JP2001330462A - Navigation system and method for searching route - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To search for parking lots with taking parking lots into account where a discount service carried out at a commercial facility of a destination can be utilized. SOLUTION: Information on parking lots where the discount service provided by facilities such as department stores or the like can be utilized is stored in a map information storage means 2. The commercial facility as the destination is inputted by a destination input means 3. A planned shopping amount and a facility use time are inputted from a set value input means 7. The parking lot of a lowest parking charge when the planned amount of shopping is conducted at the destination facility is selected from parking lots in the neighborhood of the destination by a map information search means 4 and sets as a target parking lot. A route from the present position of one's vehicle to the target parking lot is searched for by a route search means 5 and displayed to a display means 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation system and a route search method, and more particularly to a navigation system and a route search method for searching for a route to a destination and displaying the searched route on a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, as a navigation device for guiding a parking lot around a destination, one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-120486 is known. This is to select one of the vacant parking lots near the destination or the current position, search for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the selected parking lot, and provide guidance. This saves the trouble of searching for a parking lot after arriving at the destination. Furthermore, a parking lot search that takes into account the congestion state of the parking lot can also be performed.

Further, the navigation device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-257979 can further perform a search in consideration of a parking lot usage fee, vehicle restrictions or business hours.
As a result, it is possible to search for and guide the cheapest parking lot according to the type of the vehicle and the usage time.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional navigation device, since the discount service related between the parking lot and the destination facility is not considered, the discount service implemented by the destination facility is not taken into consideration. There was a problem that search in consideration of the parking lot which can use was not possible. For example, if you buy more than 2,000 yen at a destination department store, you will not be able to search for a parking lot that can use a service where the parking fee is free for one hour.

[0005] Further, since the queue waiting for the parking lot is not taken into consideration, even if the vehicle is guided to the parking lot by the navigation device,
There was a problem that it was not possible to enter the parking lot. In this case, it is necessary to look for the tail of the queue waiting for the parking lot again and then line up with the tail of the queue.

[0006] Further, since a route search is not performed in consideration of the traffic congestion in the parking lot, when a traffic congestion occurs in a vehicle waiting in the parking lot, the cause of the traffic congestion cannot be determined for a vehicle coming from behind. In addition, there is a problem that a route search that makes a detour while avoiding traffic jams is performed. Or, you will have to line up in traffic jams.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems and searches for a parking lot in consideration of a discount service related to a destination facility and a parking lot. It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation system that provides guidance of a parking place and performs a route search in consideration of the cause of traffic congestion.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, a navigation system can use a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle and a discount service provided by various commercial facilities. Map information storage means for storing map information including parking lot information of the parking lot;
A destination input means for inputting a destination facility; a map information search means for searching for a destination parking lot where parking fee is lowest when using the destination facility based on parking lot information around the destination facility; A configuration is provided that includes a route search unit that searches for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination parking lot, and a display unit that displays the route. With this configuration, it is possible to use the parking lot where the parking fee is lowest when using various commercial facilities, based on the information on the parking lot where the discount service is available.

Vehicle determining means for determining parking waiting vehicles at a parking facility and outputting parking area surrounding information relating to the parking waiting vehicles, and information providing means for providing parking surrounding information to a traffic information providing organization. The traffic information provider has an information transmission means for transmitting information about the parking lot, and the vehicle has
An information receiving means for receiving the parking area surrounding information is provided, and the map information searching means is provided with a means for setting the last tail of the vehicle waiting to enter the target parking lot as the position of the target parking lot. With this configuration, the driver can smoothly form a queue behind the last vehicle waiting for the parking lot.

Further, the route searching means is provided with a means for searching for a route to avoid traffic congestion when it is detected that a parking waiting vehicle exists in the traveling direction of the own vehicle. With this configuration, it is possible to search for an optimal route without making the driver particularly aware of the cause of traffic jam.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

(First Embodiment) In a first embodiment of the present invention, information on parking lots where discount services provided by various commercial facilities can be used is stored, and destination facilities are used. This is a navigation system that searches for a parking lot with the lowest parking fee, and searches for and displays a route to that location.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the navigation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This navigation system includes a current position detecting means 1,
It comprises a map information storage means 2, a destination input means 3, a map information search means 4, a route search means 5, a display means 6, and a set value input means 7.

In FIG. 1, the current position detecting means 1
This is a means for detecting the current position of the own vehicle using a PS or the like.
The map information storage means 2 is a storage means for storing map information including information on parking lots where discount services provided by commercial facilities such as department stores can be used. For example, the information includes a discounted parking fee when using a commercial facility, a discount based on the amount consumed at the commercial facility, and a discount based on the stay time at the commercial facility.

The destination input means 3 is a means for inputting a destination facility. The map information search means 4 is a search means for searching the parking lot around the destination for the cheapest parking lot when the discount service is applied, and setting it as the target parking lot. The map information search means 4 is based on the destination facility from the destination input means 3, the parking information around the destination from the map information storage means 2, and the set value from the set value input means 7. This is a means for searching for the cheapest parking lot corresponding to the set value.

The route search means 5 is a search means for searching for a route from the current position to the destination parking lot. Display means 6
Is a means for displaying the searched route. The set value input unit 7 is a unit for inputting a consumption amount and a staying time scheduled by the driver.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the map information search means of the navigation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a list of the correspondence between the shopping amount at a specific department store, the parking lot use time, and the parking lot with the lowest price.

The operation of the navigation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. First, an example of shopping at a department store will be described. The driver inputs a destination facility (department store) using the destination input means 3 shown in FIG. Using the set value input means 7, the amount to be consumed at the destination facility is input (step S1 in FIG. 2).

The map information search means 4 searches for a parking lot around the destination facility (step S2). A parking fee is calculated for each searched parking lot (step S3). Then, a discount price according to the estimated consumption amount from the set value input means 7 is calculated (step S4). Finally, the parking lot with the lowest parking fee including the discounted fee is selected and set as the target parking lot (step S5). The route search means 5 shown in FIG. 1 performs a route search to the target parking lot selected by the map information search means 4, displays the route on the display means 6, and informs the driver.

Second, an example of a case of enjoying swimming in a pool will be described. The estimated stay time is input to the set value input means 7, and the parking lot with the lowest parking fee is selected according to the usage time. If the destination facility implements a parking fee discount service according to the consumption amount and the usage time, the setting value input means 7
Enter the planned consumption amount and the planned stay time. Based on these two parameters, the parking lot with the lowest parking fee is selected.

Third, a case where nothing is set in the set value input means 7 will be described. The destination facility is input by the destination input means 3. For each condition of the purchase price and the parking time, the parking lot with the lowest parking fee is listed and displayed as shown in FIG. The driver selects a parking lot that meets the desired conditions and sets it as the target parking lot.

For information on parking lots where the discount service can be used, a map information CD integrated with map data in advance is provided.
-It may be read from a ROM or the like, or only the parking lot information may be separately obtained and added to the map data. For example, parking lot information downloaded from the Internet using a personal computer is stored in the map information storage means 2 via a recording medium such as a floppy disk. Alternatively, the user accesses the Internet using a mobile phone connected to the navigation system, and stores the downloaded parking lot information in the map information storage means 2 as a part of the map information.

As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the navigation system stores information on parking lots where discount services provided by various commercial facilities can be used, and uses destination facilities. In such a case, the parking lot with the lowest parking fee is searched, and the route to that location is searched and displayed. Therefore, the driver can select the parking lot with the lowest parking fee according to the estimated consumption amount.

(Second Embodiment) In a second embodiment of the present invention, a parking lot waiting vehicle is determined on the parking lot facility side.
This is a navigation system that provides parking area surrounding information to VICS (registered trademark), receives VICS information on the vehicle side, and sets the last tail of a vehicle waiting to enter the target parking area as the position of the target parking area.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a navigation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The navigation system according to the second embodiment differs from the navigation system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.
And the facility side communication means 11 and the vehicle determination means 12 on the parking lot facility side
And information providing means 13 and information transmitting means of a traffic information providing organization
21 is added.

In FIG. 4, the same or corresponding components as in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. The information receiving means 8 is a vehicle-mounted means for receiving vehicle information and other traffic information from VICS or the like. The in-vehicle communication means 9 is means for transmitting vehicle information including the current position, destination, and destination parking lot of the vehicle to the parking lot facility side.

The facility-side communication means 11 is means for receiving vehicle information including the current position of the vehicle, the destination, and the destination parking lot from vehicles near the parking lot. The facility side communication means 11
May transmit information such as parking lot facility information and average parking waiting time to the vehicle-mounted communication means 9. The vehicle determination means 12 is a means on the parking lot side that determines the position of the last vehicle of the parking waiting vehicle. Information provision means 13
Is a means on the parking lot side that provides the vehicle information including the position information of the last vehicle and the destination and the destination parking lot to the VICS or the like. The information transmitting means 21 is a means such as VICS for transmitting vehicle information and other traffic information.

The operation of the navigation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. The vehicle-mounted communication means 9 shown in FIG. 4 is mounted on each vehicle, and transmits vehicle information including the current position, the destination, and the destination parking lot of the vehicle to the facility-side communication means 11. The target parking lot is information on the target parking lot when using the parking lot.

The facility-side communication means 11 receives vehicle information including the current position of the vehicle, the destination, and the destination parking lot from the on-vehicle communication means 9 and transmits the vehicle information to the vehicle determination means 12. The vehicle determination unit 12 acquires, from the facility-side communication unit 11, vehicle information including a current position, a destination, and a destination parking lot of the vehicle. Based on the vehicle information, a vehicle waiting for a parking lot is searched, and a vehicle located at the end of the vehicle waiting for a parking lot is determined.
The information providing unit 13 acquires the current position of the last vehicle of the parking waiting vehicle from the vehicle determining unit 12 and provides the current position to a traffic information providing service organization such as VICS.

An information transmitting means 21 of a traffic information providing service organization such as VICS transmits the current position of the last vehicle of the parking waiting vehicle acquired from the information providing means 13 to each vehicle using the traffic information.

The information receiving means 8 mounted on the vehicle receives from the information transmitting means 21 the current position of the last vehicle of the parking waiting vehicle. The map information search means 4 sets the current position of the last vehicle of the parking waiting vehicle as the position of the destination parking lot. The route search unit 5 searches for a route to the last vehicle in the destination parking lot and displays the route on the display unit 6.

As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the navigation system determines the waiting vehicle in the parking lot on the parking facility side, provides the parking lot surrounding information to the VICS, and provides the vehicle side with the information. , Receiving the VICS information and setting the end of the vehicle waiting to enter the target parking lot as the position of the target parking lot, it is possible to provide route guidance in consideration of the queue of the parking lot, and the driver can smoothly. You can stand in a queue at the parking lot.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention relates to a navigation system for searching for a route to avoid parking congestion when a parking lot waiting vehicle exists in the traveling direction of the own vehicle. It is.

The basic configuration of the navigation system according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. The difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment is the processing in the route search means 5, the display means 6, and the vehicle determination means 12.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the route search means of the navigation system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing how to search for a detour route.

The operation of the navigation system according to the third embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. The vehicle determining means 12 shown in FIG.
, The vehicle information including the current position, the destination, and the destination parking lot of the vehicle is acquired. Based on the vehicle information, a parking lot waiting vehicle is searched, and the current position of all parking lot waiting vehicles, not only the last vehicle of the parking lot waiting vehicle, is obtained.

The processing procedure of the route search means 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The route search means 5 includes an information receiving means 8
To acquire the information of the current position of the parking waiting vehicle and the parking lot received. It is determined whether there is a parking waiting vehicle in the traveling direction of the own vehicle. When there is a parking lot waiting vehicle, a route that avoids parking lot waiting congestion is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 6, a case where traffic congestion is encountered just before an intersection to be turned left will be described. Based on the received traffic information, if it is determined that the cause of the congestion is not due to a left turn car, but due to a parking waiting vehicle,
Find a route that changes lanes to the next lane and avoids congestion in parking lots. On the map of the display means 6, the parking waiting vehicle and its parking position are displayed in a flashing manner, the display color is changed, or displayed in characters, so as to be highlighted so as to be distinguished from others.

As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the navigation system is configured to search for a route to avoid traffic congestion when a vehicle waiting for a parking lot exists in the traveling direction of the own vehicle. Therefore, traffic congestion caused by vehicles waiting at the parking lot can be avoided.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the navigation system is provided with a current position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle and a parking lot which can use a discount service provided by various commercial facilities. A map information storage unit that stores map information including parking lot information, a destination input unit that inputs a destination facility, and a case where the destination facility is used based on parking lot information around the destination facility. Map information search means for searching for a target parking lot with the lowest parking fee, route search means for searching for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the target parking lot, and display means for displaying the route are provided. Therefore, there is an effect that route guidance to a parking lot where parking fee is the lowest when using the destination facility can be obtained.

Vehicle determining means for determining parking waiting vehicles at the parking facility and outputting parking area surrounding information relating to the parking waiting vehicles, and information providing means for providing parking surrounding information to a traffic information providing organization. The traffic information provider has an information transmission means for transmitting information about the parking lot, and the vehicle has
Since the information receiving means for receiving the parking area surrounding information is provided, and the map information searching means is provided with a means for setting the rear end of the vehicle waiting for entrance to the target parking lot as the position of the target parking lot, the driver can use the parking lot. The effect is obtained that the queue can be formed in a line smoothly behind the last vehicle in the queue.

Further, the route searching means is provided with a means for searching for a route to avoid traffic congestion when it is detected that a parking waiting vehicle exists in the traveling direction of the own vehicle. The effect is obtained that an optimum route for avoiding traffic congestion can be searched without being conscious.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a navigation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of a map information search unit of the navigation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a list of correspondence between a shopping amount at a department store, parking time, and a parking lot with the lowest price, displayed by the navigation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a navigation system according to the second and third embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a route search unit of the navigation system according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a state of searching for a detour route in the navigation system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Current position detection means 2 Map information storage means 3 Destination input means 4 Map information search means 5 Route search means 6 Display means 7 Set value input means 8 Information reception means 9 In-vehicle communication means 11 Facility communication means 12 Vehicle judgment means 13 Means of providing information 21 Means of transmitting information

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a vehicle, and a map information storing means for storing map information including parking information of a parking lot where a discount service provided by various commercial facilities can be used. A destination input means for inputting a destination facility, and a map information search for searching for a destination parking lot which provides the lowest parking fee when using the destination facility based on parking lot information around the destination facility. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle; and a route search unit for searching for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination parking lot, and a display unit for displaying the route. 2. The map information storage means includes means for holding a discount service fee according to the amount of consumption when using various commercial facilities as the parking lot information, and the display means includes 2. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for displaying a list of parking lots having a low price; and means for selecting a target parking lot from the list of parking lots. 3. The map information storage means includes means for holding a discount service fee according to various commercial facility use times as the parking lot information, and the display means displays the cheapest parking fee corresponding to the use time. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for displaying a parking lot list; and means for selecting a target parking lot from the parking lot list. 4. A set value input unit for inputting a planned consumption amount or a planned use time, wherein the map information search unit includes:
4. The navigation system according to claim 2, further comprising means for searching for a parking lot with the lowest parking fee based on the scheduled consumption amount or the scheduled usage time. 5. A vehicle judging means for judging a parking lot waiting vehicle at a parking lot facility and outputting parking lot surrounding information relating to the parking lot waiting vehicle, and information for providing the parking lot surrounding information to a traffic information providing organization. Providing means for providing, the traffic information providing institution, information transmitting means for transmitting the information about the parking lot is provided, the vehicle is provided with information receiving means for receiving the information about the parking lot, the map information search means The navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising means for setting a rear end of a vehicle waiting to enter the target parking lot as a position of the target parking lot. 6. The navigation system according to claim 5, wherein said vehicle determining means is provided with means for recognizing an image obtained by photographing the periphery of the parking lot and obtaining a rearmost position of the parking waiting vehicle. . 7. The parking lot facility is provided with facility-side communication means for receiving vehicle information including a current position, a destination, and a destination parking lot of a vehicle from a vehicle around the parking lot and transmitting the information to the vehicle determination means, A vehicle-side communication unit that transmits the vehicle information to the facility-side communication unit, wherein the vehicle determination unit searches for only a vehicle waiting for a parking lot based on the vehicle information; The navigation system according to claim 5, further comprising: means for determining the last vehicle of the vehicle; and means for transmitting vehicle information of the last vehicle to the information providing means. 8. The vehicle determining means includes means for transmitting vehicle information of the parking waiting vehicle to the information providing means.
6. The display device according to claim 5, wherein said display means includes means for highlighting a parking lot waiting vehicle and a parking lot which are congested.
The navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, 9. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said route search means includes means for searching for a route to avoid traffic congestion when it is detected that a parking waiting vehicle is congested in the traveling direction of the own vehicle. The navigation system according to claim 8, wherein 10. A system comprising: means for receiving the parking lot information from an information network by wireless communication; and means for storing the received parking lot information as part of the map information in the map information storage means. The navigation system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein 11. Parking information of a parking lot where a discount service provided by various commercial facilities can be used is stored in advance, and when a destination facility is input, based on parking information around the destination facility. Search for the destination parking lot where parking fee is the lowest when using the destination facility,
A route search method, wherein a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination parking lot is searched and displayed. 12. A discount service fee corresponding to the amount of consumption when using various commercial facilities is stored in advance in the parking lot information, and the parking lot with the lowest parking fee corresponding to the consumption amount is searched. The route search method according to claim 11, wherein: 13. A discount service fee corresponding to the consumption time when using various commercial facilities is stored in advance in the parking lot information, and a parking lot with the lowest parking fee corresponding to the consumption time is searched. The route search method according to claim 11, wherein: 14. The route search method according to claim 12, wherein a parking lot with the lowest parking fee is searched based on the input consumption amount or consumption time. 15. The parking lot facility side determines a parking lot waiting vehicle, transmits parking lot surrounding information regarding the parking lot waiting vehicle via a traffic information providing organization, and the vehicle side transmits the parking lot surrounding information. The route search method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the route is received, and the last of the vehicles waiting to enter the target parking lot is set as the position of the target parking lot. 16. The route search method according to claim 15, wherein an image obtained by photographing the periphery of the parking lot is recognized and the last position of the parking waiting vehicle is obtained. 17. Vehicle information including a current position of a vehicle, a destination, and a destination parking lot is transmitted from a vehicle around the parking lot to the parking lot side, and the parking lot facility side receives the vehicle information based on the vehicle information. The route according to claim 15, wherein only the waiting vehicle is searched to find the last vehicle of the parking waiting vehicle, and vehicle information of the last vehicle is transmitted via a traffic information providing organization. retrieval method. 18. A route for avoiding traffic congestion is searched when it is detected that there is a parking waiting vehicle congested in the traveling direction of the own vehicle. Route search method described in. 19. The route search method according to claim 11, wherein the parking lot information is received from an information network by wireless communication and stored.