JP2000215231A - Travel plan aiding device, travel information providing device, and terminal equipment for providing travel information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a travel information based on the popularity of a certain destination in each age and each time band. SOLUTION: The travel plan aiding device 1 includes a terminal equipment 3 and a providing device 4. The equipment 3 and the device 4 can transmit/ receive information to/from each other. A travel information data base 27 in the device 4 stores plural travel information including destination information indicating destinations and event information indicating events to be held in respective destinations. An operator inputs an area to while a traveler intends to travel and the scheduled period of the travel from a providing side input device 24 in the device 4. A providing side control device 23 selects at least one travel information related to a destination planning to open an event in the scheduled period of the travel from all travel information related to a certain destination included in the area and displays the selected information on a display device 17 in the equipment 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a travel plan assisting apparatus and a travel information providing apparatus for providing information on a trip to an area specified by an operator in order to assist in planning a trip to the area. And a travel information providing terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a travel plan assisting device for providing travel information on a trip has been proposed to assist in planning a travel plan. The travel plan assisting device includes an information center serving as a source of travel information related to travel, and an in-vehicle terminal connected to the information center via a telephone line or the like. The travel information basically includes destination information indicating one or a plurality of destinations, and further includes a position of the destination, an average time at which the traveler stays at the destination, and information necessary for the destination. It also contains information indicating the cost of each.

In order for the travel plan assisting device to provide travel information, first, an operator inputs various travel-related conditions from an in-vehicle terminal and provides the information center from the in-vehicle terminal. The conditions include, for example, the time and cost required for the trip, the travel distance, and the personnel composition of the group going on the trip. The information center stores a plurality of the travel information in a database in advance, searches for travel information that meets given conditions from the travel information, and provides the searched travel information to the in-vehicle terminal. . As a result, the travel information desired by the operator is provided to the operator.

[0004] As one of the prior arts of the travel plan assisting apparatus, there is a travel plan output apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-218643. The travel plan output device is combined with a terminal device mounted on a vehicle to constitute the above-described travel plan auxiliary device. The travel plan output device stores, as a database, a plurality of travel plans corresponding to personal information in advance, and further stores, for each travel plan, the number of times the travel plan has been adopted in the past. I have. The travel plan corresponds to the travel information. The personal information includes the number of travelers and their gender and age.

In order for the travel plan output device to provide a travel plan, an operator first inputs a travel destination and personal information of a traveler to a terminal device mounted on a vehicle. The destination and the personal information are provided from the terminal device to the travel plan output device, that is, an information center. The travel plan output device searches the database to extract a travel plan that matches the given destination and the personal information. The resulting travel plan is provided from the travel plan output device to the terminal device and presented to the operator. When there are a plurality of suitable travel plans, of the plurality of suitable travel plans, the one that has been adopted more or less in the past is preferentially presented to the operator.

[0006]

The above-mentioned travel plan output device, when there are a plurality of travel plans conforming to a given destination and personal information, converts the plurality of travel plans to the number of times that have been adopted in the past. Give priority to the most or least. For this reason, when a family or a fixed group frequently visits one specific area and causes the travel plan output device to provide the travel plan a plurality of times, the destinations given to the travel plan output device at each time are mutually different. And the personal information to be provided to the travel plan output device each time is similar to each other. Therefore, in each of the times, the travel plan output device always provides the same travel plan with priority. As a result, the operator must further search all the provided travel plans and select a different travel plan from that at the time of the previous search, so that the operator's operation time is increased.

In addition, the travel plan output device preferentially presents the ones that have been employed many times in the past,
When a plurality of travel plans for one destination are stored, if any one of the travel plans is first output with priority, the number of times that any one of the travel plans is adopted is calculated as follows:
It is more than other travel plans other than the one of the plurality of travel plans. As a result, if the given destination and personal information are always the same, any one of the above-described searches is always performed, and any one of the travel plans is always given priority. As a result, since the number of searches for the other travel plan does not increase, the other travel plan is not preferentially presented, so that it takes time to present the other travel plan. In particular, when the other travel plan described above is directed to a place where an event with a limited period is performed, the other travel plan is used only during the period during which the event is performed and is used during the remaining period. Because it is not
The adoption frequency of the other travel plans is unlikely to increase. Therefore, it is difficult to preferentially present the other travel plan.

An object of the present invention is to provide travel information on a destination most suitable for a request from a traveler in accordance with the use situation of the destination at the time of travel for a long time without requiring the operator to search for travel information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a travel planning assistance device, a travel information providing device, and a travel information providing terminal device that can always be provided easily.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of destination information indicating a plurality of predetermined destinations each having a limited available period, and an available period of the plurality of destinations are defined. A plurality of pieces of period information respectively shown, destination information storage means for storing them in association with each other, a scheduled time input means for inputting a scheduled travel time, and searching for information in the destination information storage means, Including destination information search means for extracting destination information associated with period information indicating an available period including the input scheduled travel time, and destination information output means for outputting the extracted destination information A travel planning assistance device characterized in that:

[0010] According to the first invention, the travel planning assistance device has the above-described configuration. For this reason, only by the operator of the travel planning assistance device inputting the scheduled travel time, the travel planning assistance device is used at the scheduled travel time among a plurality of destinations each of which the available period is limited. Output destination information indicating possible destinations. As a result, the travel planning assistance device determines destination information most suitable for the traveler according to whether or not each of the plurality of destinations is available at the scheduled time of the travel. It can be easily provided while simplifying the labor, and
This state can be maintained for a long time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the destination information storage means stores entertainment information indicating an event held at any one of the destinations in correspondence with destination information indicating the destination. The destination can be used for a period during which the event is held.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the travel plan assisting apparatus of the first aspect, the destination information storage means further stores the entertainment information. The period during which any one of the destinations can be used is a period during which an event held at the destination is held. As a result, the travel planning assistance device of the second invention is
According to the holding state of the entertainment at each of the plurality of destinations at the scheduled time of the travel, destination information most suitable for the traveler can be easily provided while simplifying the trouble of searching for the operator, and This state can be maintained for a long time.

[0013] In a third aspect of the present invention, the travel planning assistance device erases period information indicating a period before the measured current date and time from the current date and time measurement unit for measuring the current date and time and the destination information storage unit. Period information erasing means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the travel plan assisting device includes the above-described configuration relating to management of period information in addition to the travel plan assisting device of the first invention. As a result, the destination information storage means always stores only the period information indicating the usable period in which the end date and time is later than the current date and time. Therefore, the travel planning device according to the third aspect of the invention can keep the number of period information stored in the destination information storage means to a minimum.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a travel plan assisting device for at least one of a plurality of predetermined regions to travel.
Further comprising area input means for inputting one area, wherein the destination information storage means associates area information indicating an area including each of the destinations with each of the destination information indicating each of the destinations. The destination information search means further stores, among the plurality of destination information stored in the destination information storage means, destination information associated with the input area information indicating the area. It is characterized by searching for selected destination information and period information associated with the destination information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the travel plan assisting apparatus further includes the above-described configuration for limiting destination information to be searched, in addition to the travel plan assisting apparatus of the first aspect. As a result, the travel plan assisting device according to the fourth aspect of the invention can limit the destination information to be output to only the destination information indicating the destination in the area where the traveler is going to travel. Therefore, there is no need for the operator to judge whether the destination indicated by the output destination information is in the area to be traveled, and the travel planning to the small area is performed based on the destination information. The operator's labor when setting up is simplified.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the destination information storage means stores stay time information indicating a stay time expected to stay at each of the destinations, and a destination information indicating each of the destinations. The information is further stored in association with the information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the travel plan assisting apparatus according to the first aspect, the search storage means further stores the stay time information. Therefore, the travel planning assistance device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention further considers a stay time at the destination,
Destination information to be output can be determined.

In a sixth aspect of the invention, the destination information storage means includes a plurality of destination storage areas for storing the plurality of destination information, respectively, and a plurality of destination storage areas. A plurality of period storage areas respectively associated with each other, the period information associated with each of the destination information, the period storage area associated with the destination storage area for storing each destination information, Each of them is stored.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the travel plan assisting apparatus according to the first aspect, the destination information storage means includes a plurality of destination and period storage areas. Has become. As a result, the travel planning assistance device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention can reduce the time required for searching when searching only all applicable destination information, and when searching for all applicable destination information and all period information. Can be shortened compared to the time required for the search.

[0021] The travel planning assistance device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention further includes a route searching means for searching for a route, and the destination information storage means stores the destination information indicated by the destination information in the destination information. Location information indicating the location of the ground is further stored in association with each other, and the route searching means is configured to store the location information based on the location of the destination indicated by the location information associated with the destination information output from the destination information output means. And searching for a route to the destination.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the travel plan assisting apparatus further includes the above-described configuration for searching for a route to a destination, in addition to the travel plan assisting apparatus of the first aspect. As a result, the travel planning assistance device according to the seventh aspect of the invention can provide the traveler with a route to the destination indicated by the destination information in addition to the destination information. Therefore, the labor of the operator when making a travel plan based on the output result of the travel plan assisting device of the seventh invention is further simplified.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided travel information including scheduled time input means for inputting a scheduled travel time, and destination information output means capable of outputting a plurality of destination information indicating a plurality of predetermined destinations. A travel information providing device which is used in combination with a providing terminal device and is provided with a scheduled travel time input by the scheduled time input means, wherein the plurality of destination information and the use of the plurality of destinations are provided. A plurality of pieces of period information each indicating a possible period, destination information storage means for storing them in association with each other, and responding to a scheduled time from the scheduled time input means, and searching for information in the destination information storage means. Means for extracting destination information associated with period information indicating an available period including the scheduled time, and providing the extracted destination information to the destination information output means. Include the destination information supply means for outputting Te is travel information providing apparatus according to claim.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the travel information providing device is combined with the travel information providing terminal device to constitute the travel plan assisting device of the first aspect of the present invention. It has a configuration. For this reason, if the scheduled time of the travel is given from the travel information providing terminal device, the travel information providing device searches for the destination information to be output based on the scheduled time of the travel, and Return to the travel information providing terminal device. As a result, the travel information providing device can easily provide the destination information most suitable for the traveler according to the scheduled time of the travel for a long period of time, while simplifying the trouble of searching for the operator, and the travel information providing terminal device. Can be output.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a destination which stores a plurality of pieces of destination information respectively indicating a plurality of predetermined destinations and a plurality of pieces of period information each indicating an available period of the plurality of destinations. A travel information providing terminal device used in combination with a travel information providing device including information storage means and destination information search means for searching for destination information based on a scheduled travel time, wherein the travel schedule Scheduled time input means for inputting a time, a classification period supply means for giving the input scheduled travel time to the destination information search means for causing the destination information search means to search for destination information, And a destination information output means for outputting the destination information searched by the destination information search means.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the travel information providing terminal device is combined with the travel information providing device to constitute the travel plan assisting device of the first invention. Has become. Therefore, the travel information providing terminal device can input the scheduled time of the travel in order to cause the destination information search means in the travel information providing device to search for the destination information. The destination information extracted by the location information search means can be output.
As a result, the terminal device for providing travel information provides destination information most suitable for the operator according to the scheduled time of the travel for a long period of time, while always simplifying the trouble of searching for the operator. Search means can be searched. [Detailed description of the invention]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a travel planning assistance device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In order to assist the operator in planning a travel plan, the travel plan assisting device 1 searches a plurality of predetermined pieces of travel information based on the planned time of the planned travel, and searches for the plurality of travel information obtained as a result. At least one travel information regarding available destinations is provided to the operator.

The travel planning assistance device 1 includes one or a plurality of terminal devices 3 and at least one providing device 4. The terminal device 3 is individually owned by an unspecified number of operators of the travel plan assisting device 1, and is installed, for example, in the operator's house or mounted on the operator's car. The operator may or may not be a traveler himself. All the providing devices 4 are installed in an information center for providing information about travel to an unspecified number of operators. In the following description, the travel planning assistance device 1 includes one terminal device 3 and 1
Suppose that it includes one providing device 4.

The terminal device 3 includes a terminal input device 11, a navigation device 12, a terminal control device 13, a terminal communication device 14, and a terminal output device 15. The terminal-side output device 15 includes a terminal-side display device 17 and a printer 1.
8 is included. The providing device 4 includes a providing communication device 21, a providing control device 23, a providing input device 24, a providing display device 25, and a travel information database 27. The terminal-side control device 13 includes all the devices 11 in the terminal device 3,
12, 14, and 15 to control each of the devices 11, 12, 1
4 and 15 perform various operations described later. The providing-side control device 23 includes all the devices 21, 24, 2 in the providing device 4
5 and 27 so as to cause the devices 21, 24, 25 and 27 to perform various operations described later.

The terminal-side input device 11 allows an operator to input instructions to the terminal device 3 and the providing device 4. The terminal-side input device 11 is configured by, for example, a numeric keypad, a character input device, that is, a keyboard, or a screen input device. The screen input device includes a display unit and a designation unit,
The operator is caused to specify any one of the plurality of options displayed on the display unit by using the specifying unit, and input information according to the specified option. The designation unit may be a unit for moving a cursor displayed in the display unit, or a so-called touch panel overlaid on the display unit. In addition, the terminal-side display device 17 may also serve as the display unit.

The navigation device 12 retrieves a map relating to the travel information provided from the providing device 4 from a plurality of maps provided in advance, and causes the terminal-side display device 17 to display the map. Further, the navigation device 12 searches for a route between a plurality of points related to the travel plan planned based on the provided travel information, and displays the searched route on the terminal-side display device 17 for route guidance. Let it. The terminal-side display device 17 further includes, for example, the travel information database 2
An input screen related to input of search conditions for searching for No. 7 and a presentation screen for presenting travel information provided from the providing device 4 to the operator are displayed. The printer 18
The travel information provided from the providing device 4 is printed on a recording sheet. In addition to the terminal-side display device 17 and the printer 18, the purpose information output means may be a voice output device that outputs travel information provided from the providing device 4 by voice, or may output the travel information directly to the navigation device 12. Such a thing may be used. These purpose information output means are used alone or in combination.

The terminal-side communication device 14 and the providing-side communication device 21 are used for mutually transmitting and receiving various types of information between the providing device 4 and the terminal device 3. The terminal-side and providing-side communication devices 14 and 21 may be realized by, for example, a wireless device, or may be realized by a device combining a telephone and a modem. When the terminal device 3 is mounted on a vehicle, a mobile phone is preferably used as the telephone.
The providing-side input device 24 and the providing-side display device 25 are provided for the administrator of the providing device 4 to directly operate the providing device 4 for maintenance of the travel information database 27 of the providing device 4, for example. The provider input device 24 and the provider display device 25 may be omitted.

[0033]

[Table 1]

Table 1 shows the travel information database 27. The travel information database 27 includes a plurality of travel information,
A plurality of regions / information codes are stored in association with each other. The single travel information specifically includes destination information, entertainment information, stay time, cost, and location information.

The area / information code is an identification code for identifying the associated travel information, and further indicates the area to which the travel information relates. Specifically, the area / information code is composed of nine digits, the upper six digits are an area code, and the lower three digits are an information code. The area code indicates the area where the destination indicated by the destination information in the associated travel information is located. The information code is used for distinguishing a plurality of pieces of travel information when there are a plurality of pieces of travel information on destinations in a single area.

The destination information indicates one or more destinations within a predetermined basic area. The destination information specifically indicates the name of the destination or a facility located in the destination. When a single destination information indicates a plurality of destinations, the destination information further indicates an order of the plurality of destinations. That is, in the above case, the destination information indicates a so-called travel course around a plurality of destinations.

The entertainment information is roughly information relating to an entertainment held at the destination, and includes holding period information, entertainment content information, and use time zone information. The entertainment content information indicates an entertainment held at the destination indicated by the destination information in the travel information including the entertainment information, and specifically indicates the name of the entertainment. The holding period information indicates a period during which the event is held. Further, the use time zone information indicates a time zone during which the entertainment is performed in one day.

The stay time is an average time during which a traveler stays at the destination indicated by the destination information in the travel information including the stay time. The cost is a cost necessary for the destination indicated by the destination information in the travel information including the cost, and includes, for example, an entrance fee and a usage fee for a building at the destination. The location information indicates the exact location of the destination indicated by the destination information in a single piece of travel information including the location information. The position is represented, for example, by a combination of latitude and longitude.

Although the information on the holding period and the use time zone is shown as the period and the time zone in which the above-mentioned event is performed, the available time, day, and time zone of the destination (facility, etc.) itself are further added. May be stored and used as one of the search conditions for providing information.

The travel information database 27 includes, for example,
This is realized by a data rewritable storage device.
The storage area of the storage device is divided into a plurality of destination areas for storing the respective destination information and a plurality of entertainment storage areas respectively associated with the respective destination areas. For example, destination information in any one piece of travel information is stored in any one destination area, and entertainment information in the travel information is stored in an entertainment area corresponding to the destination area. . Note that the travel information only needs to include at least destination information, and may not include entertainment information. In this case, the entertainment area corresponding to the destination area in which the destination information is stored in the travel information is left blank without storing any information. The destination may be one that can be used constantly, or one whose usage period is limited. Also, the above-mentioned entertainment has a limited use period, and may or may not be held at a permanently available destination. Examples of the entertainment include, for example, an event specially performed for a certain period of time at a destination and other sea bathing as exemplified in Table 1.

The general operation of the travel planning assistance device 1 is as follows. First, the operator of the travel plan assisting device 1 operates the terminal-side input device 11 to schedule a trip and a trip area as a search condition for searching the trip information database 27. Enter the date and travel time. The terminal-side control device 13 transmits the search condition from the terminal-side communication device 14 to the provider-side communication device 2.
1 is transmitted. The provider control device 23 searches the travel information database 27 based on the search condition. The providing-side control device 23 causes the providing-side communication device 21 to transmit the travel information obtained as a result of the search from the providing-side communication device 21 to the terminal-side communication device 14 as travel information to be provided. Terminal-side control device 1
3 is a terminal-side display device 17 for displaying the travel information to be provided.
To be displayed.

When the travel information to be provided is presented, the operator operates the terminal-side input device 11 to adopt at least one of the travel information to be provided.
In some cases, none of the travel information to be provided is adopted. When the at least one piece of travel information is adopted, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side communication device 14 to transmit information indicating which travel information has been adopted to the providing-side communication device 21. Terminal-side control device 1
3 shows the adopted travel information in the terminal-side display device 17.
On the recording paper.

FIG. 2 shows a terminal device 3 of the travel planning assistance device 1.
5 is a flowchart showing a method for inputting search conditions and a method for presenting travel information in FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the terminal-side input device 11 includes a screen input device and a keyboard. For example, when the operator operates a start switch for inputting search conditions provided in the terminal device 3, the process proceeds from step a1 to step a2. Step a
In step 2, the terminal-side control device 13 initializes the entire terminal device 3. Specifically, the terminal-side control device 13 initializes all the devices 11, 12, 14, and 15 in the terminal device 3. Further, the terminal-side control device 13 communicates with the terminal-side communication device 1.
In order that data can be transmitted and received between the communication device 14 and the provider communication device 21, the terminal device communication device 14
21 is established. Thereafter, the terminal-side control device 13 transmits all the devices 11, 12, 1 in the terminal device 3.
4 and 15 are instructed to start a search process of travel information.

In steps a3 to a9, the terminal device 3 allows the operator to input a travel area which is one of the search conditions. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a basic area in which all destinations are present is subdivided into three levels. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the basic area is the whole of Japan. In the present embodiment, as a part of the input screen relating to the input of the travel area, the first screen shown in FIGS.
To the third region designation screens 41, 46 and 49 are sequentially displayed. The first to third area designation screens 41, 46, 49
Each is one of the screens for the operator to limit the travel area to a part of the basic area.

Specifically, first, in step a3, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side display device 17 to display the first area designation screen 41. First area designation screen 41
A plurality of first area designation options 42 each indicating an area obtained by dividing the basic area into a plurality are arranged therein. Further, in the first area designation screen 41, an input choice 43 and a non-designation choice 44 are shown.

To limit a part of the basic area of the travel area, the operator selects at least one first area designation option 42 indicating the travel area or an area including the travel area, and further inputs Option 43 is selected. Also,
When the travel region is not limited, only the non-designation option 44 is selected. In this case, the travel area is not limited, and the entire basic area is regarded as a travel area.

After displaying the first area designation screen 41, the terminal-side control device 13 determines in step a4 whether or not designation for limiting the travel area has been made, that is, at least one first area designation option 42 and It is determined whether or not the input option 43 has been selected. When these options 42 and 43 are selected, the process proceeds from step a4 to step a5. In step a5, the terminal-side control device 13 stores the area indicated by the selected first area designation option 42 as a travel area, and then displays the second area designation screen 46.

The second area specifying screen 46 is different from the first area specifying screen 41 in that a plurality of first area specifying options 4 are displayed.
2 is replaced with a plurality of second area designating options 47, and the others are the same. The plurality of second area designation options 47 are the first area designation options 4 in the basic area.
2 are respectively associated with a plurality of areas obtained by further subdividing the limited area. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the Kinki region is stored as the travel region at the time of step a5, and the second area designation option 47 is associated with each region in the Kinki region.

When the travel area is further limited, the operator selects at least one second area designation option 47 indicating the travel area or an area including the travel area.
The input option 43 is selected. When the travel area is not further limited, only the non-designation option 44 is selected. After the second area designation screen 46 is displayed, the terminal-side control device 1
In step a6, it is determined in step a6 whether or not designation for limiting a travel area has been made, that is, whether or not at least one second area designation option 47 and input option 43 have been selected. When these options 47 and 43 are selected, the process proceeds from step a6 to step a7. In step a7, the terminal-side control device 13 stores the travel area stored in step a5 in the selected second area designation option 47.
Is stored in place of the area indicated by, and then a third area designation screen 49 is displayed.

The third area specifying screen 49 is different from the first area specifying screen 41 in that a plurality of first area specifying options 4 are displayed.
2 is replaced with a plurality of third area designation options 49, and the others are the same. The plurality of third area designation options 49 are divided into a plurality of areas obtained by further subdividing the area limited by using the second area designation option 47.
Each is associated. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the Keihanshin area is stored as a travel area at the time of step a7, and the third area designation option 49 is respectively associated with an area within the Keihanshin area. The plurality of area codes described above are respectively associated with areas associated with the third area designation option 49.

To further limit the travel area, the operator selects at least one third area designation option 49 indicating the travel area, and further selects the input option 43. When the travel area is not further limited, only the non-designation option 44 is selected. Third region designation screen 49
After the display, the terminal-side control device 13 determines in step a8 whether or not designation for limiting the travel area has been made, that is, whether or not at least one third area designation option 49 and input option 43 have been selected. Is determined. When these options 49 and 43 are selected, the process proceeds from step a8 to step a9. In step a9, the terminal-side control device 1
In step 3, instead of the area stored at the time of step a7, the area indicated by the selected third area designation option 49 is determined and stored as a travel area. After the storage, the process proceeds from step a9 to step a10.

If it is determined in steps a4, a6 and a8 that there is no designation for limiting the travel area,
That is, when the non-designation option 44 is selected, the travel area stored at that time is determined as it is.
After the determination, steps a4, a6, a8 to step a10
Proceed to.

The terminal-side control device 13 executes step a10
Then, the condition input screen 52 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the terminal-side display device 17. The condition input screen 52 includes a travel time blank 53 for inputting a travel time, a departure place blank 54 for inputting a travel departure place, and an input option 57. The operator operates the terminal-side input device 11 to write the scheduled travel date or the start date of the scheduled travel period in the travel time space 53 as the travel time, and departs in the departure place space 54. Write the name of the place or the latitude and longitude of the place of departure. Note that both the start date and the end date of the scheduled travel period and the end date of the scheduled travel period may be written as the travel time. Further, the terminal device 3 further includes a current position detecting device, for example, a so-called GPS (Global Positioning System).
When a receiver is provided, the current position of the terminal device 3 may be detected, and the current position may be set as the departure point. Further, when the terminal device 3 is installed in the residence of the operator, the terminal device 3 may store the address of the residence in advance and use the address as the departure place. After inputting and selecting all the elements of the search condition, the operator selects the input option 57.

After displaying the condition input screen 52, the terminal-side control device 13 determines in step a11 whether the input of the search condition has been completed, that is, whether the input option 57 of the condition input screen 57 has been selected. Judge. Step a11
Is repeated until the input is completed. When the input option 57 is selected, the terminal-side control device 13 acquires the input travel time and departure place. in this way,
In steps a3 to a11, the search conditions include a travel area,
The time of travel and the place of departure are obtained.

The terminal-side control device 13 executes step a12
Then, the obtained search condition is transmitted from the terminal-side communication device 14 to the providing-side communication device 21. As a result, the providing-side control device 23 searches the travel information database 27 based on the search condition to obtain at least one piece of travel information to be provided. The detailed operation of the provider control device 23 will be described later.

After transmitting the search condition, in step a13, the terminal-side control device 13 determines whether or not the travel information to be provided has been transmitted from the providing-side communication device 21 to the terminal-side communication device 14. The determination in step a13 is repeated until the terminal communication device 14 receives the travel information. If the travel information to be provided is received, the process proceeds from step a13 to step a14. In step a14, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the terminal-side display device 17 to display a provision screen for presenting the travel information to be provided to the operator.

FIG. 7 shows a provision screen 61 displayed at the time of step a14 when the travel area is between Keihanshin. The provision screen 61 schematically includes a travel time 71,
A predetermined number of travel information 72 of the travel information to be provided, the name 73 of the area where the destination indicated by the travel information exists, and a plurality of options 75 to
80 respectively. The operator looks at the plurality of pieces of travel information shown on the displayed provision screen 61 and selects any one of the plurality of options 75 to 80. The order of provision of the travel information of all the provision targets is predetermined. Of all the displayed travel information, only one of the travel information is displayed as a so-called highlighted display in a display form different from the remaining travel information. In the example of FIG. 7, the travel information that is highlighted is indicated by a diagonal line that rises to the right. Further, in the example of FIG. 7, destination information, entertainment content information, available time zone,
And costs are shown.

Referring back to FIG. After displaying the provision screen, the terminal-side control device 13 determines whether or not the next candidate instruction option 75 among the plurality of options 75 to 80 has been selected in step a15. If selected, step a
The process proceeds from step 15 to step a16, and if not selected, proceeds from step a15 to step a17. In step a16, the terminal-side control device 13 provides one of the plurality of pieces of travel information to be provided displayed in the provided screen, which is provided one order later than any one of the currently highlighted travel information. And the display form of the currently highlighted travel information is returned to the same as the remaining travel information. After the highlighting, the process proceeds from step a16 to step a17.

The terminal-side control device 13 executes step a17.
Then, it is determined whether or not the previous candidate instruction option 76 among the plurality of options 75 to 80 is selected. If it is selected, the process proceeds from step a17 to step a18. If it is not selected, the process proceeds from step a17 to step a19.
Proceed to. In step a18, the terminal-side control device 13 provides the travel information one of which is earlier than any one of the currently highlighted travel information among the plurality of travel information to be provided displayed in the provision screen. And the display form of the currently highlighted travel information is returned to the same as the remaining travel information. After highlighting, step a
From 18 the process proceeds to step a19.

The terminal-side control device 13 executes step a19.
Then, it is determined whether or not the list instruction option 77 among the plurality of options 75 to 80 is selected. If it has been selected, the process proceeds from step a19 to step a20. If it has not been selected, the process proceeds from step a19 to step a21.
Proceed to. In step a20, the terminal-side control device 13 gives the providing device 4 a list instruction for giving an instruction to perform a process for list display. In response to the instruction, the provider-side control device 23 searches all the travel information in the travel information database 27 based on only the travel area in the search condition, and displays a list of all the travel information obtained as a result. The information is transmitted to the terminal device 3 as the target travel information. The terminal-side control device 13 causes the display device 17 to display a list screen indicating the given travel information to be displayed as a list. After displaying the list screen, the process proceeds from step a20 to step a21.

The terminal-side control device 13 executes step a21.
Then, it is determined whether or not the re-search instruction option 78 among the plurality of options 75 to 80 has been selected. The re-search instruction option 78 is selected when, for example, the operator wants to change the search condition because none of the travel information provided by the traveler is desired. If the re-search instruction option 78 is selected, step a21
Returns to step a3, and if not selected, proceeds from step a21 to step a22.

The terminal-side control device 13 executes step a22.
Then, it is determined whether or not the cancel instruction option 79 among the plurality of options 75 to 80 is selected. The cancel instruction option 79 is selected when the operator intends to terminate the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 2 halfway. If the cancel instruction option 79 has not been selected, the process proceeds from step a22 to step a23. If the cancel instruction option 79 has been selected, the process proceeds from step a22 to step a25 to end the processing of the flowchart.

The terminal-side control device 13 executes step a23.
Then, it is determined whether or not the adoption instruction option 80 among the plurality of options 75 to 80 has been selected. The adoption instruction option 80 is selected when the operator adopts any one of the plurality of pieces of travel information shown on the currently displayed providing screen. For example, when the adoption instruction option 80 is operated, the highlighted travel information is regarded as the travel information to be adopted. If the recruitment instruction option 80 is not selected, the process returns from step a23 to step a15.
From 23, the process proceeds to step a24.

The terminal-side control device 13 executes step a24.
Then, the area / information code of the adopted travel information is transmitted from the terminal side communication device 14 to the providing side communication device 21. Further, the terminal-side control device 13 causes the navigation device 12 to search for a route between the departure place and the destination indicated by the adopted travel information, and displays the search result on the terminal-side display device 17. Let it. The terminal-side control device 13
Instead of displaying the search result of the route search, the navigation device 12 displays a map related to the adopted travel information, for example, a map of a region including a destination related to the travel information, in a plurality of maps provided in the navigation device 12. And may be displayed on the terminal-side display device 17. In addition to these, the operator operates the terminal-side input device 1
1, the terminal-side control device 13 transmits the travel information displayed on the terminal-side display device 17 at the time of the instruction to the printer 18.
To print on recording paper. After the above processing ends, the processing of the flowchart is ended in step a25. The operator drafts a travel plan based on the travel information obtained by the above processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process related to the provision of travel information in the providing device 4. For example, when power is supplied to the information center system, that is, the providing device 4 in order to start up the providing device 4, the process proceeds from step b1 to step b2. This flowchart is forcibly terminated when the power is cut off, and the process is restarted from step b1 again when the power is supplied again.

In step b2, the provider-side control device 23 executes
The providing device 4 is initialized. In step b3, the providing-side control device 23 determines that the providing-side communication device 21
Then, it is determined whether or not the search condition transmitted from No. 4 has been received. The search condition is transmitted in step a12 of the flowchart of FIG. When the search condition is not received, the process proceeds from step b3 to step b6, and when the search condition is received, the process proceeds from step b3 to step b4. The providing-side control device 23 determines in step b4 that
The travel information database 27 is searched based on the search condition to obtain at least one piece of travel information to be provided. The specific search procedure is as follows.

The provider-side control device 23 first determines the travel information to be searched among all the travel information in the travel information database 27 based on the travel area in the search condition. Specifically, travel information that includes a region code indicating a region designated as a travel region in the region / information code is set as a search target. All region codes are number 3
Since it corresponds to a plurality of regions respectively associated with the region designation option 50, the first to third region designation screens 41,
If the non-designation option 44 is selected at the stage when the icons 46 and 49 are displayed, there is no area code directly corresponding to the travel area. In this case, of all the regions to which the region codes are associated, all the regions within the travel region are to be searched. As a result of these processes, the region / information code of the travel information to be searched is determined. If the travel area has not been entered, all travel information in the travel information database 27 is to be searched.

Next, the provider-side control device 23 sends the travel information database 27 based on the travel time in the search condition.
Search for. Specifically, the travel time and the duration of the event indicated by the duration information in the travel information of each search target are respectively compared, and travel information including the duration information indicating the duration including the travel time, that is, travel A region / information code of travel information including entertainment information indicating an entertainment held on the start date is selected. Further, when the travel time is defined by both a travel start date and a travel end date, an event held during a period from the travel start date to the travel end date out of all the search target travel information. Region / information code of the travel information including the entertainment information indicating is selected. When the travel time is not set in the processing of step a10 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, among the travel information of all the search targets, the travel information including the destination information indicating the destination where the entertainment is held is included. The region / information code is
All are selected regardless of the period of the event. The provider-side control device 23 reads the travel information corresponding to all the selected regions and information codes from the travel information database 27. The above is the search procedure of the travel information database 27 in step b4.

FIG. 8 is referred to again. Provider control device 23
Causes the providing-side communication device 21 to transmit the travel information of all the providing targets obtained in step b4 from the providing-side communication device 21 to the terminal-side communication device 14 in step b5. As a result, the terminal device 3 sequentially presents the travel information to be provided to the operator.

The providing-side control device 23 determines in step b6 that
It is determined whether or not the providing communication device 21 has received the list instruction transmitted from the terminal communication device 14. The list instruction has been transmitted in step a20 of the flowchart in FIG. If the list instruction is not received, the process proceeds from step b6 to step b9. If the list instruction is received, the process proceeds from step b6 to step b7.

The provider-side control device 23, in step b7,
The travel information database 27 is searched based only on the travel area within the search condition, and all travel information having a destination in the travel area is obtained. The provider-side control device 23 specifically selects all the area / information codes including the area code indicating the area designated as the travel area from all the area / information codes, and selects all the area / information codes. The travel information corresponding to each code is read from the travel information database 27. That is, all pieces of travel information having a destination in the travel area correspond to all pieces of travel information to be searched in the search processing in step b4. Provider control device 23
In step b8, all the travel information searched in step b7 is transmitted from the providing communication device 21 to the terminal communication device 14 as the travel information to be displayed in the list. As a result, the terminal device 3 displays the list screen.
After transmitting the travel information, the process proceeds from step b8 to step b9.

The provider-side control device 23 determines in step b9 that
It is determined whether new travel information or new entertainment information indicating an entertainment to be held at an existing destination has been obtained.
The new entertainment information or the new travel information is manually input by an administrator of the providing device 4 from, for example, the input device 24 of the providing device 4. If it is obtained, the process proceeds from Step b9 to Step b10. If it is not obtained, the process proceeds from Step b9 to Step b11.

When the new entertainment information is given, the providing-side control device 23 associates the new entertainment information with destination information indicating a destination where the entertainment is held in step b12, It is stored in the travel information database 27. Further, when the new travel information is given, in step b11, the providing-side control device 23 creates a region / information code for identifying the new travel information, and stores the new region / information code in the new travel information. The travel information is stored in the travel information database 27 in association with the travel information. As a result, when new travel information or entertainment information is obtained, the travel information and entertainment information are easily stored in the travel information database 27. After the travel information adding process is completed, step b1
From 0, the process proceeds to step b11.

The provider-side control device 23 executes step b11.
In the event, entertainment information indicating the event whose period has passed at the moment,
It is determined whether the information is stored in the travel information database 27. Specifically, the provider-side control device 23 includes the control device 2
3. The current date and time counted by the internal timer in 3 is acquired, and the end date of the holding period indicated by the holding period information in all the entertainment information in the travel information database 27 is compared with the current date and time, respectively. When at least one of the end dates of the holding period of all the entertainments is earlier than the current date and time, the process proceeds from step b11 to step b12, and the end date of the holding period of all the entertainments is the current date and time. If the date is later than the date and time, the process returns from step b11 to step b3.

The provider-side control device 23 determines in step b12
Then, the entertainment information indicating the entertainment whose end date of the holding period is earlier than the current date and time is deleted from the travel information database 27. As a result, the travel information database 27 always stores entertainment information indicating an entertainment whose end date of the holding period is in the future with respect to the current date and time, that is, only the entertainment information of the currently held entertainment and the entertainment to be held in the future. However, the entertainment information indicating the already completed entertainment is not stored. After the end of the entertainment information erasing process, the process returns from step b12 to step b3. Thereafter, the processing of steps b3 to b12 is repeated. The above is the description of the specific operation of the providing device 4.

As described above, the provider control device 23
In steps b4 and b5, travel information relating only to destinations within the travel area where entertainment is available during the travel time is extracted and supplied to the terminal device 4. Therefore, the provider-side control device 23 preferentially provides the operator with the travel information on the destination where the event whose holding period is limited is performed among the travel information stored in the travel information database 27. As a result, it becomes difficult for the operator to provide travel information on the destination where the event is performed,
Is prevented. Therefore, the travel planning assistance device 1 outputs travel information indicating a destination that meets travel conditions and a traveler's request.
The present invention can be provided for a long period of time while saving the operator's operation for searching for travel information.

When the list display is instructed, the providing-side control device 23 determines in step b7, b8 if the destination is within the travel area, whether or not an event is being held at the destination. Regardless, the travel information relating to the destination is extracted and supplied to the terminal device 4. Therefore, when the travel information database 27 includes travel information on a destination where no event is held, that is, travel information on a permanently available destination, the travel information is not extracted by the search processing in step b4. It is extracted in the search processing of b7. As a result, when the operator wants the travel information on the permanently available destination, the providing device 4 can provide the travel information to the operator by the search processing for list display in step b7. .

The storage area of the travel information database 27 is
As described above, an area for storing destination information,
It is divided into a storage area for storing entertainment information. As a result, the time required for the search can be reduced when the travel information database 27 is referred to only by referring to the destination information, as compared with the case where the search of the travel information database 27 is performed by referring to the entire travel information. Can be.

The search condition may further include a departure time from the departure place in addition to the departure place, the travel area and the travel time. In this case, the provider-side control device 23
In step b4, in addition to the above-described processing, the departure time and the departure place are further considered, and among the plurality of pieces of travel information obtained by the search processing based on the travel area and travel time, the traveler Only travel information including entertainment information indicating an available entertainment at the time of arrival at the ground is further extracted.

Whether or not the entertainment indicated by the entertainment information in any one of the plurality of pieces of travel information is available at the arrival time is determined by the following procedure. First, a distance between the destination indicated by the destination information in the arbitrary one piece of travel information and the departure point is calculated, and then, an arrival time is calculated based on the distance and the departure time. The arrival time is compared with the available time zone of the entertainment indicated by the usage time zone information in the travel information. If the arrival time is within the available time zone, the entertainment is determined to be available.If the arrival time is outside the available time zone, the entertainment is difficult to use. Is determined.

By the above processing, only the travel information including the destination information of the destination where the available entertainment is held when the traveler arrives at the destination is presented to the operator. Accordingly, the travel planning assistance device 1 sets the use time zone at the time of arrival at the destination because the time required for traveling from the departure place to the destination is long even for an event held on the day of travel. It is possible to prevent the event from being unavailable due to exceeding the event.

Steps b4 and b in the flowchart of FIG.
7, the provider-side control device 23 further considers the stay period in the travel information, and selects the terminal device 3 from the travel information corresponding to all the searched regions / information codes.
The travel information to be transmitted to the user may be selected. For example, the providing-side control device 23 further performs the travel based on the travel time and the departure place in the search condition and the stay time and the position information in the travel information corresponding to all the searched regions and information codes. The sum of the time required for the travel between the destination and the departure point indicated by the information and the stay time at the destination is determined, and among the travel information corresponding to all the regions and information codes, the sum is the travel time. Only the information that fits within the above may be selected as the travel information to be searched.

In the above description, the providing device 4 gives at least one piece of travel information selected according to the search condition to the terminal device 3 as it is. The plan may be provided to the terminal device 3.
Further, the providing device 4 may provide at least the destination information in the travel information to the terminal device 3 and omit other elements in the travel information. Further, the search condition includes a travel region and a travel time in addition to the classification period. However, the search condition only needs to include at least the classification period, and the travel region and the travel time may be omitted. When the travel region and the travel time are omitted, the provider-side control device 23 performs a search process of travel information, omitting the process related to the omitted condition.

[0084]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the travel planning assistance device stores a plurality of pieces of destination information indicating a destination and a plurality of pieces of period information indicating a usable period of the destination. It includes a search storage unit that stores the information in association with each other. The operator inputs a scheduled travel time as a search condition of the storage means for search in the travel planning auxiliary device. The destination information search means in the travel plan assisting device selects destination information to be provided to the operator from all the destination information according to the scheduled time of the trip. As a result, the destination information most suitable for the traveler is always easily output according to the use status of the destination at the scheduled time of the travel.

According to the second invention, the usable period of the destination is a period during which an event held at the destination is held. As a result, the destination information most suitable for the traveler is always easily output according to the holding situation of the entertainment at the scheduled time of the travel. Still further, according to the third invention, the travel plan assistance device includes:
The period information indicating the usable period whose end date and time exceeds the current date and time is deleted. As a result, the number of period information stored in the destination information storage means is minimized.

[0086] According to the fourth invention, the travel planning assistance device stores a small area having a destination indicated by the destination information. Further, the travel plan assisting device should allow the operator to input a small area to be traveled as one of the search conditions, and provide the operator with destination information indicating destinations within the small area. Select destination information. As a result, the labor of the operator when making a travel plan to the small area based on the destination information is simplified. Furthermore, according to the fifth invention, the travel planning assistance device is configured to further store the stay time at a destination indicated by each piece of destination information. Therefore, the travel planning assistance device can search for the destination information to be output, further considering the stay time.

According to the sixth invention, the storage area of the destination information storage means is divided into an area for storing only the destination information and an area for storing only the period information. As a result, the time required to search only all the destination information is reduced. Still further, according to the seventh invention, the travel planning assistance device further searches for a route to the destination indicated by the provided destination information and provides the route to the operator. Therefore, the labor of the operator when making a travel plan is further simplified.

According to the eighth and ninth aspects of the present invention, a travel information providing apparatus including the search storage means and the travel information search means, and travel information including the designation means for inputting the scheduled time of the travel The terminal device for provision is combined with the terminal device for provision to constitute the travel planning assistance device of the first invention. Therefore, the travel information providing terminal device can cause the operator to input the scheduled time of the travel in order for the destination information search means to search the search storage means.
Further, the travel information providing device can select destination information indicating destinations available during the scheduled period according to the scheduled time of the travel provided from the travel information providing terminal device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a travel planning assistance device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a terminal device 3 in the travel planning assistance device 1;
It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process regarding input of the search condition of travel information, and presentation of travel information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first area designation screen 41 displayed on the terminal-side display device 17 in the terminal device 3 for inputting a search condition of travel information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second area designation screen displayed on the terminal side display device 17 for inputting the search condition.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third area designation screen 49 displayed on the terminal-side display device 17 for inputting the search condition.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a condition input screen 52 displayed on the terminal-side display device 17 for inputting the search condition.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a travel information providing screen 61 displayed on the terminal-side display device 17 for providing the travel information.

FIG. 8 shows the provision device 4 in the travel planning assistance device 1;
It is a flowchart which shows the process regarding search of travel information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 travel planning assistance device 3 terminal device 4 providing device 11 terminal-side input device 13 terminal-side control device 14 terminal-side communication device 17 terminal-side display device 21 providing-side communication device 23 providing-side control device 27 travel information database

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Yasuo Kawabata 1-2-28 Goshodori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Ten Limited (72) Inventor Tatsuo Ito 1-chome, Goshodori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture No. 28 No. 28 F-term in Fujitsu Ten Limited (reference) 5B049 CC02 DD01 EE05 FF01

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of destination information indicating a plurality of predetermined destinations each having a limited available period,
Destination information storage means for storing a plurality of period information indicating the available periods of the plurality of destinations in association with each other; scheduled time input means for inputting a scheduled travel time; and the destination information. Destination information searching means for searching information in the storage means and extracting destination information associated with period information indicating an available period including the input scheduled travel time; and extracting the extracted destination information. And a destination information output means for outputting. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the destination information storage means includes:
Entertainment information indicating an event held at the two destinations is further stored in association with the destination information indicating the destination, wherein the available period of the destination is a period during which the event is held. The travel planning assistance device according to claim 1, wherein 3. A current date and time measuring unit for measuring a current date and time, and a period information erasing unit for erasing period information indicating a period before the measured current date and time from the destination information storage unit. The travel planning assistance device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. An area input means for inputting at least one area to be traveled out of a plurality of predetermined areas, wherein the destination information storage means includes area information indicating an area including each of the destinations. Is further stored in association with the respective destination information indicating the respective destinations. The destination information search unit is configured to output the destination information among the plurality of destination information stored in the destination information storage unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: selecting destination information associated with the input area information indicating the area, and searching for the selected destination information and period information associated with the destination information. Travel planning aids. 5. The destination information storage unit associates stay time information indicating a stay time expected to stay at each of the destinations with destination information indicating each of the destinations, and further includes: The travel plan assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the information is stored. 6. The destination information storage means includes: a plurality of destination storage areas each storing the plurality of destination information; and a plurality of period storages respectively associated with the plurality of destination storage areas. And the period information associated with each of the destination information is stored in a period storage area associated with the destination storage area for storing the destination information. The travel planning assistance device according to claim 1. 7. The apparatus further includes a route search unit for searching for a route, wherein the destination information storage unit stores, in each of the destination information, position information indicating a position of a destination indicated by each of the destination information, The route search means stores the route to the destination based on the position of the destination indicated by the position information associated with the destination information output from the destination information output means. The travel planning assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the search is performed. 8. A travel information providing terminal device comprising: a scheduled time input means for inputting a scheduled travel time; and destination information output means capable of outputting a plurality of destination information indicating a plurality of predetermined destinations, respectively. And a travel information providing device that is used in combination with a scheduled time of the trip input by the scheduled time input means, wherein the plurality of destination information and the available periods of the plurality of destinations are respectively set. A plurality of period information to be shown, destination information storage means for storing in association with each other, in response to the scheduled time from the scheduled time input means, to search for information in the destination information storage means,
A destination information search unit for extracting destination information associated with period information indicating an available period including the scheduled time, and a purpose of giving the extracted destination information to the destination information output unit and outputting the destination information A travel information providing device, comprising: a geographic information supply unit. 9. A destination information storage means for storing a plurality of destination information indicating a plurality of predetermined destinations and a plurality of period information respectively indicating available periods of the plurality of destinations in association with each other. A travel information providing terminal device used in combination with a travel information providing device including destination information searching means for searching for destination information based on a scheduled travel time, and inputting the scheduled travel time. Scheduled time input means; classification period supply means for giving the input scheduled travel time to the destination information search means in order to cause the destination information search means to search for destination information; And destination information output means for outputting the destination information searched by the means.