on the acquired search result. In this display, for example, the facility names are first displayed in a list, and when the facility name is selected by the input unit 3, the surrounding map of the selected facility and detailed information (parking space availability information, family restaurant sales) (Time etc.) should be displayed. In addition, balloon information may be displayed at the facility location in the map display around the current position, and detailed information may be displayed when the balloon display is selected by the input unit 3.

  In step S32, if the power of the navigation device 10 is not turned off (N in step S32), the process returns to step S21. If turned off (Y in step S32), the process ends (end). ). Note that the process ends when the power of the navigation device 10 is turned off regardless of whether or not it is step S32.

  By the above processing, when the vehicle is located near the branch point and is approaching the branch point, the distance from the current position to the branch point is shorter than the predetermined distance, and the branch point or the current position is determined as the search reference point. Since the facility around the determined search reference point is searched, the route is not searched and the user desires even when the vehicle may travel from the branch point to the road in any direction. You can search for facilities around the range.

  In addition, even when the vehicle is far from the next branch point, a point that is away from the current position in the traveling direction by a distance considering the search time is determined as the search reference point, and the facilities around the determined search reference point are Since the search is performed, it is possible to search for surrounding facilities within a range desired by the user.

  Next, another embodiment of the peripheral facility search process according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, first, the processing from step S21 to step S31 in FIG. 2 is performed. Then, if the apparatus is not turned off in step S32, the flowchart of FIG. 4 is started.

  Steps S41 to S46 in FIG. 4 are the same as steps S21 to S26 in FIG. If the calculated distance from the current position to the extracted branch point is shorter than the predetermined distance (N in Step S46), the process proceeds to Step S47, and the control unit 7 reads the previously determined search reference point.

  In step S48, the control unit 7 calculates the distance between the branch point or the current position extracted in step S44 and the read previous search reference point. If the current position is determined as the search reference point in step S28, the distance between the current position and the previous search reference point is calculated.

  In step S49, the control unit 7 determines whether or not the calculated distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance (for example, 100 m). If the calculated distance is shorter than the predetermined distance (N in step S49), the process proceeds to step S50. . In step S50, the control unit 7 determines whether or not a predetermined facility type is designated. Here, the predetermined facility type is a facility type such as a parking lot associated with dynamic information such as fullness information. If the predetermined facility type is not designated (N in Step S50), the process proceeds to Step S51, and the control unit 7 displays the search result on the display unit 4 based on the peripheral facility search result acquired last time.

  If the distance calculated in step S49 is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance (Y in step S49), or if a predetermined facility type is specified in step S50 (Y in step S50), the process proceeds to step S52, and the control unit 7 Determines the branch point extracted in step S44 as a search reference point. If the current position is determined as the search reference point in step S28, the current position is also determined as the search reference point here.

  If the distance calculated in step S46 is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance (Y in step S46), the process proceeds to step S53, and similarly to step S27, the control unit 7 sets the search reference point based on the current position, the traveling direction, and the speed. decide.

  After step S52 or step S53, in step S54, the control unit 7 transmits a search condition to the server 20 via the communication unit 6 to search for surrounding facilities. In step S55, the control unit 7 The search result is acquired from the communication unit 6. In step S56, the control unit 7 causes the display unit 4 to display the search result based on the acquired search result.

  After step S51 or step S56, if the power of the navigation device is not turned off (N in step S57), the process returns to step S41, and if it is turned off (Y in step S57), the process ends. (End).

  According to the present embodiment, if the extracted branch point or current position is close to the previous search reference point, the search range overlaps, so that the server 20 displays the search result acquired last time without performing a useless search. be able to. Even if the extracted branch point or current position is close to the previous search reference point, the latest search is performed if, for example, a parking lot related to full / empty information, which is dynamic information, is specified. Therefore, the latest search results are displayed by causing the server 20 to search.

  FIG. 5 shows a modification of the process of FIG. Here, the processing is different when the distance from the current position calculated in step S45 to the branch point is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance (Y in step S46).

  First, it progresses to step S58 and the control part 7 reads the search reference | standard point determined last time. In step S59, the control unit 7 determines a search reference point based on the current position, the traveling direction, and the speed. Next, in step S60, the control unit 7 calculates the distance between the determined search reference point and the previous search reference point.

  In step S61, the controller 7 determines whether or not the calculated distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance (for example, 100 m). If the calculated distance is shorter than the predetermined distance (N in step S61), the process proceeds to step S62. In step S62, the control unit 7 determines whether or not a predetermined facility type is designated. Here, the predetermined facility type is a facility type such as a parking lot associated with dynamic information such as fullness information. If the predetermined facility type is not designated (N in step S62), the process proceeds to step S63, and the control unit 7 causes the display unit 4 to display the search result based on the previously acquired peripheral facility search result, Proceed to S57.

  If the distance calculated in step S61 is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance (Y in step S61), or if a predetermined facility type is specified in step S62 (Y in step S62), the process proceeds to step S54, and the control unit 7 Transmits the search condition to the server 20 via the communication unit 6.

  According to the present embodiment, if the search reference point determined when the distance from the current position to the extracted branch point is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance is close to the previous search reference point, the search range overlaps, so the server 20 The search result acquired last time can be displayed without performing useless search. In addition, even if the determined search reference point is close to the previous search reference point, for example, if a parking lot related to full information, which is dynamic information, is specified, the person who performed the latest search Therefore, the server 20 is made to search and the latest search result is displayed.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, embodiment can be variously changed if it is in the range of the meaning of this invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the peripheral facility search is performed by the external server 20, but the control unit 7 may perform the search based on the facility data stored in the map storage unit 2. Even if the navigation device 10 includes the communication unit 6 for causing the external server 20 to search for nearby facilities, the control unit 7 may search based on the facility data stored in the map storage unit 2. For example, referring to the map storage unit 2, when the current position is a position where communication is not possible, such as in a tunnel, etc., the peripheral unit search is performed by the external server 20 if the control unit 7 searches for the position where communication is possible. It is preferable to make it.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to a vehicle navigation device, and may be applied to, for example, a pedestrian navigation device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Current position detection part 2 Map memory | storage part 3 Input part 4 Display part 5 Voice alerting | reporting part 6 Communication part 7 Control part 10 Navigation apparatus 20 Server

Claims (6)

A current position detector for detecting the current position;
A traveling direction detector for detecting the traveling direction;
A road data storage unit for storing road data;
Based on the current position, the traveling direction, and the road data, a branch point extraction unit that extracts a branch point to be reached next;
A distance calculation unit for calculating a distance between the current position and the extracted branch point;
A distance determination unit that determines whether the calculated distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance;
A search reference point determination unit that determines a search reference point according to the determination result of the distance determination unit,
A communication unit that transmits a search condition including the determined search reference point to an external server and causes the external server to search for a peripheral facility and / or a peripheral facility search unit that performs a peripheral facility search based on the determined search reference point A navigation device further comprising: If the calculated distance is not greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, a second distance calculation unit that calculates a distance between the extracted branch point or the current position and the previously determined search reference point;
A second distance determination unit that determines whether the distance calculated by the second distance calculation unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance;
When the second distance determination unit determines that the calculated distance is not greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, the communication unit does not transmit the search condition to the external server, and / or the surrounding facility search unit The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein facility search is not performed.   When the calculated distance is determined to be greater than or equal to the predetermined distance by the second distance determination unit, the search reference point determination unit determines a search reference point at the extracted branch point or the current position. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein: A facility type determination unit that determines whether the facility type to be searched is designated as a predetermined facility type when the second distance determination unit determines that the calculated distance is not greater than or equal to the predetermined distance; Prepared,
When it is determined that the predetermined facility type is designated, the search reference point determination unit determines a search reference point at the extracted branch point or the current position,
When it is determined that the predetermined facility type is not specified, the communication unit does not transmit the search condition to the external server, and / or the peripheral facility search unit does not perform a peripheral facility search. The navigation device according to claim 3.   The search reference point determination unit determines a search reference point at the extracted branch point or the current position when the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit is not greater than or equal to the predetermined distance. The navigation device according to claim 4. It has a speed detector that detects the moving speed,
The search reference point determination unit determines a search reference point based on the current position, the traveling direction, and the moving speed when the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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