JP2002005668A - Navigation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation apparatus which generates optimal route guide information for a driver with the use of only characteristic objects recognized by the driver among characteristic objects detected from a vehicle front image. SOLUTION: An image input part 105 images the image in front of the vehicle. A target-detecting part 106 detects the specific target from the vehicle front image, imaged by the image input part 105. A recognition-confirming part 108 confirms whether the user can recognize the target detected by the target-detecting part 106. A guide information-generating part 112 generates navigation information, calculated by a route-calculating part 104 with the use of the target which can be recognized by the user as confirmed by the recognition-confirming part 108, together with map data read out from a map storage part 102.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a route guidance device, and more particularly to a route guidance device, such as a vehicle-mounted navigation device, which is mainly used to provide route guidance information to a driver who is driving a vehicle. Related to a route guidance device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, an on-vehicle navigation device uses map data (including data relating to a target required for guidance, road data, etc.) provided in advance.
It guides the optimum route from the departure point to the destination specified by the driver. Commonly used guidance methods include a method of indicating the traveling direction with an arrow on a display screen, and a method of outputting the traveling direction as a sound in front of an intersection (for example, “turn right at the next intersection”). In particular, in the former method, not only a road map but also a target such as a gas station or a convenience store is displayed on the screen so that more intuitive route guidance can be provided.

[0003] By the way, map data provided in a vehicle-mounted navigation device is produced based on roads, target objects, and the like existing at the time of producing the map data. However, in accordance with subsequent road development plans and urban development plans,
New roads (intersections) and traffic lights are created, and new targets are constructed. For this reason, the actual road shape and the presence or absence of a target may differ from the map data provided in the in-vehicle navigation device. In such a case,
There is a problem that the route guidance generated using the old map data provided in the vehicle-mounted navigation device is different from the route guidance to be actually performed. For example, in route guidance using old map data that does not reflect that a new intersection B has been created before the intersection A to be turned right, even if the current position of the vehicle is just before the intersection B, Please turn right at the next intersection. " For this reason, drivers who believed in this route guidance,
The intersection B will be turned right by mistake.

To solve such a problem, a conventional on-vehicle navigation device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-1.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 78497. This conventional in-vehicle navigation device detects a feature from an image in front of the vehicle captured through a video camera, and uses the information on the detected feature to provide route guidance information at a guide point (an intersection requiring route guidance). Is to be corrected.

[0005]

However, it is guaranteed that the features detected from the image in front of the vehicle in the above-mentioned conventional in-vehicle navigation system are simultaneously recognized (visually confirmed) by the driver during driving. There is no. For this reason, in the above-mentioned conventional in-vehicle navigation device, even if the feature detected from the image in front of the vehicle is used, the problem remains that optimal route guidance information at the guide point is not necessarily generated for the driver. .

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a route guidance apparatus that generates optimal route guidance information for a driver using only those features recognized by the driver among the features detected from the image ahead of the vehicle. It is to provide.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention A first invention is a route guidance device for guiding an optimal route for a vehicle to reach a destination, and a vehicle position detection for detecting a current position of the vehicle. A condition setting unit for setting conditions (a destination, a use road, etc.) necessary for route calculation in accordance with an input from a user, and a condition set in the condition setting unit.
A route calculation unit that calculates a route, a map storage unit that stores map data and information about a target required for route guidance, an image input unit that captures an image in front of the vehicle, and a vehicle detection unit that detects a vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection unit. A target detection unit that detects a target stored in the map storage unit in association with the current position from a vehicle front image captured by the image input unit, and a target detected by the target detection unit, When the vehicle approaches a point requiring guidance, a recognition confirmation unit that confirms whether or not the vehicle is recognized is used, based on the confirmation result of the recognition confirmation unit, using a target object that is recognized by the user. A guidance information generation unit that generates guidance information on the route calculated by the calculation unit, and an information output unit that outputs the guidance information generated by the guidance information generation unit.

As described above, according to the first aspect, since the guide information is generated by using the target that the user can recognize, the route can be reliably guided even in an unfamiliar place. .

A second invention is an invention according to the first invention, wherein a recognition output unit presents, via voice, a content that the recognition check unit wants to confirm to the user, and recognizes a voice responded by the user. And a recognition unit that interactively checks the recognition state of the user through the voice output unit and the voice recognition unit.

As described above, according to the second aspect, the first aspect
In addition to the effects of the invention, the user can draw out guidance information from the device in an interactive manner, so that effective guidance information can be used.

[0011] A third invention is an invention according to the first invention, wherein a user recognition rate management unit for managing a user recognition rate for each type of target using the confirmation result of the recognition confirmation unit. In addition, the guide information generation unit generates the guide information according to the information managed by the user recognition rate management unit and preferentially uses a target of a type having a high user recognition rate.

As described above, according to the third aspect, the first aspect
In addition to the effects of the present invention, since a target that is easily recognizable for each user is changed and used for the guidance information, effective route guidance can be performed.

A fourth invention is an invention according to the third invention, further comprising a time zone management unit for managing a time zone in which the user has recognized the target using the confirmation result of the recognition confirmation unit. The guide information generation unit generates guide information by switching the priority of the target according to the current time according to the information managed by the time zone management unit.

As described above, according to the fourth aspect, the third aspect
In addition to the effects of the invention, the optimal target can be used according to the time zone, so that reliable guidance information can be generated even at night or the like.

A fifth invention is an invention according to the first invention, further comprising a use target storage section for storing a target used for the guide information generated by the guide information generation section, The information generation unit is characterized in that when generating the guide information at the same point, the guide information is generated by preferentially using the target already stored in the used target storage unit.

As described above, according to the fifth aspect, the first aspect
In addition to the effects of the invention described above, since the target used in the past is repeatedly used, the same guidance information can be always given to the user.

A sixth invention is an invention according to the first invention, further comprising a specific information designating unit for designating a specific target by a user, wherein the guidance information generating unit is a specific information designating unit. It is characterized in that guidance information is generated by preferentially using a designated target.

As described above, according to the sixth aspect, the first aspect
In addition to the effect of the invention of (1), since the user can designate a specific target, information known to the user can be taken in the route guidance in advance.

A seventh invention is a invention according to the first invention, further comprising an information inquiry section in which a user inquires information starting from a specific target,
The guidance information generation unit generates information corresponding to the content inquired to the information inquiry unit, and outputs the information from the information output unit.

As described above, according to the seventh aspect, the first aspect
In addition to the effects of the invention described above, it is possible to extract guidance information even at locations other than the guidance point, and to provide route guidance without giving the user an uneasy feeling.

An eighth invention is an invention according to the first invention, further comprising a destination-specific target selection section for selecting a target related to a type of destination specified by the user, and further comprising guidance information. The generation unit changes a target used for generating the guide information according to a moving purpose of the user.

As described above, according to the eighth aspect, the first aspect
In addition to the effects of the invention of (1), since a target related to a destination is used, it is possible to generate guidance information using information with a high degree of user interest.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A route guidance device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a route guidance device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a route guidance device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a vehicle position detection unit 101, a map storage unit 102, a condition setting unit 103, and a route calculation unit 1
04, an image input unit 105, a target detection unit 106,
Specific information designating section 107, recognition confirming section 108, user recognition rate managing section 109, time zone managing section 110, destination-specific target selecting section 111, guide information generating section 112, used target storing section 113, an information output unit 114, a voice output unit 115, a voice recognition unit 116, and an information inquiry unit 117.

First, the outline of each component of the route guidance apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. The vehicle position detection unit 101 uses the GP
The current position of the vehicle is detected using the position information obtained from S or the like. In the vehicle position detection unit 101, it is also possible to use a technique called map matching adopted in a general in-vehicle navigation device. This map matching is a technique for detecting a current position of a vehicle using azimuth data obtained from a gyro or the like, distance data obtained from a vehicle speed sensor or the like, and map data. The map storage unit 102 includes a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, a hard disk, or a memory card;
And a drive device for driving the recording medium. This recording medium stores map data including data on a target required for route guidance (hereinafter referred to as target data), road data, and the like. Condition setting unit 103
Sets a destination and various conditions (such as availability of an expressway) necessary for obtaining a guide route based on a user (driver) instruction. The user instruction to the condition setting unit 103 is
It may be input via a remote control, a touch panel, or the like, or may be input via voice. Route calculation unit 104
Calculates the route to the destination using the map data read from the map storage unit 102 in accordance with the conditions set by the condition setting unit 103.

The image input unit 105 is a video camera or the like, and captures an image in front of the vehicle. Target object detection unit 106
Detects a target from the image obtained by the image input unit 105 using a known image processing technique. The target to be detected differs depending on each guide point of the route guide information generated by the guide information generating unit 112 described later. That is, the target to be detected is, for each guide point to which the current vehicle position has approached, the map storage unit 1 corresponding to the guide point.
02 is the target included in the target data read out from the target. The specific information specifying unit 107 instructs the target detecting unit 106 in advance so that a specific target at a specific place specified by the user is to be detected. Specific information designating unit 10
7 may be input through a remote controller, a touch panel, or the like, similarly to the condition setting unit 103,
It may be input via voice. The recognition confirmation unit 108
It is confirmed whether or not the user has recognized the target detected by the target detector 106. As confirmation method,
The contents to be confirmed are displayed on a display device such as a display in the form of figures or characters, or output from a voice device as voice, and the user responds thereto (remote control, touch panel, button, etc., or voice response). ). The user recognition rate management unit 109
Based on the result confirmed by the recognition confirming unit 108, a target that the user can easily recognize is determined. Then, the user recognition rate management unit 109 instructs the target detection unit 106 to preferentially detect the target that the determined user can easily recognize. The time zone management unit 110 manages a time zone in which the target is recognized for the target that is easy for the user to recognize based on the result confirmed by the recognition confirmation unit 108. Then, based on the managed time zone information, the time zone management unit 110 instructs the target detection unit 106 to change the target to be detected preferentially according to the detection time zone. The destination-specific target selection unit 111 selects a target according to the type of destination set by the condition setting unit 103, and causes the target detection unit 10 to preferentially detect the selected target.
Indicate to 6.

The guide information generation unit 112
The guidance information for the route calculated in 4 is generated using the target data read from the map storage unit 102. Further, as described above, the guidance information generation unit 112
When the current vehicle position approaches the guidance point of the generated guidance information, the target detection unit detects a target included in the target data read from the map storage unit 102 corresponding to the guidance point. An instruction is given to 106. Further, the guide information generation unit 112 changes the target when the result that the target instructed to be detected by the target detection unit 106 is not recognized by the user is transmitted through the recognition confirmation unit 108. Then, an instruction is given to the target detection unit 106 to execute the same processing again. Use target object storage unit 113
Stores the target used in the guide information generation unit 112 for the guide information to the user in association with the used guide point. Further, the use target storage unit 113 instructs the guide information generation unit 112 to use the stored target preferentially when passing through the same guide point in the future.
The information output unit 114 is an output device such as a display, and provides the guide information finally generated by the guide information generation unit 112 to the user by screen display or voice. The voice output unit 115 is used when the recognition confirmation unit 108 uses voice to convey the content to be confirmed to the user. The voice recognition unit 116 recognizes the voice of the user and transmits the result to the recognition confirmation unit 108 and the guidance information generation unit 112. The information inquiry unit 117 accepts an inquiry about guidance information from a user. Here, the reception of the inquiry about the guidance information is performed by the information inquiry unit 11.
It is also possible to use the voice recognition unit 116 instead of 7.

The operation of the route guidance apparatus according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the route guidance device according to the embodiment of the present invention. When the route guidance device is activated,
First, the condition setting unit 103 sets conditions (step S201). The condition setting means that the user inputs and sets various conditions (destination, road use conditions, and the like) necessary for route calculation and guide information generation to the device using a remote controller, a touch panel, or voice. I do. When the user wants to use a specific target or the like on the apparatus, the user
Information about a specific target or the like is input to the specific information specifying unit 107 (step S201). Next, the route calculation unit 10
4, using the map data read from the map storage unit 102, according to the conditions set in step S201,
The route is calculated (step S202). This route calculation method may be a well-known method used in a general vehicle-mounted navigation device. Next, the guide information generation unit 112
Performs initialization of the guidance information (step S203). In this initialization, the guide points on the route calculated at step S202 (for example, intersections to be turned right and left) are sequentially listed, and landmark data related to each of the listed guide points is stored in the target object. It is read from the map storage unit 102 as a candidate. The guide point is
An intersection that should go straight other than an intersection that should make a right or left turn may be listed.

Here, the guide information generating unit 112 assigns priorities to the read target object candidates. The prioritization of the candidate landmarks can be performed by setting the priority higher in order from the landmark candidate located on the road approaching the guide point and having a shorter distance from the guide point.
In addition, the priority of each target used for the guide information set as described above can be changed using various management information. Hereinafter, these will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram visually illustrating an example of a relationship between map data and a current vehicle position. In FIG. 3, an intersection 301 is an intersection serving as a guide point, and targets 302 and 303 are located.
Is a target recorded around the guide point. In this example, it is assumed that the route in which the vehicle 304 travels from the bottom to the top on the center road is calculated. In this case, it can be seen from the map data that “ABC bank” and “convenience store DEF” are the targets corresponding to the intersection 301. Also,
As an initial value, “convenience store DEF” closest to the intersection 301 is set as the target candidate with the highest priority, and “ABC Bank” next closest to the intersection 301 is the target with the next highest priority. It is set as an object candidate.

Here, the user recognition rate of the target managed by the user recognition rate management unit 109 is “convenience store DE”.
When "ABC Bank" is higher than "F", the priority of each target can be set in consideration of the user recognition rate with priority over the distance from the intersection 301. In this case, a method of setting the priority of each target based on the pseudo distance obtained by subtracting the coefficient from the actual distance using a coefficient obtained by converting the user recognition rate into a distance, or the like can be considered. Like the recognition rate, the time zone management unit 1
It is also possible to prioritize the time zone managed by 10 and set the priority of each target. In addition, it is also possible to change the priority of each target via the destination-specific target selection unit 111 according to the set destination.
In this case, destinations related to each target are set in advance, and a coefficient obtained by converting the degree of association into a distance is set, and when the associated destination is selected, the actual destination is selected. A method of setting the priority of each target based on the pseudo distance obtained by subtracting the coefficient from the distance may be considered.
For example, in FIG. 3, when an amusement park is selected as the destination and only “convenience store DEF” is set as a target related to the amusement park, the distance from the intersection 301 to the “convenience store DEF” is determined. A pseudo distance obtained by subtracting a coefficient (where the degree of association is converted into a distance) and an intersection 301
Will be compared with the distance from to "ABC Bank". In addition, in consideration of the past use history stored in the use target storage unit 113, it is possible to preferentially use the target used in the past at the same guide point. further,
When a specific target is specified by the user via the specific information specifying unit 107, the target can be given the highest priority. In the example described above, the following description will be continued assuming that a higher priority is finally set to “convenience store DEF” than to “ABC bank”.

Referring again to FIG. 2, next, vehicle position detecting section 101 detects the current position of the vehicle (step S2).
04). Next, the information inquiry unit 117 determines whether there is any inquiry from the user (step S205). Here, the inquiry from the user is
"There is an XX gas station on the right front" or "Now, YY
This means that the user inputs a currently confirmed content such as "passed through a convenience store" to the device by remote control, touch panel or voice. When it is determined in step S205 that there is an inquiry from the user, the guidance information generation unit 112 generates information according to the inquiry (step S206). The information corresponding to the inquiry is the distance to the next guidance point starting from the point where the inquiry was made (in the above example, an XX gas station or a YY convenience store) and guidance information. The unit 112 generates the current position based on the current vehicle position and the read map data. The information corresponding to the inquiry generated in step S206 is output to the information output unit 114.
Alternatively, the image is output to the user via the audio output unit 115 in the form of an image or audio. When the output of this information is completed, the process returns to step S204, and the current position of the vehicle is detected again.

If it is determined in step S205 that there is no inquiry from the user, it is determined whether the current vehicle position is approaching the next guide point (step S208). This determination can be made by setting a distance at which guidance is required in advance and comparing the distance with the distance from the current vehicle position to the guidance point. Also, a plurality of distances at which guidance is required may be set in advance so that information can be provided stepwise for each distance, or any one of the distances may be selectively set according to the vehicle speed. Good. If it is determined in step S208 that the guide point is not close, the process returns to step S204, and the current position of the vehicle is detected again. on the other hand. If it is determined in step S208 that the guide point is close, the image input unit 105
Acquires an image in front of the vehicle (step S209).
This image is obtained using a video camera or a still camera mounted in front of the vehicle. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle forward image acquired via the image input unit 105. Note that images of the side of the vehicle and the rear of the vehicle may be captured as needed.

Next, the target detecting section 106 detects a target from the image ahead of the vehicle. The detection of this target is shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of target list data included in the target detecting unit 106. In this example, since “convenience store DEF” is set as a high-priority target in step S203, the target detection unit 106 refers to the list data shown in FIG. 5 corresponding to “convenience store DEF”. Extract the image. Then, the target detecting unit 106 uses the extracted reference image to match or approximate the reference image from the vehicle front image (for example, the signboards 401 and 4 in FIG. 4).
02). The method of detecting a signboard or the like from the image ahead of the vehicle using the reference image can be realized by using a general image processing method using correlation or the like of the image or an edge image extracted from the image. In addition, since the current vehicle position and map data around the vehicle are known, a specific region of the vehicle front image is set as a target object detection target region,
It is also possible to improve the detection rate. That is, FIG.
The position of the “convenience store DEF” with respect to the current vehicle position is confirmed from the map data around the current vehicle position shown in FIG.

Next, it is determined whether a target is detected in the image ahead of the vehicle in step S210 (step S211). If it is determined in step S211 that the target is not detected, it is determined whether another target corresponding to the next guide point remains based on the map data around the current position of the vehicle (step S212). . If it is determined in step S212 that another target remains, the process returns to step S210 to continue the above-described processing on the other target and determine that there is no remaining target. In this case, the detection of the target is abandoned, and the process proceeds to step S216.
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S211 that the target has been detected, the recognition check unit 108 checks whether the user has recognized the target (step S2).
13, S214). This confirmation processing is performed by the information output unit 114
Alternatively, a confirmation request is output by image display or sound via the sound output unit 115 (step S213),
This is performed by receiving a response from the user via the touch panel, the response button, or voice via the information output unit 114 or the voice recognition unit 116 (step S214).
If it is determined in step S214 that the user has not recognized the target, the process proceeds to step S21.
Returning to step 2, it is determined whether another target remains.

Next, when it is determined in step S214 that the target has been recognized by the user, processing for storing or updating management information on the target is performed by the user recognition rate management unit 109, the time zone management unit 110, This is performed for each of the use target storage units 113 (step S215). Specifically, the user recognition rate for the target is provided to the user recognition rate management unit 109, and information regarding the time zone in which the target is detected is provided to the time zone management unit 110. Is stored or updated in the use target storage unit 113. Next, the guide information generation unit 112 corrects the guide information that has been initialized and set for each guide point (step S216). Here, if the user can recognize the target, the guidance information that has been initialized is corrected to new guidance information that uses the target. On the other hand, if the user cannot recognize any target, the guidance information that has been initialized is used as it is. Then, the guide information set in step S216 is output as an image display or voice via the information output unit 114 or the voice output unit 115 (step S21).
7). Finally, it is determined whether or not route guidance has been performed for all the guide points (step S218). If there are still guide points to be processed, the process returns to step S204 to repeat the same processing, and the guide point to be processed is determined. If there is no (the last guide point), this processing ends.

An example of voice guidance to the user based on the guidance information set by the guidance information generation unit 112 when the user can recognize the target is shown below. In the example of FIG. 3, when the user can recognize “convenience store DEF” as a target, “turn right at the first intersection after passing the convenience store DEF” or “50 in front of the convenience store DEF”
Please turn right at the intersection at m m. " In addition, the user sets “ABC Bank” as a target.
If only the recognition is successful, voice guidance such as "Please turn right at the first intersection after passing ABC Bank" or "Please right turn at the intersection 300 m ahead of ABC Bank" is performed. If the user can recognize both “convenience store DEF” and “ABC Bank” as landmarks, “turn right at the intersection 50 m ahead of the convenience store DEF past the ABC bank. Please do ". On the other hand, as the guidance on the screen, a method of displaying a target object recognized by the user on the screen can be considered. If the user fails to recognize any target, guidance such as “turn right at the second intersection” or “turn right at an intersection 500 m ahead” is provided as before.

As described above, according to the route guidance apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the guidance information is generated using the target that the user can recognize. Route guidance can be provided. In addition, since the user can draw guidance information from the device in an interactive manner, effective guidance information can be used. In addition, since an easily recognizable target is changed for each user and used for the guidance information, effective route guidance can be performed. Further, since the optimal target can be used according to the time zone, reliable guidance information can be generated even at night or the like. Further, since the target used in the past is repeatedly used, the same guide information can always be given to the user. In addition, since the user can specify a specific target, information known to the user can be incorporated in the route guidance in advance. In addition, it is possible to derive guidance information even at locations other than the guidance point, and it is possible to provide route guidance without giving the user a feeling of anxiety. Further, since the target related to the destination is used, it is possible to generate guidance information using information with a high degree of user interest.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the route guidance device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram visually illustrating an example of a relationship between map data and a current vehicle position.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle front image acquired via an image input unit 105.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of target list data included in the target detecting unit 106. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Vehicle position detection part 102 ... Map storage part 103 ... Condition setting part 104 ... Route calculation part 105 ... Image input part 106 ... Target object detection part 107 ... Specific information designation part 108 ... Recognition confirmation part 109 ... User recognition rate management part 110: time zone management unit 111: destination-specific target selection unit 112: guidance information generation unit 113: used target storage unit 114: information output unit 115: voice output unit 116: voice recognition unit 117: information inquiry unit 301: Intersections 302, 303: Target object 304: Vehicle 401, 402 ... Signboard

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09B 29/10 G09B 29/10 A 5H180 G10L 15/00 G10L 3/00 551Q 15/28 (72) Inventor Nobuyuki Nakano 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yutaka Watanabe 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City Osaka Prefecture HC31 HD07 HD16 HD21 HD24 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB09 AC01 AC02 AC04 AC18 AD01 5B050 BA11 BA17 CA07 DA02 EA07 FA02 FA10 FA17 5B057 AA16 DA17 DB02 DB09 DC16 DC34 5D015 KK02 KK04 5H180 AA01 BB13 CC04 FF04 FF05 FF05 FF25 FF25 FF05 FF05 FF05 FF04

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A route guidance device for guiding an optimal route for a vehicle to reach a destination, comprising: vehicle position detecting means for detecting a current position of the vehicle; Condition setting means for setting conditions (destinations, use roads, etc.); route calculation means for calculating a route based on the conditions set by the condition setting means; map data and a target required for route guidance A map storage unit that stores information, an image input unit that captures an image in front of the vehicle, and a target stored in the map storage unit in association with a current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detection unit.
A target detecting means for detecting from a front image of the vehicle captured by the image input means; a recognition confirming means for confirming whether or not a user has recognized the target detected by the target detecting means; When a vehicle approaches a required point, guidance for generating guidance information on the route calculated by the route calculation unit using a target object recognized by the user based on the confirmation result of the recognition confirmation unit. A route guidance device, comprising: an information generation unit; and an information output unit that outputs the guidance information generated by the guidance information generation unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: voice output means for presenting, via voice, a content that the recognition confirmation means wants to confirm to the user; and voice recognition means for recognizing a voice to which the user has responded. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the user's recognition state is interactively confirmed through the voice output unit and the voice recognition unit. 3. Using the confirmation result of the recognition confirmation means,
The apparatus further includes a user recognition rate management unit that manages a recognition rate of the user for each type of the target, wherein the guide information generation unit is configured to generate a target of a type having a high user recognition rate according to information managed by the user recognition rate management unit. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the guidance information is generated by preferentially using an object. 4. Using the confirmation result of the recognition confirmation means,
The information processing apparatus further includes a time zone management unit that manages a time zone in which the user has recognized the target, wherein the guidance information generation unit switches the priority of the target according to the current time according to the information managed by the time zone management unit. 4. The route guidance device according to claim 3, wherein guidance information is generated. 5. A target information storage means for storing a target used for the guide information generated by the guide information generating means, wherein the guide information generating means generates the guide information at the same point. 2. The route guidance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide information is generated by preferentially using the target already stored in the use target storage means. 6. A specific information designating means for designating a specific target by a user, wherein the guidance information generating means provides guidance by preferentially using the target specified by the specific information specifying means. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the route guidance device generates information. 7. An information inquiring means for inquiring information from a specific target by a user as a starting point, wherein the guidance information generating means generates information corresponding to the contents inquired to the information inquiring means. The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the information is output from the information output unit. 8. A destination-specific target selecting means for selecting a target related to the type of destination designated by the user, wherein the guidance information generating means includes:
The route guidance device according to claim 1, wherein a target used for generating guidance information is changed.