JP2002216293A - Travel route guiding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make acquirable an appropriate road traffic information with high reliability such as the cause, caused time, and progress of a traffic jam. SOLUTION: When the road traffic information is acquired from an information center through a VICS receiver 2 or an Internet connecting part 6, a control part 10 immediately tunes a broadcast receiver 3 to a specialized channel broadcasting traffic information and receives up-to-date road traffic information. By his, appropriate road traffic information with high reliability is acquired from two information sources.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traveling route guide device mounted on a vehicle or the like and guiding a route from a current position to a destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of traveling route guidance device is known as a navigation device, detects a current position by a current position detecting means such as a GPS receiver, and stores map data corresponding to the current position on a DVD-ROM. And display it on the LCD monitor through a recording medium such as a network or the like, and the route search means searches for a recommended route to the destination set by the operator, and displays the recommended route over the map displayed on the LCD monitor. Things. When approaching a branch point such as an intersection or an interchange, an enlarged view or a three-dimensional view thereof is displayed, and guidance in a traveling direction and a distance to a destination are provided by voice. Further, road traffic information such as traffic congestion information on a route can be obtained by a road beacon in VICS, FM multiplex broadcasting, or from an information center, and can be displayed on a liquid crystal monitor to provide route guidance while avoiding traffic congestion. You can also.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional traveling route guide device, although information on traffic congestion on the guide route can be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor, the cause, time and progress of the occurrence of traffic congestion can be determined. Details are difficult to understand, and when you actually drive, there is not much traffic jam,
Conversely, there may be severe traffic. In addition, when the user is about to leave, depending on the departure and arrival times, the weather forecast, the situation of the passenger, and the like, the traffic jam information on the guide route may be validated and detoured to another route, or ignored on the guide route. There is a problem that it is difficult to determine whether to drive.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a travel route guidance apparatus capable of acquiring appropriate road traffic information with high reliability.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a travel route guidance apparatus according to the present invention comprises a traffic information acquisition means for acquiring traffic information, and a local broadcast of a broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information. When the traffic information is acquired by the broadcast receiving means for receiving and the traffic information acquiring means, it is tuned to a regional broadcast of a broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information based on a signal from the traffic information acquiring means. Control means, and when traffic information is obtained by the traffic information obtaining means, the local information is immediately switched to a local broadcast of a broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information, so that reliable information can be obtained from two information sources. Appropriate road traffic information can be obtained, road traffic conditions can be accurately determined, the range of selection by the user can be increased, and an operation plan can be made according to various conditions.

Further, in the traveling route guidance apparatus according to the present invention, the control means tunes to a regional broadcast corresponding to the position information based on the position information included in the traffic information obtained by the traffic information obtaining means. The traffic information from the VICS and the information center includes location information such as traffic congestion spots. By receiving a regional broadcast of the corresponding area based on the location information, More detailed and appropriate real-time road traffic information can be obtained.

[0007] Further, the traveling route guidance apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that it has a storage means for storing in advance the frequency of a local broadcast of a broadcasting station broadcasting traffic information together with its position information, By storing the frequency of the regional broadcast together with its position information, the local broadcast at a position such as a congested place can be immediately received.

[0008] Further, the traveling route guide device of the present invention comprises a traffic information acquiring means for acquiring traffic information, a broadcast receiving means for receiving a broadcast, a map information acquiring means for acquiring map information, and a current position. A current position detecting means for detecting, a route searching means for searching for a route from the current position to the destination, and a current position detected by the current position detecting means based on the map information obtained by the map information obtaining means. And display means for displaying a route searched by the route search means on a map, and when the traffic information is obtained by the traffic information obtaining means, the broadcast based on the position information included in the obtained traffic information. Control means for controlling the receiving means to tune to the local broadcast of the broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information, when the traffic information is obtained by the traffic information obtaining means. By displaying road traffic information such as traffic congestion points on the map displayed on the display means and its guide route, and receiving detailed road traffic information such as traffic congestion information from the broadcast receiving means, both visual and auditory Can be used to recognize the actual situation of road traffic information. In addition, when traffic information is acquired while a general broadcast is being received by the broadcast receiving means, it is possible to immediately switch to a regional broadcast and receive detailed and appropriate road traffic information.

Further, the traveling route guidance apparatus of the present invention includes a sound source reproducing means for reproducing a sound source, and when the traffic information is obtained by the traffic information obtaining means while the sound source is being reproduced by the sound source reproducing means. The control means switches from reproduction by the sound source reproduction means to reception by the broadcast reception means, and when listening to music such as a CD, when road traffic information is obtained, immediately By switching to regional broadcasting, detailed and appropriate road traffic information can be received.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a vehicle-mounted traveling route guidance device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a GPS receiver 1 receives radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites and acquires current position information of the own vehicle.
The VICS receiver 2 receives an optical beacon, a radio beacon, or an FM multiplex broadcast installed on a road and acquires road traffic information. The broadcast receiver 3 can receive an AM broadcast or an FM broadcast, and can also receive a local broadcast (hereinafter, abbreviated as a traffic information channel) that broadcasts road traffic information. The traffic information channel is currently provided along expressways, but is expected to provide digital broadcasting services in small areas in the future. Audio player 4 is a CD, MD, D
It reproduces one or a plurality of sound sources of a disk such as a VD and a cassette tape. LCD monitor 5
Is for displaying map information, road traffic information, other operation contents and operation contents. Internet connection unit 6
Is for connecting to the Internet through a telephone line, and acquires map information and road traffic information from an external information center. The map information may be obtained from a DVD-ROM or the like by a driver. The operation input unit 7 includes a switch and a remote controller provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal monitor 5, and inputs various commands. The route search unit 8 searches for a recommended route from the current position acquired by the GPS receiver 1 to the destination set by the user on the operation unit 7 and displays the recommended route on the liquid crystal monitor 5. The storage unit 9 stores the received GPS information, VICS information, map information, a frequency list of a traffic information specialty channel, a program, work data, and other data. The control unit 10 controls the respective units based on an instruction from the operation input unit 7 and implements the contents of the instruction, while controlling the entire apparatus.

Next, the route guidance operation according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1, when the engine of the vehicle is started, the device starts up, and the control unit 10 controls the vehicle based on the position information from the GPS receiver 1 and the signals from the azimuth sensor and the vehicle speed sensor (not shown). Calculate the current position. Based on the current position information, the control unit 10 reads out the corresponding map data from the map information taken into the storage unit 9 through the Internet connection unit 6 and displays the map on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 5. Next, when the driver sets a destination from the operation input unit 7, the route search unit 8 searches for a recommended route from the current position to the destination, and displays the recommended route on a map on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 5. . When the driver advances the vehicle along the guidance route displayed on the LCD monitor 5 and approaches the place where the on-street beacon is installed, VI
The CS receiver 2 acquires the VICS information from the road beacon, and the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 5 indicates that the VICS information has been received. In addition, when traffic congestion information is acquired from VICS information, the control unit 10 can cause the route search unit 8 to search for a detour route in accordance with a driver's instruction from the operation input unit 7.

Next, the operation when the VICS receiver 2 acquires the road traffic information will be described with reference to FIG. When the road traffic information is acquired by the VICS receiver 2 (step S1), the control unit 10 checks whether the audio player 4 is operating (step S2), and if it is operating, mutes the audio player 4 (step S3). . Also,
Check whether the broadcast receiver 3 is operating (step S
4) If it is not operating, turn on the power (step S5). If it is operating and AM broadcast or FM broadcast is received, switch to the traffic information special channel to receive road traffic information. (Step S6). That is, based on the position information (longitude / latitude) included in the road traffic information acquired by the VICS receiver 2, the frequency of the traffic information specialty channel closest to the corresponding position is retrieved from the storage unit 10 and extracted. , By setting its frequency in the tuning circuit of the broadcast receiver 3. VICS
When the road traffic information obtained by the receiver 2 extends to a plurality of locations, the frequencies of the traffic information specialty channels corresponding to the plurality of locations are sequentially retrieved from the storage unit 10 and set in the tuning circuit of the broadcast receiver 3 respectively. I do. The driver refers to the road traffic information obtained by the VICS receiver 2 and displayed on the LCD monitor 5 and the road traffic information received by the broadcast receiver 3 and output from the speaker, and determines the size of the traffic jam and the like. Judgment is made comprehensively, such as the transit time and the expected time to dissolution. Thereafter, when a predetermined time (time during which the traffic information broadcast is being performed) has elapsed or when the driver has pressed the cancel switch (step S7), the control unit 10 is controlled.
Releases the mute of the audio player 4 and returns to the original state (step S8).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the VICS receiver 2 transmits road traffic information regardless of whether the audio player 4 is listening to a CD or the broadcast receiver 3 is listening to a radio broadcast. When receiving, the control unit 10
However, since the latest road traffic information is acquired by receiving the traffic information channel by the broadcast receiver 3 immediately, it is possible to comprehensively determine the scale of traffic congestion and the like, the transit time, and the expected time until elimination.

In the above embodiment, the road traffic information is obtained by the VICS receiver 2.
The road traffic information may be obtained from the information center through the Internet connection unit 6. Again, in this case,
Location information is included in the acquired road traffic information.

Although the traveling route guidance device according to the present embodiment has been described as a device for a vehicle fixed to a vehicle, the present invention is also applicable to a portable traveling route guidance device simply brought into a vehicle. Can be.

[0016]

As described above, the present invention provides a traffic information acquiring means for acquiring traffic information, a broadcast receiving means for receiving a local broadcast of a broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information, and a traffic information acquiring means. When traffic information is acquired by the traffic information acquisition means, the traffic information acquisition means is tuned to a local broadcast of a broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information based on a signal from the traffic information acquisition means. When the traffic information is obtained by, by immediately switching to the local broadcasting of the broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information, it is possible to obtain reliable and appropriate road traffic information from two information sources, The situation can be accurately determined, the selection range of the user can be increased, and an operation plan according to various conditions can be made.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart showing a road traffic information acquisition operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 GPS receiver 2 VICS receiver 3 Broadcast receiver 4 Audio player 5 LCD monitor 6 Internet connection unit 7 Operation input unit 8 Route search unit 9 Storage unit 10 Control unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A traffic information acquiring means for acquiring traffic information, a broadcast receiving means for receiving a local broadcast of a broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information, and a traffic information acquiring means for acquiring traffic information by the traffic information acquiring means. And a control means for tuning to a regional broadcast of a broadcasting station broadcasting the traffic information based on a signal from the traffic information obtaining means. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit tunes to a regional broadcast corresponding to the position information based on the position information included in the traffic information obtained by the traffic information obtaining unit. Travel route guidance device. 3. The travel route guidance device according to claim 2, further comprising storage means for storing in advance the frequency of a regional broadcast of a broadcasting station broadcasting traffic information together with its position information. 4. A traffic information acquiring means for acquiring traffic information, a broadcast receiving means for receiving a broadcast, a map information acquiring means for acquiring map information, a current position detecting means for detecting a current position of the self, A route searching means for searching for a route from the current position to the destination, and a current position detected by the current position detecting means and a route searched by the route searching means based on the map information obtained by the map information obtaining means. Display means for displaying a map on a map, and when the traffic information is acquired by the traffic information acquiring means, the traffic information is controlled by controlling the broadcast receiving means based on the position information included in the acquired traffic information. A traveling route guidance device comprising: control means for tuning to a regional broadcast of a broadcasting station that is broadcasting. 5. A sound source reproducing means for reproducing a sound source, wherein when traffic information is acquired by the traffic information acquiring means while the sound source is reproduced by the sound source reproducing means, the control means reproduces the sound source. 5. The travel route guidance device according to claim 4, wherein switching from reproduction by means to reception by the broadcast receiving means is performed.