JP2001021377A - Automobile navigation system and recording medium for navigation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automobile navigation system in which its own vehicle can be guided based on course information provided externally. SOLUTION: When course information is received externally through processes of setting start and goal (P1), determining the current position (P2), and searching course (P3), the navigation system aquires course information provided externally (P4) and converts the course data into data for searching its own course with reference to a course conversion table prestored in a CD- ROM, calculates a course based on the converted data and stores it in a memory (P5). When its own vehicle approaches a specified point on the course, the navigation system guides the vehicle (P6) by screen display (or voice output) based on the course calculated in the process P5.

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 technology for utilizing route information given from outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An on-vehicle navigation device displays a route (guidance route) from a current position of a vehicle to a destination on a map and displays it on a screen to assist a driver in driving. As a route guidance method for navigation devices, search and calculate guidance routes based on a database created by quantifying roads, place names, buildings, etc. on the map, and use the obtained guidance routes, gyroscopes and vehicle speed pulses. There is a well-known method of displaying the position of the vehicle on a screen while performing map matching with the position of the vehicle estimated from the self-contained navigation and the radio navigation using a GPS signal, and performing route guidance. In this case, a guidance method such as guiding the vehicle by voice when the vehicle approaches an intersection on a guidance route or an entrance of a highway, or displaying an arrow in a traveling direction of the intersection on a screen is adopted. .

[0003] In addition, it receives route information given from outside such as VICS (trademark of traffic information service) data, displays roads with traffic regulation and congestion on a screen together with a map, and displays destination information as external information. In some cases, when a recommended route is received, the recommended road is changed in color and displayed together with a map.

[0004]

However, since there is no guidance information in the above-mentioned route information given from the outside, the conventional guidance (for example, an arrow is displayed at an intersection or an exit of an expressway, or a direction is spoken by voice). Guidance, such as guiding a person).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a navigation device capable of guiding a vehicle based on route information given from outside and a recording medium for navigation used in the navigation device. Aim.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a navigation device according to a first aspect of the present invention displays a route from a current position of a vehicle to a destination on a map, and displays the route to assist driving. In the device, from outside the vehicle,
Route information obtaining means for obtaining route information toward a destination; route data converting means for converting the route information obtained by the route information obtaining means into its own route search data;
Route setting means for setting a route based on the route search data converted by the route data converting means, and route guidance means for notifying guidance information at a predetermined point on the route based on the route set by the route setting means And characterized in that:

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first aspect, the route data converting means extracts only a route near the own vehicle position in the route information and converts the extracted route into its own route search data. It is characterized by the following.

According to a third aspect, in the navigation device according to the first or second aspect, the route information is VICS.
It is characterized by link information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first or second aspect, the route data converting means includes a route search individually associated with a plurality of minimum data constituting the route represented by the route information. It is characterized in that it includes a conversion data correspondence unit composed of conversion data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the first or second aspect, the route setting means searches for a route between a plurality of minimum data constituting a route represented by the route information, and selects one of the minimum data. When one of the sections is discontinuous, the section is supplemented with its own path to combine the sections.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the navigation device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the route data converting means includes, in the route information, a route next to the route including the own vehicle position, and It is characterized in that the data is converted into route search data, and the own route search data obtained by converting the route including the own vehicle position is deleted.

A navigation recording medium according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a navigation recording medium which displays a route from a current position of a vehicle to a destination on a map and displays the route, and which can be read by a navigation device for assisting driving. A recording medium, comprising: a route information recording area in which route information provided from outside the vehicle is recorded; and an own route search data recording area in which at least one own route search data associated with the route information is recorded. It is characterized by including a path conversion file composed of a plurality of sets.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Overview] NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) FM network (hereinafter referred to as VICS center)
Prepare table data in which path data provided from outside such as provided VICS data and own route search data are associated with each other, and when path data provided from outside is received, external table data is received using table data. Is converted to own route search data, and guidance display or voice guidance is performed.

[Configuration Example of Navigation Apparatus] FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a navigation device to which a route guidance method according to the present invention can be applied. The navigation device 100 includes an absolute position / direction detection unit 1, a relative direction detection unit 2, a vehicle speed detection unit 3, a control unit. 4, memories 5 to 8, user interface unit 9, display unit 10, input unit 11,
CD-ROM control unit 12 and FM multiplex reception and processing unit 1
3 is provided. Further, an audio output device 15 may be provided.

The absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1 has an antenna 1a, receives a radio wave from a GPS (Global Positioning System) with the antenna 1a, detects an absolute position (absolute coordinate) and an azimuth, and sends it to the control unit 4. .

The relative azimuth detecting unit 2 includes an azimuth detecting device such as a gyro, and sends the detected azimuth to the control unit 4. Further, the vehicle speed detection unit 3 obtains the vehicle side from the rotation pulse obtained as the vehicle travels and sends it to the control unit 4. These detected values (azimuth and speed) are used by the control unit 4 to correct the absolute position and direction obtained from the GPS and determine the current position of the own vehicle.

The control unit 4 has a microprocessor configuration including a CPU, a timer, and a CPU peripheral circuit.
U is connected to each of the above-described circuits and the like via a bus line, and the navigation device 1 is controlled by a navigation control program stored in a memory (program storage ROM) 5.
Control of the entire navigation apparatus 100 in response to an input signal from the input unit 10 (for example, execution control of map matching, display control of a map and a route, etc., based on the present invention). Execution control of route guidance, etc.).

The memory 5 is a program storage ROM. The program storage ROM 5 is a PROM or FROM.
(Flash ROM) or the like is used to store a control program, a map matching program, a display program for maps and routes, a route search program, a route guidance program of the present invention, and the like. Also, the program storage R
Icons, menus, graphic patterns, and constants to be displayed on the display unit 10 can be stored in the OM.

The memory 6 is composed of a DRAM (Dynamic RAM). Under the control of the control unit 4, a required map among the maps stored in the CD-ROM via the CD-ROM control unit 12 and a wide area adjacent to the required map. Import a map. The memory 7 is composed of a high-speed memory such as an SRAM (Static RAM). When the navigation device 100 is started, the memory 7 loads a control program from a program storage ROM of the control unit 4 and also executes a map matching program and a map according to a control sequence of the control program. A display program for route and the like, a route search program and the like are fetched at appropriate times, and are used for executing navigation processes such as map matching process and route search process. The memory 8 is a display memory and is composed of a VRAM. A map for one screen extracted from the DRAM 6 under the control of the control unit 4, a guidance route searched by a route search, and a bit map such as a name and a menu. Keep the image.

The user interface unit 9 includes a display unit 10
And an interface connecting the input unit 11 and the control unit 4. The display unit 10 displays a map, a guideway, a name, a menu, and the like stored in the display memory 8.

The input unit 11 is a user's input device for setting a departure place and a destination, selecting a map, and other necessary information input. The input unit 11 includes keys and buttons for input or keys for cursor movement and point (instruction). I have.

The CD-ROM control unit 12 reads necessary information from a CD-ROM storing a database constructed so as to efficiently extract information for navigation. Further, in the embodiment, the database constructed so as to efficiently retrieve the information for navigation is a CD-RO.
Although stored in M, the present invention is not limited to this, and any recording medium that has a large capacity and is compact and that can be easily attached to and detached from the navigation device body by the user may be used.

The FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13 includes the antenna 1
3a, receives the FM multiplex wave by the antenna 13a, detects own vehicle position information on a highway or the like, and sends it to the control unit 4. The detected value is used by the control unit 4 to correct the absolute position and direction obtained from the GPS and determine the own vehicle position.

[Navigation Database] In this embodiment, the navigation database is a map display database constructed and stored so as to easily retrieve road map information, a route search database stored so as to easily retrieve route information, and the like ( Both may have known structures)
And a path conversion table file based on the present invention on a CD-
It is stored in ROM.

The map display database (not shown) includes map data (graphic information such as roads, buildings, terrain and the like and characters and symbols meaning them) and nodes (intersection points,
It includes link information (having directionality) for associating nodes (corners, start and end) with nodes, and character information representing place names and the like. In the embodiment, the map display database is
A map file in which image information such as roads, buildings, and terrain are registered in advance, a link information file in which nodes on roads and link information relating nodes are registered in advance, and a map file in which character codes representing place names and the like are registered , And a name file registered in advance in association with the route search file.

The route search database (not shown) includes information routes, link information for associating main nodes with maps, and names of destination points. In the embodiment, the route search database has a route search in which link information for associating a node with a map is registered in advance, and a name file in which destination (or departure point) names are registered in association with a map file and a route file.

[Route Guidance Process] FIG. 2 is a process chart showing a basic route guidance process according to the present invention. Process P1: (Setting of Departure Point and Destination) When the user activates the navigation device 100, a setting screen (not shown) of the destination and departure point is displayed on the screen of the display unit 10. Operate the operation keys (buttons) of the input unit 11 to select (set) the starting point and destination.
Then, the corresponding input signal (data) is sent to the control unit 4.

Process P2: (Determination of current position) The control unit 4 includes an absolute position and direction search unit 1, a relative direction detection unit 2, a vehicle speed detection unit 3, position information and direction information obtained by the FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13. Based on the current position of the vehicle (for example,
Determined by the map matching process) and stores the result in the memory 6
(Remember).

Process P3: (Route Searching Process) The controller 4 retrieves the starting point and the destination point set in the process P1 from the memory 6 and retrieves the route searching algorithm (in the embodiment, the route from both directions by the above-mentioned Dijkstra method). Search process) to obtain an optimal route.

Process P4: (Judgment of presence / absence of acquisition of route data from outside) The control unit 4 checks whether or not route data from the outside has been acquired (received / extracted) by the FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13 and acquired. If not, the process transitions to process P5. If not acquired, the process transitions to process P8.

Process P5: (Route Calculation Based on Externally Provided Route Data) When the control unit 4 acquires the route data supplied from the outside, the control unit 4 converts the route data using a route conversion table file as shown in FIG. The data is converted to own route search data, a route is calculated based on the converted own route search data, and the route is stored in the memory 6. Process P6: (Guidance based on route information given from outside) When the own vehicle approaches a predetermined point on the route, the control unit 4 displays guidance on a screen based on the route calculated in Process P5 (or voice output). Induction).

Process P7: (Guidance data end determination) The control unit 4 repeats the guidance of the process P6 until the route calculated in the process P5 ends, and
When the route calculated in 5 is completed, the process returns to P2 and the processes from P2 to P4 are executed.

Process P8: (guidance of own route) The control unit 4 displays on the screen of the display unit 10 a map including a departure place and / or a destination and an optimal route connecting the departure place and the destination obtained in the above step P3. In addition to displaying the nodes, the current position of the car and the destination (guide point) are discriminatively displayed so that the user can easily understand them, and guidance display such as intersections (or guidance by voice output) is performed together.

[Route Conversion Table File] In the present invention, a table of own route search data relating to the minimum data (link) of a route given from the outside is created, and a route conversion table file is constructed. It is stored in an external storage device (CD-ROM in this embodiment) together with a database, a route search database, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the route conversion table file. The route conversion data file 30 is stored in a link column 31 for storing the minimum data (link) of the route given from the outside, and a link column 31. Number column 32 for storing the number of own route search data relating to the linked link, and own route search data for storing the number (i (1 ≦ i ≦ n)) of own route search data stored in the number column 32 It is composed of a route conversion table data column 35 composed of a plurality of sets of data storage columns 33-1, 33-2,..., 33-n. In addition, as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 4, the storage order of the own route search data is the own route search link A connected from the start point 41 to the end point 42 of the route 40 provided from the outside.
B, B → C, C → D (intersections A, B,
The numbers in parentheses after C and D indicate node numbers).

In the example of FIG. 3, the own route search data storage column 33 is fixed so as to store a maximum of n pieces of route search data, but the own route search data storage column 33 is stored in the number column 32. The data may be variable so as to store the same number of own route search data as the specified number (that is, the data configuration of the route conversion table file 30 is fixed length in the embodiment, but may be variable length).

<Embodiment 1> (a) Route provided from outside As a route provided from outside, in the embodiment, VICS data transmitted / provided from an FM network (hereinafter referred to as a VICS center) of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). Route information (hereinafter, VICS link information). VI
The CS link information is open to the public and includes a secondary mesh, a division within the secondary mesh, and a link number within the secondary mesh. The secondary mesh is classified into highways, metropolitan expressways, toll roads, general roads, and the like, and includes link numbers (hereinafter, VICS) in the secondary mesh.
(Link) is a unique number in the secondary mesh, and the arrangement of the VICS links means “a path provided from outside”. However, there is no guarantee that the arrangement of VICS links is continuous. That is, as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 5, the X-1st and Xth, X + 1th and X + 2th VIs
In some cases, the CS link is continuous but the X-th VICS link and the X + 1-th VICS link are not continuous (FIG. 9).

(B) Route Search Data The route search data expresses intersections of roads as nodes and links between the nodes as links. Each node has a unique number. Further, a link represents a connection from a certain node to a certain node, and is expressed by a representation method such as node A → node B, or a node that can advance from a certain node (one of adjacent nodes) (in this case, FIG. As shown in the example, the link is represented by a node number and an advanced node number (for example, the node number 115, the advanced node number 11
7, node number 117, advanced node number 118,.
・).

(C) Correspondence between VICS link and own route search data FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams of the correspondence between the VICS link and the own route search data. In FIG. 6, the VICS link number " If “0x86885001” is from intersection A to intersection C, the own route search data for this VICS link includes a link 66 from the node at intersection A to a node at intersection B, and a node 66 at intersection B to intersection C.
Are the two links of the link 67 toward the node. V
To make the correspondence between the ICS link and the route search data easier, V
A link (own route search data) equal to or less than the ICS link is created. For example, even when the VICS link 70 is interrupted halfway as in the example of FIG. 7, nodes are always provided at the start point 71 and the end point 72 of the VICS link, and a link (own route search data) is created. As described above, it is possible to create a route conversion table in which VICS links are associated with own route search data from the published VICS information.

(C) Configuration of Route Guiding Unit FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of the route guiding unit that executes a route guiding operation based on VICS information. In the embodiment, the route guiding unit 80 is configured by a program module. Then, the execution is controlled by the CPU of the control unit 4 and the operations shown in processes P4 to P7 in FIG. 2 are executed. In FIG. 8, the route guidance unit 80 includes a route conversion table file 30, a VICS data obtaining unit 81 that receives VICS information and obtains VICS data (VICS link) as shown in FIG. The VICS data conversion means 82 converts the received VICS link into own route search data based on the data 30 and holds the VICS link in the memory 6 (DRAM), and calculates a route based on the data converted self route search data. Route setting means 83 and route guidance means 84 for performing route guidance by screen display (or voice output) after the vehicle reaches a predetermined point on the route based on the route set. . Also, the route setting means 8
3 is a route search means 831 for performing a route search based on own route search data obtained by converting a plurality of VICS links (minimum route data) as shown in FIG.
When links are not continuous, the discontinuous sections are stored in a database for map display and a database for route search (hereinafter, referred to as a database).
A path interpolating means 832 for interpolating based on the path search data in the database 300) and interpolating and connecting the VICS links.

(D) Route Searching Operation at the Time of VICS Data Acquisition The route searching operation by the route guidance means 80 will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is an example of the VICS link displayed on the secondary mesh, and the secondary mesh 90 is shown.
If the current position of the car is at Node B, and if B → A → D → F → I → K → N → O is obtained as the shortest distance in the normal route search calculation, the work between nodes A → B Road closed,
VI received at point B due to traffic congestion between nodes N → O
5 VICS as minimum data of route from CS data
An example in which links V1-1 to V1-5 are acquired is shown (in FIG. 9, a dotted arrow indicates a VICS link).

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the path conversion table data using the VICS link of FIG. 9 as an example. The VICS links V1-1 to V1 obtained using the path conversion table file as shown in FIG. This is the display of own route search data corresponding to -5. In FIG. 9, VICS
The link V1-1 is composed of two own route search data B → C, C
VICS link V1-2 is composed of one own route search data E → D, VICS link V1-3 is composed of two own route search data D → F, F → I, It is shown that the VICS link V1-4 is composed of two own route search data K → L, L → M, and the VICS link V1-5 is composed of one own route search data M → O. I have. In this example, VIC
The S links V1-3 and V1-4 are not continuous.

(E) Operation example FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the navigation device 100 based on the route guidance means 80 at the time of receiving VICS data, and processes P4 and P5 after the process P3 (route search process) in FIG. 11 shows a detailed operation example of the portion corresponding to (the operations of steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 11 correspond to the process P4, the operations of steps S3 to S14 correspond to the process P5, and the operations of steps S3 to S5 correspond to the VICS.
This corresponds to the operation of the data conversion means 72, and corresponds to steps S6 to S
The operation 14 corresponds to the operation of the route setting means 73.

Step S1: (VICS Data Acquisition Judgment) The control unit 4 controls the FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13
It is checked whether or not the S data has been acquired (received / extracted). If the S data has been acquired, the process goes to S2. If not, the process goes to P8 (FIG. 2).

Step S2: (Acquisition of VICS link) The control unit 4 acquires the acquired VICS data (VICS link number), stores it in the memory 6 (DRAM), sets the counter value i to "1", and transits to S3. (In the example of FIG. 9, five VICS links V1-1 to V1-5 are acquired).

Step S3: (Conversion of VICS link (1)) The control unit 4 refers to (searches for) a path conversion table file as shown in FIG. 3 and obtains the VI acquired in step S2.
The i-th VICS link among the CS links is converted into the own route search data (if i = 1 in the example of FIG. 9, the VICS link to be converted is V1-1, which is two own route search data B → C, C → E).

Step S4: (Conversion of VICS link (2)) Next, the control unit 4 similarly searches the i + 1-th VICS link among the VICS links acquired in step S2 by referring to the path conversion table file. (I = 1 in the example of FIG. 9 and the conversion target VI
The CS link becomes V1-2, which is converted into one own route search data E → D).

Step S5 (extraction of link L1) The control unit 4 extracts the self-route search data (link L1) of the last link from the self-route search data acquired by the conversion in step S3. In this case, if the own route search data acquired by the conversion is one, the link L1 = the acquired own route search data (in the example of FIGS. 9 and 10, 2 is acquired in step S3). C → E of the two own route search data B → C and C → E is link L
1).

Step S6 (extraction of link L2) The control unit 4 extracts own route search data (link L2) of the last link from the own route search data acquired by the conversion in step S4. In this case, when the own route search data acquired by the conversion is one, the link L2 = the acquired own route search data (in the example of FIGS. 9 and 10, the link L1 = 1 acquired in step S4). One self-route search data E → D is extracted as the link L2).

Step S7: (Link L1 and link L2
The control unit 4 performs a route search using the link L1 extracted in step S5 as a departure point link and the link L2 extracted in step S6 as a destination link. As a result, it is possible to obtain a route composed of the own link (own route search data) closest to the i-th VICS link and the (i + 1) -th VICS link.

Step S8: (Continuation of VICS link /
If the VICS link corresponding to the link L1 and the VICS link corresponding to the link L2 are continuous according to the route search in step S7, the route with the minimum cost is the route in which the link L1 and the link L2 are continuous. Becomes Accordingly, when the link L1 and the link L2 are not continuous, the VICS link corresponding to the link L1 and the VICS link corresponding to the link L2
It can be seen that the S link is discontinuous (i = 1 in the example of FIG. 9).
In the case of VICS link V1-1 and VICS link V
If the section 1-2 is continuous, the route having the minimum cost is C → E and E → D shown in FIG. 10 unless there is traffic regulation or the like). As a result, when the continuity of the VICS link is detected, the control unit 4 shifts to step S9, and when the continuity is not detected, shifts to the path interpolation process of step S11.

Step S9: (Determination of presence / absence of a duplicate link) If the counter value i becomes 2 or more after steps S3 to S13 have been completed, the i-th VIC in step S7
When trying to combine the results of the route search of the S link and the (i + 1) th VICS link (that is, the route search of the link L1 and the link L2), one of the i-th or (i + 1) -th own route search data is used. If there is only one, the own route search data will be duplicated when each VICS link is combined (hereinafter, such a route is referred to as a duplicate link). Therefore, the control unit 4 determines whether there is a duplicate link and determines whether there is a duplicate link. To step S10, otherwise to step S11.

For example, in the example shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, steps S3 to S13 make a round, and the VICS link V1-3 is converted in step S4 to convert the two own route converted data D →
F, F → I are acquired, and the VICS link V is obtained in step S5.
The link L1 (E → D) is extracted from 1-2, and step S
6. From VICS link V1-3, link L2 (D → F)
Is extracted, and the route of the VICS links V1-2 and V1-3 obtained when the route search is performed in step S7 is E →
D, D → F, and VIC obtained in the first route search
When the paths C → E and E → D of the S links V1-1 and V1-2 are combined, the paths E → D overlap, and an overlapping link occurs.

Step S10: (Exclusion of Duplicate Link) When the control unit 4 detects the existence of the duplicate link in step S9, the control unit 4 excludes the duplicate link and shifts to step S12.

Step S11: (Route Interpolation Processing) If the discontinuity between the i-th VICS link and the (i + 1) -th VICS link is detected in step S8,
By referring to (searching for) the database 300, a route search is performed with the end point node of the link L1 as the starting point and the starting node of the link L2 as the destination point, and the own path connecting the i-th VICS link and the (i + 1) -th VICS link. To step S12. For example, in the examples of FIGS. 9 and 10, the VICS links V1-3 and V1-4 are discontinuous, but the starting point is the end node I of the link L1 (F → I), and the link L2 (K → L) A route search is performed using the departure node K as a destination point to obtain an interpolation route (I → K).

Step S12: (Coupling and Holding of Routes) The control unit 4 checks each VI obtained in steps S10 and S11.
The paths connecting the CS links are sequentially connected and held (stored) in the memory 6. As a result, even if there is a discontinuous section, each VI
A path connecting the CS link can be obtained.

Step S13: (Determining End of Acquired VICS Data) The control unit 4 determines from the value i of the counter whether or not the processing of steps S3 to S12 has been completed for the j VICS data acquired in S2. If> j-1, the process transits to the process P6 in FIG. 2 to perform guidance by guidance display (or voice output). If i ≦ j−1, 1 is added to the counter, and the routine goes to Step S4.

By repeating the above-described steps S4 to S13, the externally provided route (VICS links V1-1 to V1-5 in the example of FIGS. 9 and 10) is changed to its own link (own route search data B → C, C → E, E → D, D →
F, F → I, I → K, K → L, L → M, M → O). In this case, the route provided from the outside is continuous, and if the vehicle can pass along the route, the vehicle can be guided along the route provided from the outside.
In addition, routes given from outside correspond to V1-3 and V1 in FIG.
Even in the case of discontinuity such as -4, it is possible to create a route supplementing the section in step S11. That is,
According to the present invention, when data provided from the outside is received, the data can be converted into data for own route search and a guidance route can be created. Guidance can be provided.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, when a route provided from the outside is received, it is fetched into a memory, and is converted at one time into own route search data using a own route conversion table file. FIG. 11: Step S1,
S2) As the number of routes provided from the outside increases, if all of them are converted into the own route search data at once, it takes too much processing time, or the memory capacity for holding (temporary storage) the own route search data is increased. In such a case, it is necessary to predict the maximum capacity and secure an area, which may reduce the use efficiency of the memory. Therefore, in this embodiment, such inconvenience is prevented, and an external route is received. At this time, a path conversion method that enables conversion to the own path search data with a high-speed and small-capacity memory will be described using VICS data (VICS link) as an example of a path provided from the outside similarly to the first embodiment. I do.

(A) Configuration of Route Guidance Unit FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the route guidance unit 80 '. The route guidance unit 80' is connected to the route guidance unit 80 shown in FIG. , A data extraction unit 85 for converting only the VICS link necessary for searching for the current guidance route into the own route search data is added.

(I) Route creation and guidance operation at the time of acquiring VICS data The route guidance operation by the route guidance means 80 will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a method for speeding up the path conversion process, and FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the navigation device at the time of receiving VICS data to which the method is applied.

First, the V acquired in step S2 of FIG.
The ICS link is a VICS link i as shown in FIG.
In the case of VICS link i + 1, VICS link i + 2,... Immediately after receiving VICS data, VICS link i, VICS as shown in steps S3 and S4 in FIG.
The own path conversion data is obtained for i + 1, and step S
5, after the extraction operation of the links L1 and L2 in S6, the VICS link i and the VICS link i + 1 are obtained in step S6.
A route search is performed between steps S8 to S10 (or steps S8 to S11), and in step S12, the search route of VICS link i and VICS link i + 1 is stored in memory 6 (including the interpolation section if discontinuous). After the recording, the operation of the following steps S13 'to 16' is executed, and when the traveling section is a VICS link (for example, link i), the route of the link (i) is deleted from the memory and the next VICS link is deleted. (I + 1) and the own route search data of the next VICS link are acquired, and the route search can be performed. Step S14 'in the following steps
S16 'correspond to the operation of the VICS data 85.

Step S13 ': (Route Guidance Based on VICS Link) The control unit 4 takes out the route held (stored) in the memory 6 and performs route guidance. In this case, the road to be guided is a route corresponding to the currently running VICS link and the next VICS link.
The route corresponds to the ICS link.

Step S14 ': (Running position and VICS
The control unit 4 compares the own vehicle position determined in the process P2 of FIG. 2 with the coordinates of the currently traveling route, and detects that the own vehicle position is traveling on the (i + 1) th VICS link. If so, the process does not transit to step S15 ', and returns to step S13' to execute route guidance.

Step S15 ': (Erase of own route search data) The controller 4 erases the own route search data corresponding to the i-th VICS link from the memory 6.

Step S16 ': (End determination of acquired VICS data) The control unit 4 determines the j VICs acquired in step S2 of FIG.
Step S3 to step S12 for S data
It is determined from the counter value i whether or not the processing of
In the case of j-1, the process returns to the process P2 in FIG. 2 to perform the current position determination processing of the own vehicle. In the case of i ≦ j-1, 1 is added to the counter, and the process proceeds to step S4 in FIG.

By repeating steps S4 to S12 in FIG. 8 and steps S13 'to S16' in FIG. 12, a path provided from the outside (in the example of FIG. 13, VICS link i, VICS link i + 1, VICS link i + 2, VICS link i + 2,
Regarding the ICS links i + 3, while the vehicle is traveling on the VICS link i, a route search is performed using the self-search data obtained by converting the VICS link i + 1 and the VICS link i + 2, and the route is stored in the memory. The VICS link i and the VICS link Route guidance is performed for i + 1. In addition, own car is VIC
While traveling on the SICS link i + 1, the own route search data corresponding to the VICS link i is deleted, and then the VICS link i +
2 is stored in the memory 6 so that the VICS link i + 1 and the VICS link i +
The route search is performed by performing the route search from the own route conversion data of No. 2 above. Similarly, if your vehicle is VIC
While traveling on the S-link i + 2, the self-route search data corresponding to the VICS link i + 1 is deleted, and then the self-search data converted from the VICS link i + 3 is stored in the memory 6, so that the VICS link i + 2 and the VICS link are stored. The route search is performed by searching for those routes from the i + 3 own route conversion data. This operation can be repeated for all the received VICS links by repeating the number j-1 times of the received VICS data.

According to the above configuration, all the routes are converted immediately after receiving the route from the outside, and the acquired route search data need not be stored in the memory except for the route search data of the two routes. Efficiency is improved. In addition, since the conversion operation is distributed, the route corresponding to each VICS link can be guided at high speed. In addition, in the navigation device provided with a large-capacity memory, the step of erasing the converted own route search data (S15 ')
Can be eliminated, and higher speed can be achieved. If the conversion does not take much time, the conversion operation in step S2 in FIG. 2 can be performed in parallel to increase the speed. Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made.

[0069]

As described above, according to the navigation apparatus of the first invention, route information obtained from outside the vehicle is converted into own route search data and route setting is performed, so that guidance information is provided. Route guidance based on no route information.

Further, the navigation device of the second invention, in addition to the effect of the first invention, performs route guidance by converting route information near the own vehicle into data for searching the own route.
The conversion time of the route information is dispersed, and the processing time until the route guidance is shortened, so that the route guidance can be performed at high speed.

Further, the navigation device according to the third aspect of the invention can obtain the same effects as those of the first and second aspects of the present invention by using VICS link information as route information.

The navigation device of the fourth invention, in addition to the effects of the first and second inventions, performs conversion by using means for associating own route search data corresponding to the route information. Processing becomes simple and conversion can be performed at high speed.

Further, in addition to the first and second effects, the navigation apparatus according to the fifth invention further comprises a route interpolation means for supplementing a discontinuous section in the route information with its own route search data even if the section includes a discontinuous section. Since it is provided, accurate route guidance can be performed based on the acquired route information.

The navigation device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention
In addition to the effect of the second aspect, the own route search data corresponding to the route information including the own vehicle position is deleted, so that the memory capacity can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a navigation device to which a route guidance method according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a process chart showing a basic process of route guidance according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a path conversion table file.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a route provided from outside and own route search data.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing discontinuity of a path provided from outside.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a correspondence relationship between a VICS link and own route search data.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a correspondence relationship between a VICS link and own route search data.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a navigation system that performs a route guidance operation.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a VICS link displayed on a secondary mesh.

10 is an explanatory diagram of route conversion table data using the VICS link in FIG. 9 as an example.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the navigation device at the time of receiving VICS data.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a route guidance unit of a navigation system that performs a route guidance operation.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a method for speeding up a path conversion process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the navigation device at the time of acquiring VICS data to which the method of FIG. 13 is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

13 FM multiplex reception and processing unit (path information acquisition means) 30, 30 'path conversion table file (path conversion file, conversion data correspondence means) 31 link field (path information recording area) 35 path conversion table data field (own Route search data recording section) 81 VICS data acquisition means (route information acquisition means) 82 VICS data conversion means (route data conversion means) 83 Route setting means 84 Route guidance means 85 VICS data extraction means 100 Navigation device 832 Route interpolation means

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 9, 1999 (September 9, 1999)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C032 HB11 HB22 HB23 HC05 HC08 HD07 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB09 AB13 AC02 AC04 AC08 AC14 AC18 5H180 AA01 BB02 BB04 BB13 FF04 FF05 FF12 FF13 FF22 FF25 FF27 FF32

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A navigation device which displays a route from a current position of a vehicle to a destination on a map and displays the route, and provides travel assistance, wherein route information obtaining means for obtaining route information from outside the vehicle to the destination, Route data conversion means for converting the route information acquired by the route information acquisition means into its own route search data; route setting means for setting a route based on the route search data converted by the route data conversion means; Route guidance means for notifying guidance information at a predetermined point on the route based on the route set by the route setting means;
A navigation device comprising: 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the route data conversion means extracts only a route near the own vehicle position in the route information and converts the route into data for own route search. 3. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the route information is VICS link information. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the path data conversion means includes conversion data correspondence means comprising path search data individually associated with a plurality of minimum data constituting a path represented by the path information. The navigation device according to claim 1. 5. The route setting means searches for a route between a plurality of minimum data constituting a route represented by the route information. If any of the minimum data segments is discontinuous, the route is set to its own route. 3. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a path interpolation unit that complements and combines the path information. 6. The route data converting means converts the next route of the route including the own vehicle position in the route information, and further converts the next route into its own route search data, and the route including the own vehicle position. 3. The navigation device according to claim 2, wherein the own route search data obtained by converting is deleted. 7. A navigation recording medium configured to display a route from a current position of a vehicle to a destination on a map and to display the route on a map, and to be readable by a navigation device that assists driving, and provided from outside the vehicle. A path conversion file includes a plurality of sets of a path information recording area in which path information is recorded and an own path search data recording area in which at least one own path search data associated with the path information is recorded. A recording medium for navigation characterized by the above-mentioned.