JP2001235345A - Route guidance method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a route guidance method and apparatus using a sentence such that a user can readily know that he or she is taking not the correct route but the wrong route when his or her vehicle is out of the guided route. SOLUTION: The sentence for each section between intersections, including information about both sides of branch roads between the intersections along the route, the traveled distance which is the distance between the intersections, the form of the next intersection to be crossed after the vehicle has traveled the distance, and the way of crossing the intersection, is originated. The sentence is used for route guidance so that the user can readily know that he or she is taking not the correct route but the wrong route.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a route guidance method and apparatus, and more particularly to a route guidance method and apparatus using sentences.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When guiding a route from a departure point to a destination, a method and a device for indicating a route to be followed on a detailed map (guide target route) are generally used. However, when simply considering the route to the destination, a detailed map contains a lot of redundant information, so a simplified map (deformed map) that efficiently draws only the necessary information In some cases, methods and devices are used to indicate the path to go up. In addition, as route guidance methods and devices other than showing route information on a map, there are route guidance methods and devices that use sentences with emphasis on intersection information and landmark information.

[0003]

In the above-described route guidance method and apparatus using a map or a sentence, it is difficult to associate a road drawn on the map or indicated by the sentence with an actual road. There are cases. In particular, there is a problem that it is easy to get confused in a residential area with many narrow alleys, etc., and it is not easy to understand that it is wrong when deviating from the guidance target route.

The present invention is directed to a route guidance method and apparatus having such a problem by using a sentence which allows a user to easily know that a mistake has occurred when the user deviates from the route to be guided. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a route guidance method and apparatus.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a route guidance method comprising: information on both sides of a road branch between intersections along a route to be guided; a traveling distance which is a distance between intersections; There is a means to generate a sentence for each intersection including the shape and the way of proceeding at the intersection, and to guide the route using the sentence.

Further, the route guidance apparatus of the present invention provides information on both sides of a road branch between intersections along a guidance target route, a traveling distance which is a distance between intersections, an intersection shape encountered after traveling the distance, and It is equipped with a device that generates sentences for each intersection, including how to proceed at the intersection, and guides the route using the sentences.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Route information is often indicated by a map, but there are various other route guidance methods, one of which is to use a sentence.
In general, guide texts often emphasize emphasis on intersection information and landmark information. In the present invention, in addition to such route information, in addition to such route information, gate posts and telegraph poles in residential areas and the like are used. We paid attention to the block name and block number attached to the displayed block “What chome what number (what number)”. In the case of creating route guidance text, the method and apparatus for adding route information by adding the name of the street and the street number on both sides of the road branch between the next intersection and the next intersection are described.

First, a route guidance method according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a route guidance sentence according to the present invention. Route guidance sentence 100 for one section (between one intersection)
(Or 101) is the block name / block number (left block name / block number 1) on both sides of the road branch between intersections along the guidance target route
00a, the right-hand block name / block number 100b), a traveling distance 100c which is a distance between intersections, an intersection shape encountered after traveling the distance, and a traveling method 100d of the intersection.

FIG. 2 shows a guidance target route represented by the route guidance sentence of FIG. One section (between one intersection) 1000 of the guidance target route corresponds to the route guidance sentence 100 in FIG. 1 and one section (between one intersection) 1010 of the guidance target route.
Corresponds to the route guidance sentence 101 in FIG. These guidance target routes can be obtained by performing an optimal route search based on road network data composed of nodes and links stored in the external storage unit 42, which is one of the components of the computer shown in FIG. it can. Also, by adding the block name and block number on both sides of the road branch as information of each link, the route guidance text shown in FIG. 1 can be easily created.

FIG. 3 shows a route to be guided from the south exit of Kyodo Station on the Odakyu Line to the destination at 1-36 Miyasaka. The route guidance sentence for this route is as follows.

Go out the south exit of Kyoda Station on the Odakyu Line Left: Miyako 2-chome Right: Kyodo 1-2-chome Travel distance: 30m Direction: Turn left at the T-junction (straight ahead) Left: Miyasaka 2-chome Right: Kyodo 1-chome 12 Travel distance: 35m Direction: Go straight at the crossroads Left: Miyasaka 2-chome 18 Right: Kido 1-chome 13 Travel distance: 27m Direction: Go straight at the crossroads Left: Miyasaka 2-chome 17 Right: Kyodo 1-chome No. 14 Travel distance: 30m Direction: Go straight at the crossroad Left: Miyasaka 2-chome 16 Right: Kido 1-chome 15 Travel distance: 37m Direction: Go straight at the crossroad Left: Miyasaka 1-chome 46 Right: Miyasaka 1 No.45 Travel distance: 32m Direction: Turn right at T-junction (end) Left: Miyasaka 1-chome 44 Right: Miyasaka 1-chome 45 Travel distance: 36m Direction: T-junction (end), turn left Turn left: 1 Miyasaka No. 44 Right: No. 33, Miyasaka 1-chome Travel distance: 32m Direction: Go straight on Y-junction (merge from right) Left: No. 44, Miyasaka 1-chome Right: No. 34, Miyasaka 1-chome Travel distance: 30m Direction: Y-junction Turn right (branch to left and right). Left: Miyasaka 1-chome 35 Right: Miyasaka 1-chome 34 Travel distance: 28m Direction: Turn right at the T-junction (end of the road) Left: Miyasaka 1-chome 36 Right: 1-34 Miyasaka Travel distance: 5m Direction: The left hand is the destination

The user proceeds to the destination based on the route guidance sentence. At this time, the block names and block numbers on both sides of the road branch are confirmed by the block names and block numbers shown on the gates of the houses as shown in FIG. 7 and the block names shown on the telephone poles as shown in FIG.・ A block number can be used.

As described above, according to the present invention, the route to be guided is sandwiched between the block names and block numbers on both sides. Therefore, if the user deviates from the route to be guided, the names of the blocks on both sides in the next section will be displayed. Because the block number is wrong, you can easily know what was wrong.

Next, an embodiment in the case where information relating to a landmark is added to the above-mentioned route guidance sentence will be described.

FIG. 4 shows a route guidance sentence including landmark information according to the present invention. The route guidance sentence 200 (or 201) for one section (between one intersection) is composed of the block name and block number (left block name / block number 200a and right block name / block) on both sides of the road branch between the intersections along the guidance target route. No. 200b), a landmark 200e relating to a road branch between intersections along the route to be guided, a traveling distance 200c which is a distance between intersections, an intersection shape encountered after traveling the distance, and a method 200d of traveling at the intersection. Consists of

FIG. 5 shows a guidance target route represented by the route guidance sentence including the landmark information of FIG. One section (between one intersection) 2000 of the guidance target route corresponds to the route guidance text 200 of FIG. 4, and one section (between one intersection) 2010 of the guidance target route is the route guidance text 201 of FIG.
Corresponds to. These guidance target routes can be obtained by performing an optimal route search based on road network data composed of nodes and links stored in the external storage unit 42, which is one of the components of the computer. Also, by adding the block name / block number and landmark on both sides as information of each link, the route guidance text shown in FIG. 4 can be easily created. In this embodiment, representative buildings and the like are used as landmarks. However, it is needless to say that landmarks are all objects that are considered to be effective in guiding routes, such as rivers and railway tracks.

FIG. 6 shows a guide route including landmark information from the south exit of Kyodo Station on the Odakyu Line to the destination at 1-336 Miyasaka. The route guidance sentence including landmark information for this route is as follows.

At the south exit of Odakyu Line Kyodo Station Left: Miyako 2-chome Right: Kyodo 1-2-chome Landmark: "Nodaidaidori" shopping street, left "apartment", right "Sakura Bank" Travel distance: 30m direction : Turn left at the T-junction (straight ahead) Left: Miyasaka 2-chome 19 Right: Kyodo 1-chome 12 Landmark: Left "Chinese Restaurant" Travel distance: 35m Direction: Go straight at the crossroads Left: Miyasaka 2 Chome 18 Right: Kyodo 1-1 Chome Landmark: Left "Hayakawa Clinic" Travel distance: 27m Direction: Go straight at the crossroads Left: Miyasaka 2-Chome 17 Right: Kyodo 1-1-Chome Landmark: Right "Beauty salon" Travel distance: 30m Direction: Go straight at the crossroad Left: Miyasaka 2-chome right: Kyodo 1-1-chome Landmark: Right "Keido clinic" Travel distance: 37m Direction: Go straight at the crossroad Left: Miyasaka 1-chome 46 right: 1-45 Saka Landmark: Travel distance: 32 m Direction: Turn right at the T-junction (end) Left: 1-44 Miyasaka Right: 1-45 Miyasaka 1 Landmark: Right "blue sky parking lot" Travel distance : 36m Direction: Turn left at T-junction (end) Left: Miyasaka 1-chome No. 44 Right: Miyasaka 1-chome 33 No. Landmark: Travel distance: 32m Direction: Y-junction (Merge from right), go straight Left: Miyasaka 1-chome 44 Right: Miyasaka 1-chome 34 Landmark: Travel distance: 30m Direction: Turn right at Y-junction (branch to left and right) Left: Miyasaka 1-chome 35 Right: Miyasaka 1-chome 34 Landmark: Left "field" Travel distance: 28m Direction: Turn right at the T-junction (end) Left: Miyasaka 1-chome 36 Right: Miyasaka 1-chome 34 Landmark: Travel distance: 5m Direction: Left hand Earth

The user proceeds to the destination based on the route guidance sentence. At this time, the block names and block numbers on both sides of the road branch are confirmed by the block names and block numbers shown on the gates of the houses as shown in FIG. 7 and the block names shown on the telephone poles as shown in FIG.・ A block number can be used.

As described above, according to the present invention, the route to be guided is sandwiched between the block names and block numbers on both sides, so that if the user deviates from the route to be guided, the names of the blocks on both sides in the next section will be displayed. Because the block number is wrong, you can easily know what was wrong. In addition, by adding landmark information, it is possible to judge from the landmark whether the route that the user is currently traveling is correct or not.

Next, the route guidance device of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of a route guidance device according to the present invention. This device is a computer such as a workstation, a personal computer, or a portable terminal, and includes an arithmetic processing unit 40 for searching for an optimal route and generating route guidance text, and a memory 41.
And an external storage unit 42 for storing map data and the like, an input unit 43 such as a mouse and a keyboard, and a text / route presentation unit 44 such as a display. When the user gives a departure point and a destination via the input unit 43 on the map displayed on the text / route presenting unit 44, the computer searches the arithmetic processing unit 40 for the optimal route, and the route is determined. Based on the information, the operation processing unit 40 similarly forms a sentence. The textualized route information is presented as a guide route text to the text / route presenting unit 44 and provided to the user. This writing is performed with each intersection (node) where the roads that make up the route branch off as the starting point. First, the shape of an intersection such as a T-junction or a Y-junction is determined. As an intersection, in addition to the case of turning right and left, the case of going straight ahead and passing is also treated as an intersection. Next, for each intersection on the route,
The direction of travel such as right turn and left turn is determined from the angle between the previous and next intersection. The direction information such as north, south, east and west is difficult to understand because it is difficult to understand the direction of travel. After calculating the route information related to the shape and the traveling direction of the intersection as described above, the route guidance text is generated by performing the calculation processing of the left and right block names and block numbers in each section (between each cross section) on the route. . In the above case, the input unit 43 is a mouse, a keyboard, or the like. However, it goes without saying that any input unit, such as a voice input, that can give an instruction to the computer may be used. Furthermore, it goes without saying that landmark information may be added to the route guidance text.

FIG. 10 shows a format of a route guidance sentence with landmark information generated by the route guidance device of the present invention.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show an execution example of the route guidance apparatus of the present invention. The two-dimensional map data used here is the Geographical Survey Institute Geographic Map 2500 (spatial data base).
For information on block names and block numbers, see "Gaiku.at
r ”file. For landmark information,“ .atr ”indicating“ attribute file ”
The files with attribute names are used in the file. Here, information on buildings, water systems, and places is used. Also, the road line arc data is converted and used for the data used for the route search and the data for determining the shape of the intersection. The operation of the actual system is as follows. As shown in FIG. 11, a starting point and a destination are designated by a mouse or the like on a two-dimensional map. Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the computer searches for an optimal route from the departure point to the destination, and displays the route on a map and outputs a route guidance sentence as shown in FIG.

A simplified map (deformed map) in which only necessary information is efficiently drawn based on the route guidance sentence
It is also possible to generate.

[0027]

According to the route guidance method and apparatus of the present invention,
Since the guidance target route is sandwiched between the block names and / or block numbers on both sides of the road branch, if the user deviates from the guidance target route, it is easily understood that the user is wrong.

[0028]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows route guidance sentences according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a guidance target route represented by the route guidance sentence of FIG. 1;

Fig. 3 Guided route to the destination at 1-336 Miyasaka starting from the south exit of Kyodo Station on Odakyu Line

FIG. 4 is a route guidance sentence including landmark information according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a guidance target route represented by a route guidance sentence including the landmark information of FIG. 4;

Fig. 6 Guide route including landmark information to the destination at 1-36 Miyasaka starting from the south exit of Kyodo Station on Odakyu Line

[Fig. 7] Block name and block number shown on the gate post

Fig. 8 Block name and block number shown on telephone pole

FIG. 9 is a configuration example of a route guidance device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a format of a route guidance sentence with landmark information generated by the route guidance device of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a state in which a departure place and a destination are specified in the route guidance device of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a result of searching for an optimal route based on a designated departure place and destination in the route guidance device of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an example of a route guidance sentence generated based on the calculated optimal route in the route guidance device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: Route guidance text for one section (between one intersection) 100a: Street name and block number on the left side of the road branch between intersections along the guidance target route 100b ... Block name on the right side of the road branch between intersections along the guidance target route・ Street number 100c: travel distance which is the distance between intersections 100d ・ ・ ・ intersection shape encountered after traveling and how to proceed at the intersection 101: route guidance text for one section (between one intersection) 1000… guidance corresponding to route guidance text 100 One section of the target route (between one intersection) 1010: One section of the guidance target route corresponding to the route guidance text 101 (between one intersection) 200: Route guidance text of one section (between one intersection) including landmark information 200a … Block name and block number on the left side of the road branch between intersections along the guidance target route 200b… Block name and block number on the right side of the road branch between intersections along the guidance target route No. 200c: Travel distance that is the distance between intersections 200d: Intersection shape encountered after traveling and the way of traveling at the intersection 200e: Landmark relating to road branches between intersections along the guidance target route 201: One that includes landmark information Route guidance text for section (between one intersection) 2000 ... Route guidance text 20 including landmark information
One section of the guidance target route corresponding to 0 (between one intersection) 2010 ... Route guidance sentence 20 including landmark information
One section of the guidance target route corresponding to 1 (between one intersection) 30 landmark 40 arithmetic processing unit 41 memory 42 external storage unit 43 input unit 44 text / route presentation unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A method for guiding a route, comprising: information on both sides of a road branch between intersections along a route to be guided, a traveling distance that is a distance between intersections, and an intersection shape that is encountered after traveling the distance; A route guidance method characterized in that a route is guided to a user by using a sentence between intersections including the way of proceeding at the intersection. 2. A method for guiding a route, comprising: information on both sides of a road branch between intersections along a route to be guided; landmarks on road branches between intersections along the route to be guided;
The route is guided to the user by using sentences for each intersection including the travel distance, which is the distance between the intersections, the shape of the intersection encountered after traveling the distance, and the manner of proceeding at the intersection. Route guidance method. 3. The route guidance method according to claim 1, wherein the information on both sides of the road branch along the guidance target route is a block name and / or block number. . 4. A route guidance method according to claim 1, wherein a sentence for each intersection is generated by a computer. 5. A device for guiding a route, comprising: information on both sides of a road branch between intersections along a guidance target route; a traveling distance which is a distance between intersections; and an intersection shape encountered after traveling the distance. A route guidance apparatus characterized in that a route is guided to a user by using a sentence between intersections including a way of proceeding at the intersection. 6. An apparatus for guiding a route, comprising: information on both sides of a road branch between intersections along a route to be guided; landmarks on road branches between intersections along the route to be guided;
The route is guided to the user by using sentences for each intersection including the travel distance, which is the distance between the intersections, the shape of the intersection encountered after traveling the distance, and the manner of proceeding at the intersection. Route guidance device. 7. The route guidance device according to claim 5, wherein the information on both sides of the road branch along the guidance target route is a street name and / or a street number. . 8. The route guidance device according to claim 5, wherein a sentence for each intersection is generated by a computer.