JPH10267682A - Navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need for setting a destination for a recurrent point at each time by automatically setting the recurrent point as a destination from the viewpoint that a vehicle always returns to a specific recurrent point such as a driver's own home. SOLUTION: A CPU judges whether an engine has been ignited immediately before or not, judges (step 11: S11) whether the current position of a vehicle is a recurrent point from the current position being detected by a current position detection device if the engine has been ignited immediately before (: Y), and returns to a main routine near the recurrent point. On the other hand, when the vehicle position is not the recurrent point (S11: N), the control goes to S15. When the engine has not bee ignited immediately before (S10: N), it is further judged whether a device is operating or not in S12, thus returning when the device is not operating (S12: N). When the device is operating (S12: Y), it is judged whether a guidance to a destination has been completed or not (S13). Then, when the guidance has been completed (S13: Y), the control goes to S15 and an automatic setting is made with the recurrent point as a destination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation device, and more particularly, to a navigation device with an improved navigation setting operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Navigation devices for providing a route to a destination for a driver who is unfamiliar with geography are widely used. In this navigation device, when a destination is input, a travel route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is searched for, and a driver is guided according to the searched route. The guidance of the traveling route is displayed on the display device together with the road map, the current position of the searched vehicle, the arrow indicating the traveling direction, etc., along with the road map to provide guidance, that the vehicle is approaching an intersection to be rerouted, the direction of the rerouting, Or voice guidance. In order to receive a route search and route guidance by such a navigation device, it is necessary to set a destination to be guided. To set a destination, a menu key of the normal display device is pressed to display a menu screen, and then a destination setting key displayed on the menu screen is pressed to display a destination setting screen. Hereinafter, a map screen around the destination is displayed by sequentially selecting each layered screen,
The destination is set by setting a specific point on the displayed map screen.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional navigation device, an operation for setting a destination is always required when receiving route guidance. However, in many cases, a vehicle for home use or a vehicle for company use has a specific point (return point) that always returns after traveling. In the case of a vehicle for home use, after going out of the house or using it for commuting, it usually returns to the home, which is a return point, within the same day or several days later. The same applies to company vehicles used for transportation in companies and the like, and departure points such as garages and parking lots are return points. In addition, if a user stays at a predetermined hotel for several days during a trip, he or she always returns to the hotel parking lot, which is a return point, during the stay period there. In this way, despite the fact that each vehicle always has a specific return point, when setting a route with a conventional navigation device, even if the destination is a return point such as a home or a company, the destination setting must always be made. Operation had to be performed.

[0004] Some conventional navigation devices have a point registration function of pre-registering a once-set destination in preparation for re-use. By performing this point registration once, it is not necessary to set the destination after calling the map screen of the lowest layer, and the destination setting operation is simplified. However, even if a point registered by this point registration is set as a destination, a list of registered homes, companies, etc. is called up by performing key specification operations multiple times from the menu screen, and the required point is selected from the list. We had to select it as a land. When a return point frequently used within a certain period is set as a destination, the same operation has to be repeated every time even if the point is registered, which is troublesome.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a navigation device that does not require a destination setting operation for a return point.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a destination setting means for setting a destination, a destination storage means for storing the destination set by the destination setting means, and a vehicle Return point storage means for storing a specific point that always returns after traveling as a return point, determination means for determining whether there is a possibility of traveling with the return point as a destination, and this determination means, A destination automatic setting means for automatically setting the return point stored in the return point storage means as a destination and storing the return point in the destination storage means when it is determined that there is a possibility of traveling at the return point; Route search means for searching for a travel route to a destination stored in the destination storage means; current position detection means for detecting a current position of the vehicle; That depending on the current position of the vehicle, to achieve the above route and a route guidance means for guiding the travel route searched by the searching means, and was provided to the navigation device purposes. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the determination unit determines whether the ignition is turned on, the guidance to the destination is completed, or the device is operating and the current operation is performed. If only the current position detected by the position detecting means is displayed, it is determined that there is a possibility that the vehicle will travel with the return point as a destination.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the navigation device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. (1) Overview of Embodiment In this embodiment, from the viewpoint that the vehicle always returns to a specific return point such as a home, the driver automatically sets the return point as a destination in the following cases. This eliminates the need for a destination setting operation for the return point. This eliminates the need for the driver to repeat the destination setting operation each time the return point is set as the destination, thereby eliminating the trouble of inputting the destination. Here, when the return point is automatically set as the destination, for example, (a) the ignition is turned on at a place other than the home, and particularly when the destination is not set, (b) the guidance to the destination ends. This corresponds to (c) a state where only the current position is displayed and the navigation device is operating. The return point is selected from the registered points, but if the return point is not selected, the registered home is automatically selected as the return point. .

(2) Details of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation device according to this embodiment. The navigation device shown in FIG. 1 performs a normal route guidance process by navigation, control / calculation processes of the entire device, registration of a point according to the present embodiment, selection of a return point, and automatic destination selection by the return point. Navigation processing unit 1 that performs various processing such as registration processing
It has. The navigation processing unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 for performing these processes. The CPU 10 has a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a recording medium drive 14, and a bus line 11 such as a data bus and a control bus. A voice processing unit 15, a communication unit 16, and
Other parts not shown are connected. ROM12
Is a read-only memory in which various data and programs for controlling by the CPU 10 are stored in advance.

The RAM 13 is a random access memory used by the CPU 10 as a working memory. Various areas such as a destination area are secured in the RAM 13. In the destination area, coordinates (latitude and longitude) corresponding to the destination set by the user or the destination (= return point) automatically set according to the present embodiment are stored. In this destination area,
In addition to the destination as the final point, the coordinates of a relay point (via point) are also stored. A route to the relay point of the coordinates stored in the destination area and the destination is searched.

In the navigation processor 1 of the present embodiment, the CPU 10 reads various programs stored in the ROM 12 and executes various processes.
The CPU 10 reads a computer program from an external recording medium set in the recording medium driving device 14 and stores (installs) it in a storage device such as a hard disk (not shown) connected by the bus line 11.
Necessary programs and the like may be read from the storage device into the RAM 13 and executed. Necessary programs and the like are stored in the storage medium drive device 14 without being stored in a storage device (not shown) of the navigation processing unit 1.
The program may be directly read into the AM 13 and executed.

The voice processing section 15 controls the vehicle route guidance based on the voice output from the voice output device (speaker) 7. A volume controller 17 for adjusting the volume of voice guidance is connected between the voice processor 15 and the voice output device 7. This volume controller 17
Is adjusted by a manual operation of the operator, and is also automatically adjusted by the audio processing unit 15. The mobile phone 6 including various wireless communication devices is connected to the communication unit 16. The communication unit 16 communicates with an information providing station that provides data on traffic information such as traffic congestion and traffic regulations, as well as telephone call, and karaoke data used for karaoke communication in the car. Communication with an information providing station to be provided can be performed.

The recording medium driving device 14 is a driving device used when the CPU 10 reads a computer program for performing various processes from an external recording medium. The computer program recorded on this recording medium includes various programs and data, and is a program for various processes such as automatic setting of a destination based on a return point executed by the navigation device of the present embodiment. , And dictionaries and data used therein. Here, the recording medium refers to a recording medium on which a computer program is recorded, and specifically, a magnetic storage medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, and a magnetic tape; a semiconductor storage medium such as a memory chip and an IC card; R
Storage media such as OM, MO, and PD (phase change rewritable optical disk) that can read information optically, paper cards and paper tapes, and paper such as printed matter for reading programs using a character recognition device (and on paper) And a recording medium in which a computer program is recorded by various methods. As a recording medium used in the navigation processing unit 1 of the present embodiment, a CD-ROM or a floppy disk is mainly used. The recording medium driving device 14 reads a computer program from these various recording media and, when the recording medium is a writable recording medium such as a floppy disk, transfers the data of the RAM 13 and the data file device 4 to the recording medium. It is possible to write on a recording medium.

As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation processing unit 1 includes an input device 2, a current position detection device 3, a data file device 4, a display device 5, a mobile phone 6, a voice output device 7, and various other devices (not shown). The device is connected. The input device 2 is used for inputting a type (model) of the mobile phone 6 in addition to inputting a current position (departure point) and a destination (arrival point) at the time when the vehicle starts traveling. Various devices such as a mouse, a light pen, a joystick, and a voice recognition device can be used. The input device 2 includes a remote controller using infrared rays or the like,
A receiving unit for receiving various signals transmitted from the remote controller may be provided. The remote control includes a joystick for moving a cursor displayed on the screen, a menu designation key (button), a numeric keypad, and a route search to a return point automatically set as a destination according to the present embodiment is started. Various keys such as a return point route search key (button) are arranged.

The current position detecting device 3 is for detecting the absolute position (depending on latitude and longitude) of the vehicle, and uses a GPS (Global Positioning System) for measuring the position of the vehicle using artificial satellites.
Positioning System) a receiving device 31, a beacon receiving device 32 for receiving position information from a beacon placed on the road, an azimuth sensor 33, a distance sensor 34, and a steering angle sensor 35 are used. The GPS receiver 31 and the beacon receiver 32 can perform position measurement independently,
In a place where reception by the receiving device 31 or the beacon receiving device 32 is impossible, the current position is detected by dead reckoning navigation using both the direction sensor 33 and the distance sensor 34. The azimuth sensor 33 is, for example, a terrestrial magnetism sensor that detects terrestrial magnetism to determine the azimuth of the vehicle, a gyro such as a gas rate gyro or an optical fiber gyro that detects the rotational angular velocity of the vehicle and integrates the angular velocity to determine the azimuth of the vehicle. A wheel sensor or the like is used in which a wheel sensor is disposed, and the amount of azimuth displacement is calculated by detecting turning of the vehicle based on the output pulse difference (difference in travel distance). As the distance sensor 34, for example, various methods such as a method of detecting and counting the number of rotations of a wheel, or a method of detecting acceleration and integrating twice are used. The steering angle sensor 35 detects the steering angle α using an optical rotation sensor, a rotation resistance volume, or the like attached to a rotating portion of the steering.
The steering angle α detected by the steering angle sensor 35 is
In addition to detecting the current position, it is used for determining the imaging timing in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the data file device 4 includes a communication area data file 41, a drawn map data file 42, an intersection data file 43, a node data file 44, a road data file 45, a search data file 46, a photograph data A file 47, a sightseeing guide data file 48, and a registered point data file 49 are provided. As the data file device 4, for example, various storage media such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical disk, a magnetic tape, an IC card, an optical card, and a drive device thereof are used. It should be noted that the data file device 4 may be constituted by a plurality of different storage media and drive devices. For example, the search data file 46 and the registration point data file 49 are configured by a readable and writable storage medium (for example, a flash memory) and its driving device, and the other files are configured by a CD-ROM.

The communication area data file 41 contains communication area data for displaying the area where the mobile phone 6 can communicate from inside the vehicle on the display device 5 and for using the area where the communication can be performed when searching for a route. 6 are stored for each type. Each communication area data for each type of the mobile phone 6 is numbered and managed so that it can be easily searched, and the communicable area can be represented by the inside surrounded by a closed curve. It is divided into minutes and specified by the position data of the inflection point. In addition, the communication area data divides the communicable area into various rectangular areas of various sizes,
The data may be formed by using coordinate data of two points having a diagonal relationship. It is desirable that the contents stored in the communication area data file 41 can be updated as the area where the mobile phone 6 can be used is expanded or reduced. For this purpose, the mobile phone 6 and the communication unit 16 can be used. , Communication with the information providing station, and the communication area data file 41
Is configured to be updated with the latest data. The communication area data file 41 may be constituted by a floppy disk, an IC card, or the like, and may be rewritten with the latest data. Drawing map data file 4
2 stores drawing map data to be drawn on the display device 5. The rendered map data stores hierarchical maps, for example, map data for each layer, such as Japan, the Kanto region, Tokyo, and Kanda, from the highest layer. Map data of each layer is provided with a map code.

The data file used for the route search is
Intersection data file 43, node data file 4
4. Road network data including intersection data, node data, and road data stored in the road data file 45, respectively. The intersection data file 43 includes, as intersection data, an intersection number specifying an intersection, an intersection name, coordinates of the intersection (latitude and longitude), a number of a road at which the intersection is a start point and an end point, and the presence or absence of a signal. Is stored. The node data file 44 stores node data including information such as latitude and longitude that specify the coordinates of each point on each road. That is, the node data is data relating to one point on the road. If a node connecting nodes is called an arc, it is expressed by connecting each of the plurality of node arrays with an arc. Also, node data for specifying the coordinates of each spot in the spots to be described later is stored.

The road data file 45 includes a road number for specifying each road, an intersection number serving as a start point and an end point, a number of a road having the same start point and end point, road thickness, prohibition information such as entry prohibition, and the like. The photo number of the photo data is stored. The search data file 46 stores intersection row data, node row data, and the like that constitute a route generated by the route search. The intersection column data includes information such as an intersection name, an intersection number, a photograph number of a characteristic scene of the intersection, a turning corner, a distance, and the like. Further, the node string data includes information indicating the position of the node, such as east longitude and north latitude. In the photo data file 47, photos of each intersection or a characteristic scenery seen while traveling straight ahead are stored in a digital, analog, or negative film format corresponding to the photo number. The sights guidance data file 48 stores data for guiding each sights, and includes image data of photographs and illustrations relating to the scenery of each sights, and character data and voice data relating to the description of the sights. I have.

The registered point data file 49 stores registered point data relating to various points set as destinations, relay points, and the like in addition to homes. The point registration file 49 stores return point data when a return point according to the present embodiment is selected. FIG. 2 shows a registration point data file 49.
Represents the contents of the registration point data stored in the. As shown in this figure, data such as a point number, a mark number, a name, a telephone number, a position, the presence or absence of selection of a regression point, and a special use are used as registered point data.

The point number is a number indicating the registered point, and 1
Numbers from 00 to 99 are assigned in accordance with the registration of 00 cases. Note that the point number 00 is determined in advance to be a home. The mark number is the number of a mark as a pictogram to be displayed on the road map, and a plurality of pictograms of houses, hotels, stations, and the like are created in advance. The name and telephone number are the name and telephone number of the point. If a specified facility or location is specified as a registration point, the name and telephone number will be the name of the facility (xx hotel, xx station, petroleum, police, xx temple, xx hospital, etc.) When the place name (Tokyo Chuo Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, etc.) and its phone number are automatically entered, and other points are specified on the map screen, the address of the registered point (such as near Bunraku-ku, Tokyo), The telephone number entered by the user is entered. The name can be appropriately changed by the user. As the position, coordinates (latitude, longitude) of the registered point are input as position data. Regarding the presence / absence of a return point selection, one of all the registered points is set as the return point, and therefore, when the return point is changed, the previous return point selection is canceled. “1” is stored in a registered point set as a return point, and “0” is stored in a registered point not set. Regarding the selection of the return point, when no operation such as change or cancellation is performed by the user, the home is automatically selected as the return point. As a special use, there is a detour point for registering a point that the user does not want to travel.

The display device 5 displays various images and character information in addition to a normal route guidance road map. Various display devices such as a liquid crystal display device and a CRT are used. The mobile phone 6 is connected to another mobile phone or an information providing station by a 9600b mainly via a digital mobile communication network.
The connection is made by high-speed communication of ps or 19200 bps, but another communication method may be used.
For example, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network
ork), ordinary telephone line network, Internet, FAX
Communication via various data communication networks such as a communication network, PHS, wireless satellite communication, and optical communication may be performed. The communication speed of the mobile phone 6 may be automatically set according to the communication capabilities of the mobile phone 6 and the communication unit 16. The audio output device 7 includes a plurality of speakers arranged in the vehicle, and outputs audio when performing route guidance by audio. The audio output device 7 may also be used as an audio speaker.

Next, the operation of the thus configured navigation device of the present embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the return point automatically set as the destination is
The location is selected from each of the registered locations that have been registered (if the user selects one, an arbitrary registration location is selected; if the user does not select one, home is automatically selected). The registration operation will be described with reference to the display screen of the display device 5 shown in FIGS.

First, a menu screen shown in FIG. 3A is displayed by operating an input button key of the input device 2 arranged around the display device 5 or an input button key of a remote controller (not shown). Among the touch keys displayed on the menu screen, the destination setting key 531 is a key used when a point other than the return point is set as the destination.
The point registration key 532 is a key used when registering a destination in a memory or when selecting a registered point already registered as a return point. Return point route search key 533
Is a key for immediately starting a route search to a return point automatically set as a destination according to the present embodiment.

By touching the point registration key 532 on this menu screen, the point registration screen shown in FIG. 3B is displayed. Among the touch keys displayed on this point registration screen, a place name index key 534 is a key for displaying a map of a desired area from various place names on the screen. Touching this key causes an address key and a station key to be displayed. , Government office key, intersection key, airport / port key, police station key, IC / SA / PA
A place name index screen is displayed in which a plurality of lower layer keys such as a key, a pay IC key, and a hospital key are displayed. The home key is a key for displaying a map of the vicinity of the home which has already been registered, and the current location surrounding key is a key for displaying a map around the current location of the vehicle detected by the current location detecting device 3. The registered point key 535 is a key for displaying a map around the registered points already registered in the registered point data file 49 on a screen. When this key is touched, a list of registered registered points is displayed on the screen. A map around the designated registration point is displayed on the screen. The national map key is used to specify an area (Kanto, Tokai, Kansai, etc.) divided into a predetermined area in the Japan national map, and to display a detailed map on the screen sequentially from the map of that area to specify a point Key to do. The telephone number key is a key for displaying a map of the area around the area corresponding to the area code on the screen.

By sequentially specifying (touching) one of the keys displayed on the point registration screen of FIG. 3B, a map of a predetermined area is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 3C. . On this screen, the cursor mark 537 is moved to the position where the point registration is desired. Cursor mark 5
The movement of 39 is indicated by the triangular arrows 5 arranged around it.
By touching 38, it is moved in the direction of the arrow. After moving to the cursor mark 537 at the desired point,
When the point set key 539 is touched, a screen (not shown) for specifying a point number (an unused number from 01 to 99) representing a point to be registered and a mark number of a pictogram to be displayed on a map. Is displayed. When the point number and the mark number are specified on this screen, a point confirmation screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 4D, and a pictogram 541 corresponding to the mark number is displayed at the point specified by the cursor mouse 537. . If the user touches the No key 542 on this point confirmation screen, the screen returns to the previous screen of FIG.

When the Yes key 543 is touched, the designated registration point is determined, and a registration confirmation screen for displaying a part of the registration contents is displayed on the display device 5 as shown in FIG. Then, the point number, mark number, and coordinates (latitude, longitude) of the registered point are stored in the point data file 49. At this time, if a predetermined facility or place is designated as a registration point, the name of the facility (Akasaka Prince Hotel, etc.), the place name (Tokyo Chuo Park, etc.) and its telephone number are entered,
When other points are specified on the map screen, the address of the registered point (such as near Matsubara-Yubata-cho, Ito-shi, Shizuoka) and
The telephone number entered by the user is entered. In this screen, the user can appropriately change the name, for example, the name “near Nishi-Onuma, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa” can be changed to “XX's house”.

In the initial state where no point registration has been made, the return point has not been set yet. However, as shown in the registration confirmation screen of FIG. When the return point already selected is released, the home is automatically selected as the return point, and the corresponding field 54
The display of “return point” is displayed in 6. In this state, if the column 547 on the right side of the point “Near Akasaka Prince Hotel” with the point number 03 newly registered is touched, the return point is changed from home to point 03 as shown in FIG. The display of "return point" also moves from the column 546 to the column 547. Along with this, the registered point data stored in the registered point data file 49 is also changed to the home (point number 00).
Is changed from "1" to "0".
The column for the presence / absence of a return point of point number 03 is from “0” to “1”
Is changed to

In addition to the operation of selecting a regression point following the operation of registering a point described above, as shown in FIG. 5, a registered point already registered during the operation of setting a destination is exemplarily shown in FIG. A desired point may be selected from among them as a return point. That is, by touching the destination setting key 531 from the menu screen of FIG.
The destination setting screen shown in FIG. 5B is displayed, and the registered point key 553 is further touched to display the registered point screen shown in FIG. 5C. By touching the column 555 on this registration point screen, the selection of the return point can be changed from the Akasaka Prince Hotel at the point 03 to the vicinity of Matsubara-Yubata-cho, Ito-shi, Shizuoka at the point 01. Due to this change of the return point, the display of the “return point” moves from the column 556 to the column 555 as shown in FIG. In the display screen of FIG. 5C in which “Akasaka Prince Hotel” of point 03 is selected as the return point, by touching the column 556 where “return point” is displayed, the return point of point 03 is touched. Is canceled, and the home is automatically selected as the return point.

Next, when there is a return point (home or another registered point) selected in advance as described above, a process of automatically setting a return point as a destination according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is a process after the ignition is turned on. First, the CPU 10 determines whether or not immediately after the ignition is turned on (step 10). If immediately after the ignition is turned on (; Y), the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detection device 3 is used as the current position of the vehicle. Is determined to be a return point (step 11). If it is near the return point (step 11; Y), there is no point in setting as a destination, and the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if the vehicle position is not near the return point (step 11; N), the process proceeds to step 15. In addition, as for the determination as to whether or not it is near the regression point, if it is within a straight line distance of 300 m, it is determined that it is near the regression point.
The judgment criterion may be within 0 m.

If it is not immediately after the ignition is turned on (step 10; N), it is further determined whether or not the navigation device is operating (step 12). If the navigation device is not operating (step 12; N), Return to the main routine. On the other hand, if the navigation device is operating (step 12; Y), it is further determined whether or not the guidance to the destination has been completed (step 1).
3) When the guidance is completed (step 13; Y),
Move to step 15. If the guidance to the destination has not been completed (step 13; N), it is further determined whether or not the current position of the vehicle is only displayed on the map of the display device 5 (step 14). . If it is not only the current position display (step 14; N), that is, if the vehicle is in the middle of guiding the search route to the destination by voice or the guidance display screen of the display device 5, the route guidance or the like is continued as it is. Return to the main routine to complete. On the other hand, if only the current location is displayed (step 14; Y),
Move to step 15.

By the above processing, (a) the ignition is turned on at a place other than the home, especially when the destination is not set, (b) when the guidance to the destination is completed,
(C) In a case where the navigation device is operating in a state where only the current position is displayed, the process proceeds to step 15 in each case,
Automatically set return point as destination (Step 1)
5). That is, the CPU 10 operates the data file device 4
, The location number where “1” is stored in the column of the presence or absence of a return point is searched, the position data (latitude and longitude) of the registered point is read, and the destination area of the RAM 13 is read. To be stored. After performing the processing of step 15 described above, the CPU 10 returns to the main routine.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the return point is automatically set as the destination without the user performing a special destination setting operation. For this reason, the destination setting operation when the route guidance is performed with the return point as the destination becomes unnecessary. So, at home,
When returning to various return points, such as a company parking lot or a hotel parking lot of a travel destination, the return point route search key 533 is displayed on the menu screen shown in FIG. By simply touching, the route search with the return point as the destination can be started immediately.

In the present embodiment, the position data of the destination including the return point is stored in the destination area of the RAM 13.
The destination data stored with the ignition off will also be lost. However, there is no problem because the return point is immediately set as the destination at the next ignition on. However, in the present invention, the position data of the destination including the return point may be stored not in the RAM 13 but in a storage medium such as a flash memory which does not disappear even when the ignition is turned off.

Although the embodiment of the navigation apparatus has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope described in the claims. . For example, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which when the vehicle position where the ignition is turned on is near the return point, the return point is not automatically set as the destination. A point may be set as a destination. In this case, the destination is stored in the destination area of the RAM 13 as a relay point by the user, and the return point (departure point) → the stopover 1 (the destination set by the user)
→ The route to the return point is searched.

In the above-described embodiment, one of the pre-registered registration points (00 to 99) is selected as the return point automatically set as the destination. The return point may be registered separately. In this case, the registration point data file 49
In addition, a return point data file is provided in the data file device 4.

In the embodiment described above, the point registration operation as a premise for selecting a return point has been described. However, the procedure of the point registration operation and the display screen of the display device 5 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) (C) FIG. 4 (D) (E)
(F) is not limited to the embodiment, and other operation procedures and operation screens may be used. For example, on the menu screen, a return point selection key for immediately displaying a screen for selecting a return point from the registered points may be arranged, and further, the return point selection key may be an independent button key. May be arranged as one of various input keys arranged around the display screen of the display device 5, and this button key may be arranged on a remote controller. As for the operation screen for the point registration, as described in each screen shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,
Although the operation procedure of specifying a point on the map after specifying predetermined operation contents such as point registration and destination setting, the use purpose of the point after specifying the point on the map, that is, setting the destination, An operation procedure and an operation screen for designating point registration, selection of a return point, and the like may be used.

[0037]

According to the present invention, a specific point which always returns after the vehicle has traveled is stored in the return point storage means as the return point, and the determination means determines that there is a possibility that the vehicle will travel with the return point as the destination. In this case, the return point is automatically set as the destination and stored in the destination storage means, so that the destination setting operation for setting the return point as the destination is not required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing contents of registered point data stored in a registered point data file of the navigation device.

FIG. 3 is a part of an explanatory diagram showing a display screen corresponding to point registration and return point selection operations in the navigation device.

FIG. 4 is another part of an explanatory diagram showing a display screen corresponding to operations of point registration and return point selection in the navigation device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen corresponding to an operation for selecting a return point via a destination setting operation in the navigation device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing for automatically setting a return point as a destination by the navigation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 navigation processing unit 10 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 recording medium driving device 15 audio processing unit 16 communication unit 2 input device 3 current position detection device 4 data file device 49 registration point data file 5 display device 6 mobile phone 7 audio output device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A destination setting means for setting a destination, a destination storage means for storing a destination set by the destination setting means, and a specific point which always returns after running of the vehicle as a return point. Return point storage means for storing; determining means for determining whether there is a possibility of traveling with the return point as a destination; and determining that there is a possibility of traveling with the return point as a destination by this determination means. A destination automatic setting means for automatically setting the return point stored in the return point storage means as a destination when the determination is made and storing the destination in the destination storage means; and a destination stored in the destination storage means. Route searching means for searching for a traveling route to the vehicle; current position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle; and the route searching means according to the current position of the vehicle detected by the current position detecting means. Navigation apparatus characterized by comprising a, a route guidance means for guiding the travel route searched by the means. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the ignition is turned on, when the guidance to the destination is completed, or when the apparatus is operating and only the current position detected by the current position detecting means is displayed. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein when it is, it is determined that there is a possibility that the vehicle will travel using the return point as a destination.