JP4246250B1 - Route search system, route search server, terminal device, and route search method - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a recommended route in which an additional required cost due to a traffic jam falls within a desired set time range and a recommended departure time thereof.
When a route search in which a traffic jam allowable time is set is requested from a terminal device 20, a route search means 39 searches for a standard cost route from a departure place to a destination, and calculates a required time based on road traffic information. When a traffic congestion prediction route from the departure point to the destination is searched by reflecting it in the route search network database 35 and a route search with a traffic jam allowable time set is requested from the terminal device 20, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculation means 371 The traffic congestion allowable route cost is calculated by adding the traffic congestion allowable time to the standard cost of the standard cost route, and the route cost evaluation means 372 compares the traffic congestion allowable route cost with the traffic congestion prediction route cost, and the traffic congestion allowable route cost is the traffic congestion prediction. If the route cost is higher than the route cost, the traffic congestion prediction route is set as the recommended route, and the departure time of the departure point of the traffic congestion prediction route is set as the recommended departure time. To deliver to.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a route search system that searches for an optimum route from a desired departure point to a destination, and in particular, for example, a communication type capable of route search that considers road traffic information (congestion status of roads). In a route search system, a route that includes a standard route cost without traffic and an additional required cost due to traffic jams, and a recommended route in which the additional required cost is within a desired set time and its recommended departure The present invention relates to a route search system that can search and guide time.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, navigation devices and navigation systems that guide a user by searching for a route from a desired departure point to a destination using map data and road data are known. Such navigation devices and navigation systems are known. As a car navigation device that is installed in an automobile and guides the route to the driver, a communication type that uses a mobile phone as a navigation terminal to send a route search request to the route search server, receives the result, and receives route guidance Navigation systems have been put to practical use.

  In particular, the communication-type navigation system is a system that uses a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone as a navigation terminal, and is also used as a navigation system for pedestrians. As a navigation system for pedestrians, it is preferable to add a route guidance function including transportation, and in addition to searching and guidance for walking routes, the route search server accumulates routes and operation time data of transportation, There is also a navigation system having a function of guiding a route from a desired departure station to a desired destination station (boarding candidate train) in addition to searching for a walking route and guidance. There is also a traffic guidance system that receives and displays information such as routes, timetables of transportation facilities, and trains that can be boarded from an information distribution server without searching for walking routes.

  A general navigation device, a route search device and a route search method used in a communication navigation system are disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-165681). This navigation system is configured to send information on a departure point and a destination from a portable navigation terminal to an information distribution server, and the information distribution server searches and guides a route that matches a search condition from road network and traffic network data. Has been. As the search condition, there are means for moving from the departure place to the destination, for example, walking, automobile, combined use of railroad and walking, and the route is searched as one of the search conditions.

  The information distribution server has roads (routes) of map data as nodes and nodes as the positions of inflection points, links connecting the nodes as links, and cost information (distance and required time) of all links as a database. ing. Then, the information distribution server sequentially searches for a link from the departure node to the destination node with reference to the database, and traces the node and link with the smallest cost information of the link as a guide route. The shortest route can be guided to the portable navigation terminal. As such a route search method, a method called label determination method or Dijkstra method is used. Patent Document 1 also discloses a route search method using this Dijkstra method.

  Of the routes from the starting point to the destination obtained by the route search, the route with the minimum accumulated cost (distance or time) of the route is determined as the optimum guide route, and guide route data is created. The guide route data includes map data and guidance data in addition to the data of the optimum route, and the guide route data is read from the guide data storage unit as necessary and displayed on the display unit. In general, a guide route and a mark indicating the current position of the navigation device are superimposed on a map of a certain scale and range including the current position of the navigation device measured using the GPS receiver of the navigation device. The current position mark is displayed at the center of the display screen.

  In a general navigation system, a route that can arrive at a desired destination at a desired time can be searched and guided. In this case, the route search server is configured to search for a plurality of recommended routes that can arrive at the destination at a predetermined time, display a list of those routes, and allow the user to select a desired route.

  Such a route search system is disclosed, for example, in the following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-85889) as an invention of a navigation device. This navigation device searches for a recommended route from the departure point to the destination, calculates the required time for the recommended route, further searches for multiple recommended routes by changing the route search conditions, and calculates the required time Each recommended route is displayed together with a difference in time required for the recommended route.

  In addition, in-vehicle navigation systems are not limited to merely guiding a static optimum route to a destination, but information including traffic jam conditions is acquired from a road traffic information system, and traffic jams occur in the guidance route. In such a case, a system that dynamically re-searches and guides another optimum route that avoids traffic congestion is also considered.

  Such a route search system is disclosed, for example, as a navigation system and a road traffic information providing system in Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-90887) and Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-172702).

  The navigation system disclosed in Patent Literature 3 below creates predicted traffic information based on current traffic information and past traffic information, searches for a route to a destination, and calculates the required time. (Average value) is displayed, and a traffic information acquisition unit that acquires current traffic information and / or past traffic information, and prediction based on the current traffic information and / or past traffic information A predicted traffic information generating unit for generating traffic information; a predicted required time calculating unit for calculating a predicted required time when traveling along the searched route based on the generated predicted traffic information; and A required time comparison unit for comparing with a normal required time, a display unit for displaying the predicted required time, and a table for displaying the predicted required time in a display form according to a comparison result with the normal required time. Those made up of a control unit.

  In addition, the road traffic information providing system disclosed in the following Patent Document 4 includes a traffic jam prediction data calculation unit for calculating traffic jam prediction data at a future time point, an area on the screen of each traffic jam prediction section, and a display unit with a simplified graphic. The future traffic jam on the area simplified figure using the coordinate conversion table that stores the correspondence relationship with the section corresponding to each traffic jam prediction section in and the coordinate conversion table based on the traffic jam prediction data calculated by the traffic jam prediction data calculation means An area traffic jam prediction display processing unit that performs processing for overlapping a mark indicating prediction information is provided, and is configured to provide road traffic information including future traffic jam prediction information on the screen of the display unit to the user. is there.

  According to this road traffic information providing system, the user sets a re-delay time limit when arriving at the latest destination, and makes a route search from the departure point to the destination based on future traffic congestion prediction information. It is possible to search for routes that can be reached by the set latest time limit while changing the departure time at every predetermined departure time interval, and display the obtained route with departure time and margin time it can.

JP 2001-165681 A JP 2007-85889 A JP 2006-90887 A JP 2005-172702 A

  By the way, in general, when planning a car trip on a day when traffic congestion is predicted, users of the navigation system often have a desire to arrive at the destination at any time at the latest. In such a case, according to the road traffic information providing system disclosed in Patent Document 4 above, the cumulative link cost (travel time) of the route searched by predicting the traffic situation on the current day from the statistical data of the past traffic level. By searching for a route that satisfies the latest time limit (desired arrival time), it is possible to guide a route that satisfies the above desired conditions and its departure time.

  However, in the route search method as in Patent Document 4, since the re-delay limit time is set as the arrival time at the destination, it is possible to reach the destination at the re-delay limit time. It cannot be specified how much travel time (cumulative link cost of the route) will be. If the degree of traffic jam based on the predicted traffic jam information is severe, a longer travel time is required, and if the predicted traffic jam is not so severe, the travel time may not be so long. In other words, it is not possible to specify how much the cost increases due to traffic congestion compared to travel time (standard cost) when there is no traffic jam, and it is possible to be forced to travel to the destination while being affected by traffic jam for a long time There was a problem that there was.

  On the other hand, there is a user who wants to increase the time involved in a traffic jam, that is, the cost increase due to the traffic jam within one hour compared to the standard cost. In this case, the departure time and the arrival time at the destination are flexible, and it is only necessary to be able to guide the route and the departure time where the route cost due to traffic congestion falls within a certain time range with respect to the standard cost, In Patent Document 4, there is a problem that such a route search cannot be performed.

  The inventor of the present application has conducted various studies to solve the above-mentioned problems. As a result, in addition to the standard link cost route search, the allowable time of the link cost that increases with respect to the standard cost due to traffic congestion is set and set. The present invention was completed by conceiving that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by searching for a route that satisfies the above conditions while changing the departure time and guiding the recommended route and the recommended departure time. Is.

  That is, the present invention has an object to solve the above-described problems, and is a route in which an additional required cost due to traffic congestion is added to a standard route cost without traffic congestion, and the additional required cost is set as desired. It is an object of the present invention to provide a route search system, a route search server, a terminal device, and a route search method that can search and guide a recommended route that falls within a time range and its recommended departure time.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is
A terminal device that sets a route search condition including a starting point and a destination and requests a route search to the route search server, and a required time based on road traffic information based on the route search condition set by the terminal device In a route search system comprising: a route search server that searches a route from a departure point to a destination by reflecting in a search network database and distributes information of the searched route to the terminal device;
The terminal device includes, as the route search condition, an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time that is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination, and the traffic jam A search mode setting means for setting a route search mode for requesting the route search server for a route search in which an allowable time is set, and
The route search server searches for a standard cost route from the departure point to the destination with reference to a route search network database in the route search mode in which the congestion allowable time is set, and a required time based on road traffic information Is reflected in the network database for route search, the route search means for searching the traffic jam prediction route from the departure point to the destination, the traffic congestion allowable route cost calculation means for calculating the traffic congestion allowable route cost, and the route cost evaluation Means, and
When a route search in which the traffic jam allowable time is set is requested from the terminal device, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculating unit calculates a traffic jam allowable route cost obtained by adding a traffic jam allowable time to a standard cost of the standard cost route, The route cost evaluation means compares the traffic jam allowable route cost with the traffic jam predicted route cost, and if the traffic jam allowable route cost is larger than the traffic jam predicted route cost, the traffic jam predicted route is used as a recommended route, The departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam prediction route is distributed to the terminal device as a recommended departure time.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the route search system according to claim 1,
The route search server includes search condition adjustment means, and when the traffic jam allowable route cost is smaller than the route cost of the traffic jam predicted route, the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route is set earlier by a predetermined time. Alternatively, the route search means repeatedly searches the traffic jam prediction route based on the departure time set by the search condition adjustment means.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the route search system according to claim 2,
The search condition adjusting means alternately performs a process of setting the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route earlier and a process of setting later when searching for the traffic jam predicted route repeatedly. Alternatively, it is performed alternately every predetermined number of searches.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is the route search system according to claim 2,
When the search condition adjustment means sets the departure time earlier by a predetermined time or sets later, if the departure time to be adjusted exceeds the adjustment limit value, the route search server The terminal device is requested to reset route search conditions.

The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is the route search system according to claim 1,
The terminal device includes an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time, which is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, and a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination as the route search condition , The input means is configured to limit a setting range for setting the allowable traffic jam time to a predetermined time width.

The invention according to claim 6 of the present application is
Based on the route search conditions set by the terminal device, connected to the terminal device that sets the route search conditions including the starting point and the destination and requests a route search to the route search server via the network. In the route search server for reflecting the time required based on the route search network database to search the route from the departure place to the destination, and delivering the information of the searched route to the terminal device,
The terminal device includes, as the route search condition, an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time that is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination, and the traffic jam A search mode setting means for setting a route search mode for requesting the route search server for a route search in which an allowable time is set, and
The route search server searches for a standard cost route from the departure point to the destination with reference to a route search network database in the route search mode in which the congestion allowable time is set, and a required time based on road traffic information Is reflected in the network database for route search, a route search means for searching for a predicted traffic jam from the departure point to the destination, a traffic congestion allowable route cost calculation means for calculating a traffic congestion allowable route cost, and a route cost evaluation means. Prepared,
When a route search in which the traffic jam allowable time is set is requested from the terminal device, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculating unit calculates a traffic jam allowable route cost obtained by adding a traffic jam allowable time to a standard cost of the standard cost route, The route cost evaluation means compares the traffic jam allowable route cost with the traffic jam predicted route cost, and if the traffic jam allowable route cost is larger than the traffic jam predicted route cost, the traffic jam predicted route is used as a recommended route, The departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam prediction route is distributed to the terminal device as a recommended departure time.

The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is the route search server according to claim 6,
The route search server includes search condition adjustment means, and when the traffic jam allowable route cost is smaller than the route cost of the traffic jam predicted route, the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route is set earlier by a predetermined time. Alternatively, the route search means repeatedly searches the traffic jam prediction route based on the departure time set by the search condition adjustment means.

The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is the route search server according to claim 7,
The search condition adjusting means alternately performs a process of setting the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route earlier and a process of setting later when searching for the traffic jam predicted route repeatedly. Alternatively, it is performed alternately every predetermined number of searches.

The invention according to claim 9 of the present application is the route search server according to claim 7,
When the search condition adjustment means sets the departure time earlier by a predetermined time or sets later, if the departure time to be adjusted exceeds the adjustment limit value, the route search server The terminal device is requested to reset route search conditions.

The invention according to claim 10 of the present application is the route search server according to claim 6,
The terminal device includes an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time, which is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, and a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination as the route search condition , The input unit is connected to the terminal device configured to limit a setting range for setting the allowable traffic jam time to a predetermined time width via a network.

The invention according to claim 11 of the present application is
Based on the route search conditions set by the terminal device, the required time based on the road traffic information is reflected in the network database for route search to search the route from the departure point to the destination, and the information on the searched route is the terminal. In a terminal device that is connected via a network to a route search server that delivers to the device, sets route search conditions including a departure place and a destination, and requests the route search to the route search server.
The route search server searches for a standard cost route from the departure point to the destination with reference to a route search network database in a route search mode in which an allowable traffic jam is set, and calculates a required time based on road traffic information. A route search means for searching for a predicted traffic jam route from the departure point to the destination by reflecting in the network database for route search, a traffic congestion allowable route cost calculation means for calculating a traffic congestion allowable route cost, and a route cost evaluation means. ,
When a route search in which the traffic jam allowable time is set is requested from the terminal device, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculating unit calculates a traffic jam allowable route cost obtained by adding a traffic jam allowable time to a standard cost of the standard cost route, The route cost evaluation means compares the traffic jam allowable route cost with the traffic jam predicted route cost, and if the traffic jam allowable route cost is larger than the traffic jam predicted route cost, the traffic jam predicted route is used as a recommended route, Deliver the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route to the terminal device as the recommended departure time,
The terminal device includes, as the route search condition, an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time that is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination, and the traffic jam And a search mode setting means for setting a route search mode for requesting the route search server for a route search in which an allowable time is set.

The invention according to claim 12 of the present application is
A terminal device that sets a route search condition including a starting point and a destination and requests a route search to the route search server, and a required time based on road traffic information based on the route search condition set by the terminal device In a route search method in a route search system comprising a route search server that searches a route from a departure point to a destination by reflecting in a search network database and distributes information of the searched route to the terminal device,
The terminal device includes, as the route search condition, an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time that is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination, and the traffic jam A search mode setting means for setting a route search mode for requesting the route search server for a route search in which an allowable time is set, and
The route search server searches for a standard cost route from the departure point to the destination with reference to a route search network database in the route search mode in which the congestion allowable time is set, and a required time based on road traffic information Is reflected in the network database for route search to search for a congestion prediction route from the departure point to the destination, a traffic congestion allowable route cost calculation unit for calculating a traffic congestion allowable route cost, a route cost evaluation unit, With
When a route search in which the traffic jam allowable time is set is requested from the terminal device, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculation unit calculates a traffic jam allowable route cost by adding a traffic jam allowable time to a standard cost of the standard cost route; , recommended the route cost evaluation means, comparing a cost of the congestion acceptable route cost and the traffic jam prediction path, if the congestion allowable path cost route cost greater than the traffic jam prediction path, the traffic jam prediction path And a step of making a route, and the departure time of the departure place of the traffic jam prediction route is distributed to the terminal device as a recommended departure time.

The invention according to claim 13 of the present application is the route search method according to claim 12,
The route search server includes search condition adjustment means, and when the traffic jam allowable route cost is smaller than the route cost of the traffic jam predicted route, the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route is set earlier by a predetermined time. Alternatively, it is characterized in that it includes a step of setting at a later time and a step in which the route search means repeatedly searches for the traffic jam prediction route based on the departure time set by the search condition adjustment means.

The invention according to claim 14 of the present application is the route search method according to claim 13,
In the repeated search for the predicted traffic jam route, the process of setting the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route by a predetermined time, and the process of setting the delay time alternately, or every predetermined number of searches It has the step to perform alternately.

The invention according to claim 15 of the present application is the route search method according to claim 13,
When setting the departure time earlier by a predetermined time or setting later, if the departure time to be adjusted exceeds the adjustment limit value, the terminal device is requested to reset route search conditions. It has the step to perform.

  In the invention according to claim 1, the route search server searches for a standard cost route from the departure point to the destination with reference to the route search network database in the route search mode in which the traffic jam tolerance time is set, and the road A route search means for searching a traffic jam prediction route from the departure point to the destination by reflecting a required time based on traffic information in the route search network database, a traffic congestion allowable route cost calculation means for calculating a traffic congestion allowable route cost, and a route Cost evaluation means, and when a route search requesting a traffic jam tolerance time is requested from the terminal device, the traffic jam tolerance route cost calculation means calculates the traffic jam tolerance route cost by adding the traffic jam tolerance time to the standard cost of the standard cost route. The route cost evaluation means calculates the traffic congestion allowable route cost and the traffic congestion predicted route cost, If road cost route cost greater than the traffic jam prediction path, and recommended route congestion prediction path and delivered to the terminal apparatus departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam prediction path as the recommended departure time.

According to such a configuration, when searching for a traffic jam prediction route in consideration of traffic jam from the departure point to the destination, the traffic jam tolerance time desired by the user (allowable range of increase cost due to traffic jam to standard cost) is set. It is possible to provide the user with a satisfactory predicted traffic jam route (recommended route) and its departure time (recommended departure time).
Therefore, the user of the terminal device sets the allowable time for traffic jam, the desired departure time of the departure place, and the desired arrival time at the destination, and requests the route search to the route search server. It is possible to know a traffic jam prediction route that satisfies the allowable range of and the departure time of the route. When the desired arrival time to the destination is set, it is possible to know the predicted traffic jam and the departure time that can arrive at the destination before the set desired arrival time and satisfy the allowable traffic time. .

  In the invention according to claim 2, in the route search system according to claim 1, the route search server includes a search condition adjustment unit, and when the allowable traffic congestion cost is smaller than the route cost of the traffic congestion prediction route, the traffic congestion prediction route The departure time of the departure point is set earlier or later by a predetermined time, and the route search means repeatedly searches for a traffic jam prediction route based on the departure time set by the search condition adjustment means. To do.

  According to such a configuration, when searching for a traffic jam prediction route in consideration of traffic jam from the departure point to the destination, the traffic jam tolerance time desired by the user (allowable range of increase cost due to traffic jam to standard cost) is set. Even if the route search server cannot obtain a satisfactory traffic jam predicted route (recommended route) by one route search process, the route search is performed again after adjusting the departure time, so the traffic jam predicted route satisfying the traffic jam allowable time. Can be searched, and the searched recommended route and its departure time (recommended departure time) can be provided to the user.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the route search system according to the second aspect, when the search condition adjustment means repeatedly searches for the traffic jam prediction route, the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam prediction route is set to a predetermined time. The process of setting earlier and the process of setting later are performed alternately or alternately for each predetermined number of searches.

  According to such a configuration, a traffic jam prediction route that passes through a traffic jam point before the traffic jam reaches a peak, or passes through the traffic jam site after the traffic jam starts from the peak, and is set by the user. A route that satisfies the allowable time can be efficiently searched.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the route search system according to the second aspect, the search condition adjusting means adjusts when the departure time is set earlier or later by a predetermined time. When the departure time to be exceeded exceeds the adjustment limit value, the route search server requests the terminal device to reset route search conditions.

  According to such a configuration, the terminal device is configured to set the limit time for adjusting the departure time and the number of re-searches as the adjustment limit, and reset the allowable traffic jam time again when the departure time exceeds the adjustment limit. Therefore, it is possible to provide a traffic jam prediction route having a realistic time as the recommended departure time of the recommended route with respect to the desired departure time.

In the invention concerning Claim 5, in the route search system concerning Claim 1,
The terminal device includes operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time that is an allowable value of a required time that increases due to a traffic jam, and a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to the destination as the route search condition. The means is configured to limit a setting range for setting the allowable jam time to a predetermined time width.

  According to such a configuration, the user of the terminal device searches for a traffic jam prediction route in consideration of traffic jam from the departure point to the destination. When requesting a route search that satisfies the increased cost tolerance range), the setting range for setting the traffic jam tolerance time is limited to a predetermined time range, so the route search server recommends a recommended route for the desired departure time. A traffic jam prediction route having a realistic time as a departure time can be provided.

  In the inventions according to claims 6 to 10, it is possible to provide route search servers constituting the route search system according to claims 1 to 5, respectively, and the invention according to claim 11. The terminal device constituting the route search system according to the first aspect can be provided. In the inventions according to claims 12 to 15, the route search method in the route search system according to claims 1 to 4 can be provided.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a route search system for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not intended to identify the present invention as this route search system. The present invention is equally applicable to route search systems of other embodiments included in the scope of claims.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a route search system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a terminal device 20 using a portable terminal such as a mobile phone, a PDA, or a music player, and a route search server 30 including a network 12 such as the Internet. It is configured to be connected via. In this embodiment, a communication route search using a portable terminal and a route search system 10 that provides a route guidance service will be described as a specific example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a personal computer is connected to a terminal. The present invention can also be applied to a route search system as a device.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the route search system 10 includes a terminal device 20 and a route search server 30 connected via a network 12. The route search system 10 further includes a POI information distribution server 50 that provides detailed information such as the location and service contents of POIs belonging to various categories, and a road traffic information distribution server 51 that provides road traffic information such as the degree of congestion on each road. And so on.

  The route search server 30 can acquire necessary data from the POI information distribution server 50 or the road traffic information distribution server 51 via the network 12 and add it to its own database. Similarly, a search request can be transmitted to the POI information distribution server 50 to obtain a desired search result.

  The road traffic information distribution server 51 detects the traffic volume of the road at regular time intervals by a monitoring terminal installed on the road, and creates road traffic information indicating the degree of congestion for each road. Therefore, the road traffic information is updated at regular intervals. In the case of VICS (registered trademark), it is updated to the latest road traffic information every 5 minutes. The road traffic information is broadcast through FM broadcasting, and when the latest data is requested when accessed from the route search server 30, the latest road traffic information is distributed.

  The route search server 30 shown in FIG. 1 includes a map database 34, a route search network database 35, and a road traffic information database 36. When there is a route search request from the terminal device 20, the route search server 30 refers to the route search network database 35. Route search. And it has the general navigation function which transmits the guidance route (recommended route) obtained from the result of route search to the terminal device 20. Further, when there is a request for obtaining map data by designating a desired point or POI from the terminal device 20, the corresponding map data is read with reference to the map database 34 and distributed to the terminal device 20.

  The route search network database 35 stores road network data. Road network data expresses roads as intersections and nodes as nodes, and links that connect each node. Each link is associated with the required time when traveling at a standard speed as the cost of the link. ing. Therefore, the route searched using this road network data is a route of standard cost. Hereinafter, such a normal route search is referred to as a standard cost search, the searched route is referred to as a standard cost route, and the cost of the route is referred to as a standard cost.

The route search server 30 accesses the road traffic information distribution server 51 to obtain the latest road traffic information and updates the data in the road traffic information data database 36 at the timing when the road traffic information is updated.
When performing a route search taking into account road traffic information such as traffic jams, the route search server 30 converts the network data stored in the route search network database 35 into the latest road traffic information stored in the road traffic information data database 36. The route search is performed by editing the link cost based on the network data editing means. This makes it possible to perform a route search that reflects the required time due to traffic jams and the like. Hereinafter, such a route search is referred to as a congestion-considered route search.

  In addition to a mode in which a normal route search request (route search using a standard link cost stored in the route search network database 35) is performed, the terminal device 20 may have the latest It has a mode for making a route search request as described above that takes into account traffic jams based on road traffic information. The present invention further includes a “traffic congestion allowable time setting search mode” for performing route search by setting a tolerance (allowable time) of a required time that increases due to a traffic jam with respect to a standard required time.

  When performing a route search in the allowable traffic jam setting search mode, the user sets the traffic jam allowable time setting search mode in the terminal device 20 to the travel date, departure point and destination, and desired departure time or destination of the departure point. The desired time of arrival and the allowable traffic jam time for the standard travel time from the departure point to the destination are set. The traffic jam tolerance time is the time required for the route (standard cost) obtained by route search without considering the impact of traffic jam from the departure point to the destination. This is the time indicating how much extra time is allowed. To put it simply, an allowable time is set such that an area that can normally be reached from the starting point to the destination in 3 hours may take an extra hour if affected by traffic congestion.

  The road traffic information data database 36 statistically processes past road traffic information, and accumulates the degree of congestion, the time required for congestion, etc. for each road link according to conditions such as month, day, holiday, time zone, and weather. The latest road traffic data that accumulates the statistical road traffic data, the latest degree of congestion for each road link, the required time, and the like are accumulated. When a desired route search date / time is specified to perform a route search with a traffic jam allowable time set, the route search server 30 determines the date / time corresponding to the date / time condition specified as the route search condition from the statistical road traffic data. Statistical road traffic data is acquired, the road network data in the route search network database 35 is edited, and the route search is performed. Hereinafter, the route searched in this way is referred to as a traffic jam prediction route, and the required time is referred to as a traffic jam prediction route cost.

  In the route search in which the allowable traffic time is set, the route search server 30 first searches for a predicted traffic jam (first route) from the departure point to the destination by the method described above. Next, a normal standard cost route (second route) that does not consider traffic congestion is searched from the departure point to the destination. Then, the traffic jam allowable time is calculated by adding the traffic jam allowable time to the standard route cost of the standard cost route (route cost of the second route). Next, the cost of the traffic jam prediction route, that is, the traffic jam prediction route cost and the traffic jam allowable route cost are compared, and whether or not the difference between the traffic jam prediction route cost and the traffic jam allowable route cost is within the set traffic jam allowable time range. Is determined. When a traffic jam prediction route is used by this discrimination, it is possible to discriminate whether or not the route satisfies the set traffic jam allowable time.

  If the difference between the predicted traffic jam cost and the allowable traffic jam cost is less than the allowable traffic jam time, the predicted traffic jam satisfies the traffic jam tolerance time set as a condition. The recommended departure time is guided to the terminal device. If the difference between the predicted traffic congestion cost and the allowable traffic congestion cost is greater than the allowable traffic congestion time, the traffic congestion prediction route requires a longer time than the traffic congestion allowable time set as a condition in addition to the standard traffic cost. First, the traffic jam prediction route is searched again by advancing or delaying the departure time by a predetermined time from the desired departure time set under the initial search conditions.

  That is, when the difference in cost is larger than the allowable traffic jam time, the traffic jam prediction route is searched again by shifting the departure time of the departure point or the arrival time at the destination by a predetermined time width by a predetermined time. For example, the predetermined time width is set to 30 minutes, and the departure time of the departure point in the route search condition is adjusted 30 minutes earlier or adjusted later to search again for the predicted traffic jam route. .

  In adjusting the departure time, whether the departure time is advanced or delayed by a predetermined time width is determined by whether you want to pass through the traffic congestion point before the traffic congestion reaches the peak, or when the traffic congestion peak passes and it is resolved Depends on whether you want to go through a traffic jam. Therefore, it may be configured so that the user can arbitrarily select whether to search earlier or later.

  In general, a route that passes through a traffic jam before the traffic jam reaches a peak is likely to depart from the departure place early in the morning and arrive at the destination early. In addition, a route that passes through a traffic jam location after the traffic jam is resolved is likely to be a route that departs the departure place in a later time zone and arrives at the destination in a later time zone. This is thought to be because the majority of people perform the same action during the normal action time period, causing the vehicle to concentrate in a certain time period and causing traffic congestion.

  Therefore, the route search server 30 has advanced the departure time in the above-described search for the traffic jam prediction route based on the conditions such as the desired departure time, the desired arrival time at the destination, or the time zone specified by the user in the condition setting. It can also be configured to determine whether to search or to search late.

For example, if an early time in the morning is set as the desired departure time of the departure place as a time condition, the congestion time is re-searched by deriving the departure time from the desired departure time by a certain time interval, and the cost is reduced. This process is repeated until a traffic jam prediction route within which the difference falls within the set traffic jam tolerance time is searched. When a route satisfying the set traffic jam allowable time is searched, the route search server 30 delivers to the terminal device 20 the recommended route data including the searched traffic jam predicted route and the recommended departure time of the departure place. Also, if a late-night time zone is set for the desired arrival time at the destination, the departure time at the departure location is delayed at regular intervals and the route is re- searched. This process is repeated until a route that is within an allowable time, for example, one hour is searched.

  Also, in the process of repeating the re-search until a traffic jam prediction route satisfying the traffic jam allowable cost is searched, the process of advancing the departure time and the process of delaying by a predetermined time width are adjusted alternately or alternately every predetermined number of times. You may comprise. In addition, the limit time for adjusting the departure time and the number of re-searches are set as adjustment limits, and when the adjustment limit is exceeded, the terminal device 20 is requested to reset the allowable congestion time. In this way, it is possible to provide a traffic jam prediction route having a realistic time as the recommended departure time of the recommended route with respect to the desired departure time.

  According to the present invention, when searching for a traffic jam prediction route in consideration of traffic jam from the departure place to the destination, the traffic jam tolerance time desired by the user (allowable range of increase cost due to traffic jam) is satisfied. It is possible to provide a user with a predicted traffic jam route (recommended route) and its departure time (recommended departure time).

  Therefore, the user of the terminal device 20 sets an allowable traffic jam time, a desired departure time at the departure place, and a desired arrival time at the destination, and makes a route search request to the route search server 30, thereby causing extra traffic. It becomes possible to know the traffic jam prediction route that satisfies the allowable range of the required time and the departure time of the route. When the desired arrival time to the destination is set, it is possible to know the predicted traffic jam and the departure time that can arrive at the destination before the set desired arrival time and satisfy the allowable traffic time. .

  The user empirically performs such a traffic jam avoidance action, and leaves the departure place earlier in the early morning or leaves the departure place later in the middle of the night. However, in this case, the user empirically determines the departure time, and it is clear how to select which route and departure time based on the travel date and destination. Is currently not provided. The present invention specifically provides the recommended departure time and the recommended route for avoiding traffic jams based on road traffic information.

  Hereinafter, a route search system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on specific examples, but before that, a detailed configuration of the route search system 10 according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the route search system 10 shown in FIG.

  The terminal device 20 is a terminal capable of receiving a navigation service, and includes a control unit 201, a communication unit 21, a GPS reception unit 22, a processing request unit 23, a distribution data storage unit 24, a display unit 25, an operation input unit 26, and the like. It is prepared for. The operation input means 26 includes a search mode setting means 261 for requesting a route search specifying a traffic jam allowable time. Specifically, the search mode setting means 261 includes a character input key, a cursor key for selecting a setting item on a menu screen displayed on the display screen, and the like.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1, the route search server 30 stores the map database 34 that stores map data, the route search network database 35 that stores road network data for route search, and road traffic information including traffic jam information. A road traffic information database 36 is provided. When the route search server 30 has a function of searching for a route using walking or public transportation and guiding it to the terminal device 20, the route searching network database 35 further includes network data dedicated to walking, operation time of transportation. Accumulate traffic network data based on tabular data.

  The route search server 30 includes a control unit 301, a communication unit 31, a distribution data editing unit 32, a search condition adjustment unit 33, a map database 34, a route search network database 35, a road traffic information data database 36, and a network data editing unit. 37, a traffic jam allowable route cost calculation unit 371, a route cost evaluation unit 372, a processing request storage unit 38, a route search unit 39, and the like.

  When there is a request for route search, POI search, or map distribution from the terminal device 20, the route search server 30 temporarily stores the request in the processing request storage unit 38. If the request is a route search request, the route search means 39 searches the route search network database 35 for an optimum route or a recommended route (guide route). The searched guide route data is edited into distribution data for the terminal device 20 by the distribution data editing means 32 and distributed to the terminal device 20. Further, map data including the guide route is read from the map database 34 and distributed to the terminal device 20.

  The road traffic information data database 36 statistically processes past road traffic information, and accumulates the degree of congestion, the time required for congestion, etc. for each road link according to conditions such as month, day, holiday, time zone, and weather. The latest road traffic data that accumulates the statistical road traffic data, the latest degree of congestion for each road link, the required time, and the like are accumulated. In a congestion-considered route search that considers normal traffic jams, the network data editing means 37 edits the network data of the route search network database 35 based on the latest road traffic data, and performs a route search that takes into account the congestion status.

  In the route search in which the allowable traffic congestion time is set, the terminal device 20 sets the route search mode in which the allowable traffic congestion time is set, and searches for the route such as the departure point, the destination, the desired departure date, the desired departure time or the desired arrival time. The condition is transmitted to the route search server 30. The route search server 30 receives these pieces of information (search mode, route search condition) from the terminal device 20 and starts route search.

  The route search means 39 uses the statistical road traffic data stored in the route search network database 35 to apply the cost of each road link on the day, day of the week, and day of week to the route search network database 35. Then, a traffic jam prediction route (first route) is considered in consideration of the traffic jam situation. The cost of the first route is the traffic jam predicted route cost in the traffic jam predicted route.

Next, the route search means 39 searches for a standard cost route (second route) from the departure point to the destination without reflecting the road traffic information, that is, without taking into account the traffic jam situation.
In the second route search, the route search means 39 performs a route search using normal road network data stored in the route search network database 35. Normal road network data expresses the road network using the cost set according to the standard driving speed of the road, and the route search using this road network data does not reflect the traffic jam condition and does not reflect the standard speed. The optimum route when traveling is searched. The cost of the second route is the standard cost in the standard cost route.

  When the second route (standard cost route) is searched, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculation unit 371 adds the traffic jam allowable time (allowable cost) to the standard cost which is the cost of the second route, and calculates the traffic jam allowable route cost. calculate. Then, the route cost evaluation unit 372 compares the traffic jam predicted route cost (route cost of the first route) with the traffic jam allowable route cost, and the difference between the traffic jam predicted route cost and the traffic jam allowable route cost is set as the traffic jam allowable traffic set. Determine whether it is within the time range.

  If the difference between the predicted traffic jam cost and the allowable traffic jam cost is less than the allowable traffic jam time, the predicted traffic jam satisfies the traffic jam tolerance time set as a condition. The recommended departure time is guided to the terminal device. If the difference between the predicted traffic congestion cost and the allowable traffic congestion cost is greater than the allowable traffic congestion time, the traffic congestion prediction route requires a longer time than the traffic congestion allowable time set as a condition in addition to the standard traffic cost. First, the traffic jam prediction route is searched again by advancing or delaying the departure time by a predetermined time from the desired departure time set under the initial search conditions. For example, the predetermined time is set to 30 minutes, the departure time is delayed by 30 minutes, or the traffic congestion prediction route is searched. The route search means repeats the above-described processing procedure until a traffic jam prediction route that satisfies the traffic jam tolerance time is searched.

  That is, when the difference between the traffic jam predicted route cost and the traffic jam allowable route cost is smaller than the traffic jam allowable time, the traffic jam predicted route satisfies the traffic jam allowable time set as a condition. Use the recommended route. The distribution data editing unit 32 edits the data to be distributed to the terminal device 20 together with the recommended route data, with the departure time of the departure place on the recommended route as the recommended departure time, and transmits the data to the terminal device 20.

  If the route cost of the first route (congested traffic route cost) is greater than the standard cost plus the allowable traffic time (congested traffic route cost), the route search means 39 determines the departure time for the first route. The first route searched first by searching for the traffic jam prediction route in the same manner as searching for the first route by advancing or delaying by a predetermined time, for example, by increasing or delaying by 30 minutes. Search for a traffic jam prediction route that is an alternative to (traffic traffic prediction route).

  When the alternative first route is searched, the route cost evaluation unit 372 repeats the same processing as described above, and the route search unit performs this processing until a traffic jam prediction route that satisfies the traffic jam allowable time is found. When the route search server 30 repeats the above-described procedure and obtains a traffic jam prediction route that satisfies the route cost obtained by adding the traffic jam tolerance time to the standard cost, the route search server 30 sets the route as a recommended route and the departure of the departure point in the route The time is guided to the terminal device 20 as the recommended departure time. If the terminal device 20 moves on the basis of the recommended route and the recommended departure time, the time required for moving from the departure point to the destination by the route may be the time obtained by adding the allowable traffic time to the standard cost. The increase in the required time due to being involved in the traffic jam can be set within the set allowable traffic jam time.

  When the route search server 30 is requested to perform a route search in which the allowable congestion time is set, the terminal device 20 uses the menu screen displayed on the display unit 25 to operate the search mode setting unit 261 of the operation input unit 26 to change the mode Set up. FIG. 3 shows an example of a menu screen displayed on the display means 25 of the terminal device 20. The menu screen 262 in FIG. 3 is an initial screen for setting a search mode. In addition to a selection button for specifying whether to give priority to a toll road or a general road, how much extra time is required when a traffic jam is encountered. A route search is performed by setting whether to allow or not, and a selection button 263 of “traffic congestion allowable time setting search mode” for displaying the recommended departure time of the route is displayed. It should be noted that the setting of the departure place and the destination has already been set in the route search condition setting procedure.

  When the selection button 263 is selected, the menu screen of the display unit 25 shown in FIG. This traffic jam allowable time setting screen 264 includes a desired date / time input field 265 for setting a desired search desired date / time, a selection button 266 for selecting either a desired departure time at the departure point or a desired arrival time at the destination, A time input field 267 for inputting a time and an allowable time input field 268 for inputting an allowable range of an increase time due to traffic jam are displayed, and the user performs a desired input using the operation input means 26. This allowable traffic jam setting screen 264 is a screen when the current position of the terminal device 20 (current position measured using GPS) is specified as the departure place in the departure place setting.

  When there is a request for route search from the terminal device 20 in which the allowable congestion time is set, the route search server 30 performs the processing described above and distributes a recommended route that satisfies the condition to the terminal device 20. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recommended route answer screen for answering a recommended route. The recommended route answer screen 270 displays a route 271 from the departure point (S) to the destination (G), a recommended departure time 272 to depart from the departure point (S), and a required time (route cost) of the route 271. 273 is displayed.

  Next, the concept of a route using the route search network database 35 will be described. For example, road network data used for route search by car or on foot is configured as follows. When the road is composed of roads A, B, and C as shown in FIG. 6, the end points, intersections, and inflection points of the roads A, B, and C are used as nodes, and the roads connecting the nodes are represented by directional links. , Node data (node latitude / longitude), link data (link number), and link cost data with link cost (link distance or time required to travel the link) of each link as data. The

  That is, in FIG. 6, Nn (◯ mark) and Nm (◎ mark) indicate nodes, and Nm (◎ mark) indicates a road intersection. Directional links connecting the nodes are indicated by arrow lines (solid line, dotted line, two-dot chain line). As for the links, there are links facing in the upward and downward directions of the road, but in FIG. 6, only the links in the direction of the arrows are shown for the sake of simplicity.

  When route search is performed using such road network data as a route search database, links linked from the starting node to the destination node are traced to accumulate the link cost, thereby minimizing the accumulated link cost. Search and guide the route. That is, in FIG. 6, when a route search is performed with the departure point as the node AX and the destination as the node CY, the road travels from the node AX to the road A, turns right at the second intersection, enters the road C, and reaches the node CY. The link cost is accumulated sequentially. Then, a route that minimizes the cumulative link cost is searched for and guided.

  Although other routes from the node AX to the node CY are not shown in FIG. 6, there are actually other such routes, so that a plurality of routes that can be reached from the node AX to the node CY are displayed. A search is performed in the same manner, and a route with the lowest link cost is determined as the optimum route. This method is performed by, for example, a known method called the Dijkstra method.

  Road network data when searching for walking routes includes data for pedestrian-only roads and passages (passages in parks, etc.) and prohibits entry of automobile-only roads such as pedestrians and bicycles. Highway data is excluded. In addition, when searching for a route by car, data such as the above-mentioned pedestrian road is excluded. In the case of a search including a route by transportation, route data of transportation is used. In a transportation network, each station is a node, and stations are connected by links. Links in the network of transportation facilities are created for each means of transportation such as trains and buses, and the required time determined by the operation timetable becomes the link cost of each link.

  When performing a congestion-considered route search or a traffic jam prediction route search, each link cost of the road network accumulated in the route search network database 35 by the network data editing means 37 is used as the road accumulated in the road traffic information data database 36. The route search means 39 searches for the route from the departure point to the destination after performing the edit corrected by the cost of the link.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the traffic jam prediction route search in the route search mode in which the traffic jam tolerance time is set in the route search system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In step S101, the route search system 10 receives the mode signal for searching for a traffic jam setting time, and subsequently receives the destination / departure location / desired date / time information input by the user in step S102. The desired date and time information includes a desired arrival date and a desired departure time or a desired arrival time, as well as a permissible time (allowable traffic jam allowable time) C (tc) that may be increased due to traffic jams.

  In step S103, the route search system 10 calculates a standard required time (standard cost of a standard cost route) B (t) from the departure point to the destination. The standard required time B (t) means that the route search means 39 refers to the route search network database 35 from the departure point to the destination without considering the traffic jam condition stored in the road traffic information data database 36. It indicates the time required for the route obtained by performing the route search.

  Then, it progresses to step S104. In step S104, the route search means 39 searches for a traffic jam prediction route considering the desired date and time information. In this search, the network data editing means 37 extracts the date and time data from the past road traffic information data stored in the road traffic information data database 36 and edits the road network data in the route search network database 35. To do. Then, the route search means 39 searches for a route reflecting the traffic jam condition with reference to the edited road network data. A required time (congestion predicted route cost) of the predicted traffic jam route obtained as a result is A (t ′).

  Subsequently, in step S105, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculation unit 371 adds the traffic jam allowable time C (tc) to the standard required time (standard cost) B (t) calculated in step S103, and the traffic jam allowable route cost (B + C = t + tc). ) And the route cost evaluation unit 372 compares the traffic congestion allowable route cost (B + C) calculated by the traffic congestion allowable route cost calculation unit 371 with the traffic congestion predicted route cost A (t ′) searched in step S104. Then, it is determined whether the traffic jam prediction route satisfies the traffic jam tolerance time.

  That is, in the determination process of step S105, if the traffic jam allowable route cost (B + C = t + tc)> the traffic jam predicted route cost A (t ′), the traffic jam predicted route is within the range of the traffic jam allowable time C (tc). It will be possible to arrive at the destination from, so the conditions will be satisfied. Accordingly, the process proceeds to step S <b> 108, and the route search server 30 sets this predicted traffic jam route as a recommended route, sets its departure time as a recommended departure time, and distributes the information to the terminal device 20.

  On the other hand, in this determination process, if the traffic jam allowable route cost (B + C = t + tc)> the traffic jam predicted route cost A (t ′), the traffic jam predicted route is within the range of the traffic jam allowable time C (tc) from the destination. The condition will not be satisfied because it will not be able to reach the ground. In this case, the process proceeds to step S106.

  In step S106, the search condition adjusting means advances the time by a predetermined time from the departure time T in the traffic jam prediction route searched in the process of step S105, or delays the time by a predetermined time. The departure time T ′ is searched again for a traffic jam prediction route (recommended route candidate). The traffic jam predicted route cost of the traffic jam predicted route searched in this way is set as A ′, and the process proceeds to step S107. Here, in step S106, t ′ obtained by changing the departure time may not be changed beyond a predetermined time. This time is set as an adjustment limit for adjusting the adjustment of the departure time. For example, a route that is advanced or delayed by 6 hours or more from the desired departure time set by the user is not realistic. In this case, it is considered that changing the condition setting itself, such as changing the allowable congestion time, increases the probability of obtaining a route satisfying the route search efficiency and the condition.

  In step S107, the required time A ′ in the traffic jam predicted route obtained in step S106 is set, and the traffic jam allowable route cost (B + C) and the traffic jam predicted route cost A searched in step S106 are determined in the same manner as the determination processing in step S105. ′ Is compared with each other to determine whether or not the traffic jam prediction route satisfies the traffic jam tolerance time.

  If traffic congestion allowable route cost B + C> congestion prediction route cost At ′, the traffic congestion prediction route can arrive from the departure point to the destination within the allowable traffic congestion time C (tc), so that the condition is satisfied. Become. Accordingly, the process proceeds to step S <b> 108, and the route search server 30 sets this predicted traffic jam route as a recommended route, sets its departure time as a recommended departure time, and distributes the information to the terminal device 20.

  Unless the traffic congestion allowable route cost B + C> the traffic congestion predicted route cost At ′, the traffic jam predicted route cannot reach the destination from the departure point within the allowable traffic congestion time C (tc), so the condition is not satisfied. become. In this case, the process proceeds to step S109. In the process of step S109, the search condition adjustment unit 33 determines whether or not the adjustment range of the departure time exceeds the adjustment limit described above. If the adjustment limit is not exceeded, the process returns to step S106, and the route search unit 39 Repeat the search for the next traffic jam prediction route. If the adjustment range of the departure time exceeds the adjustment limit described above, the process returns to step S102 to prompt the terminal device 20 to change the route search condition.

  As a method for setting the adjustment limit, in addition to the method for setting the adjustment time limit, it is also possible to set the number of adjustments, that is, the number of adjustments by adjusting the departure time earlier or later at a predetermined time interval. Alternatively, instead of setting the adjustment limit, the menu screen in FIG. 4 may permit only the input of a value larger than the preset value for the setting range of the allowable traffic jam time, or the input of a predetermined value or more. You may make it permit only.

  In addition, the search condition adjustment unit 33 first adjusts the departure time earlier or later when iteratively re-searches the traffic jam prediction route until the traffic jam prediction route satisfying the traffic jam tolerance time is searched. Starting from the departure time of the traffic jam predicted route searched for in the above, the setting for advancing and setting for delaying may be alternately or may be adjusted at a certain number of times.

  In the processing of step S108, the traffic jam prediction route obtained by the above processing is set as the recommended route, the departure time of the route is set as the recommended departure time, and the difference between the required time of the route and the required time of the standard route is delayed. As time, those data are distributed to the terminal device 20 and displayed on the terminal device 20, and the process ends.

  With the above processing, the route search system 10 allows the user to make a traffic jam delay when he / she arrives at a desired time or departs at a desired time at a destination where a traffic jam delay is predicted in advance due to congestion or the like. This makes it possible to know the recommended route that can be reached by the desired arrival time within the allowable time and the recommended departure time.

  The present invention can be applied not only to a communication type navigation system using a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone as a terminal device but also to a route search and route guidance service using a personal computer as a terminal device.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a route search system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the route search system concerning the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the menu screen used for the setting of the route search mode which set traffic congestion tolerance time. It is a figure which shows an example of the traffic jam tolerance time setting screen for setting traffic jam tolerance time. It is a figure which shows an example of the reply screen of the recommended route searched in the route search mode which set traffic congestion tolerance time. It is a schematic diagram which shows the concept of the data of a road network. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the route search of the route search system concerning the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Route search system 12 ... Network 20 ... Terminal device 201 ... Control means 21 ... Communication means 22 ... GPS reception means 23 ... Processing request means 24 .... Delivery data storage means 25 ... Display means 26 ... Operation input means 261 ... Search mode setting means 30 ... Route search server 301 ... Control means 31 ... · Communication means 32 ··· Distribution data editing means 33 ··· Search condition adjustment means 34 ··· Map database 35 · · · Network database 36 for route search · · · Road traffic information data database 37 · ... Network data editing means 371 ... Congestion allowable route cost calculation means 372 ... Route cost evaluation means 38 ... Processing request storage means 39 ... Route search means

Claims (15)

A terminal device that sets a route search condition including a starting point and a destination and requests a route search to the route search server, and a required time based on road traffic information based on the route search condition set by the terminal device In a route search system comprising: a route search server that searches a route from a departure point to a destination by reflecting in a search network database and distributes information of the searched route to the terminal device;
The terminal device includes, as the route search condition, an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time that is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination, and the traffic jam A search mode setting means for setting a route search mode for requesting the route search server for a route search in which an allowable time is set, and
The route search server searches for a standard cost route from the departure point to the destination with reference to a route search network database in the route search mode in which the congestion allowable time is set, and a required time based on road traffic information Is reflected in the network database for route search, a route search means for searching for a predicted traffic jam from the departure point to the destination, a traffic congestion allowable route cost calculation means for calculating a traffic congestion allowable route cost, and a route cost evaluation means. Prepared,
When a route search in which the traffic jam allowable time is set is requested from the terminal device, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculating unit calculates a traffic jam allowable route cost obtained by adding a traffic jam allowable time to a standard cost of the standard cost route, The route cost evaluation means compares the traffic jam allowable route cost with the traffic jam predicted route cost, and if the traffic jam allowable route cost is larger than the traffic jam predicted route cost, the traffic jam predicted route is used as a recommended route, A route search system, wherein a departure time of a departure point of a traffic jam prediction route is distributed to the terminal device as a recommended departure time.   The route search server includes search condition adjustment means, and when the traffic jam allowable route cost is smaller than the route cost of the traffic jam predicted route, the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route is set earlier by a predetermined time. The route according to claim 1, wherein the route search means repeatedly searches for the traffic jam prediction route based on a departure time set by the search condition adjustment means. Search system.   The search condition adjusting means alternately performs a process of setting the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route earlier and a process of setting later when searching for the traffic jam predicted route repeatedly. Alternatively, the route search system according to claim 2, wherein the route search system is alternately performed every predetermined number of searches.   When the search condition adjustment means sets the departure time earlier by a predetermined time or sets later, if the departure time to be adjusted exceeds the adjustment limit value, the route search server The route search system according to claim 2, wherein the terminal device is requested to reset route search conditions. The terminal device includes an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time, which is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, and a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination as the route search condition , The route search system according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is configured to limit a setting range for setting the allowable congestion time to a predetermined time width. Based on the route search conditions set by the terminal device, connected to the terminal device that sets the route search conditions including the starting point and the destination and requests a route search to the route search server via the network. In the route search server for reflecting the time required based on the route search network database to search the route from the departure place to the destination, and delivering the information of the searched route to the terminal device,
The terminal device includes, as the route search condition, an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time that is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination, and the traffic jam A search mode setting means for setting a route search mode for requesting the route search server for a route search in which an allowable time is set, and
The route search server searches for a standard cost route from the departure point to the destination with reference to a route search network database in the route search mode in which the congestion allowable time is set, and a required time based on road traffic information Is reflected in the network database for route search, a route search means for searching for a predicted traffic jam from the departure point to the destination, a traffic congestion allowable route cost calculation means for calculating a traffic congestion allowable route cost, and a route cost evaluation means. Prepared,
When a route search in which the traffic jam allowable time is set is requested from the terminal device, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculating unit calculates a traffic jam allowable route cost obtained by adding a traffic jam allowable time to a standard cost of the standard cost route, The route cost evaluation means compares the traffic jam allowable route cost with the traffic jam predicted route cost, and if the traffic jam allowable route cost is larger than the traffic jam predicted route cost, the traffic jam predicted route is used as a recommended route, A route search server, wherein a departure time of a departure point of a traffic jam prediction route is distributed to the terminal device as a recommended departure time.   The route search server includes search condition adjustment means, and when the traffic jam allowable route cost is smaller than the route cost of the traffic jam predicted route, the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route is set earlier by a predetermined time. The route according to claim 6, wherein the route search means repeatedly searches for the traffic jam prediction route based on a departure time set by the search condition adjustment means. Search server.   The search condition adjusting means alternately performs a process of setting the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route earlier and a process of setting later when searching for the traffic jam predicted route repeatedly. The route search server according to claim 7, wherein the route search server is alternately performed every predetermined number of searches.   When the search condition adjustment means sets the departure time earlier by a predetermined time or sets later, if the departure time to be adjusted exceeds the adjustment limit value, the route search server The route search server according to claim 7, wherein the route search server requests the terminal device to reset route search conditions. The terminal device includes an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time, which is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, and a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination as the route search condition , The route search according to claim 6, wherein the input unit is connected to the terminal device configured to limit a setting range for setting the allowable congestion time to a predetermined time width via a network. server. Based on the route search conditions set by the terminal device, the required time based on the road traffic information is reflected in the network database for route search to search the route from the departure point to the destination, and the information on the searched route is the terminal. In a terminal device that is connected via a network to a route search server that delivers to the device, sets route search conditions including a departure place and a destination, and requests the route search to the route search server.
The route search server searches for a standard cost route from the departure point to the destination with reference to a route search network database in a route search mode in which an allowable traffic jam is set, and calculates a required time based on road traffic information. A route search means for searching for a predicted traffic jam route from the departure point to the destination by reflecting in the network database for route search, a traffic congestion allowable route cost calculation means for calculating a traffic congestion allowable route cost, and a route cost evaluation means. ,
When a route search in which the traffic jam allowable time is set is requested from the terminal device, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculating unit calculates a traffic jam allowable route cost obtained by adding a traffic jam allowable time to a standard cost of the standard cost route, The route cost evaluation means compares the traffic jam allowable route cost with the traffic jam predicted route cost, and if the traffic jam allowable route cost is larger than the traffic jam predicted route cost, the traffic jam predicted route is used as a recommended route, Deliver the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route to the terminal device as the recommended departure time,
The terminal device includes, as the route search condition, an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time that is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination, and the traffic jam And a search mode setting means for setting a route search mode for requesting the route search server for a route search for which an allowable time is set. A terminal device that sets a route search condition including a starting point and a destination and requests a route search to the route search server, and a required time based on road traffic information based on the route search condition set by the terminal device In a route search method in a route search system comprising a route search server that searches a route from a departure point to a destination by reflecting in a search network database and distributes information of the searched route to the terminal device,
The terminal device includes, as the route search condition, an operation input means for setting a traffic jam allowable time that is an allowable value of a required time increased due to a traffic jam, a desired departure time or a desired arrival time to a destination, and the traffic jam A search mode setting means for setting a route search mode for requesting the route search server for a route search in which an allowable time is set, and
The route search server searches for a standard cost route from the departure point to the destination with reference to a route search network database in the route search mode in which the congestion allowable time is set, and a required time based on road traffic information Is reflected in the network database for route search, a route search means for searching for a predicted traffic jam from the departure point to the destination, a traffic congestion allowable route cost calculation means for calculating a traffic congestion allowable route cost, and a route cost evaluation means. Prepared,
When a route search in which the traffic jam allowable time is set is requested from the terminal device, the traffic jam allowable route cost calculation unit calculates a traffic jam allowable route cost by adding a traffic jam allowable time to a standard cost of the standard cost route; , recommended the route cost evaluation means, comparing a cost of the congestion acceptable route cost and the traffic jam prediction path, if the congestion allowable path cost route cost greater than the traffic jam prediction path, the traffic jam prediction path A route search method comprising: a step of making a route, and delivering the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam prediction route to the terminal device as a recommended departure time.   The route search server includes search condition adjustment means, and when the traffic jam allowable route cost is smaller than the route cost of the traffic jam predicted route, the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route is set earlier by a predetermined time. Or the step of setting at a later time and the step of the route search means repeatedly searching for the traffic jam prediction route based on the departure time set by the search condition adjustment means. Item 13. A route search method according to Item 12.   When repeatedly searching for the predicted traffic jam route, the process of setting the departure time of the departure point of the traffic jam predicted route by a predetermined time, and the process of setting the delay time alternately, or every predetermined number of searches The route search method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of performing alternately.   When setting the departure time earlier by a predetermined time or setting later, if the departure time to be adjusted exceeds the adjustment limit value, the terminal device is requested to reset route search conditions. 14. The route search method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of:

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