JP2002286473A - Recommended route calculating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a vehicle side accurately recognize an estimated arrival time at a destination. SOLUTION: An on-vehicle system 3 sends information on the present position and a destination to an information center 1. The information center 11 returns a recommended route and estimated arrival times at a plurality of check positions on the recommended route and the destination to the on-vehicle system. This system compares the present time and the estimated arrival time at each check point and, if both are greatly different, instructs the information center 1 to re-search for a new recommended route.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a current location and a destination recognized by a vehicle-mounted system mounted on an automobile to a predetermined service center by communication, and collating the information with map information held in the service center. The present invention relates to a recommended route calculation method for searching for a recommended route in a center and transmitting the searched recommended route to the in-vehicle system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional general navigation device is provided with a large-capacity recording medium on which map information necessary for route guidance and the like is recorded, and a reading device therefor, based on the map information recorded on the recording medium. Route guidance is provided.

[0003] In addition, the system includes a beacon transceiver and an FM multiplex receiver, obtains current congestion information from traffic information providing means such as VICS, and displays a congestion status and recommends a route considering the current congestion information. There is also a system that seeks, or a system that connects to the Internet via a mobile phone or the like and has a wide variety of destination search means.

[0004]

However, the conventional navigation device has a problem that the capacity of the recording medium mounted on each navigation device increases due to the increase in the information capacity of the map information, and the cost of the recording medium is high. is there.

[0005] Further, since the state of a road map changes every moment due to the occurrence of traffic congestion or accidents, the map information becomes obsolete as time passes. In addition, as the map information becomes obsolete, it is practically difficult to replace the recording medium for each navigation device with a record of the latest map information.

Accordingly, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-37.
In the Patent Application No. 3056 (hereinafter referred to as "proposed example"), map information for route guidance can be made unnecessary, and communication costs can be reduced while providing route guidance between the service center and the vehicle-mounted system. We propose a navigation system that can send and receive information for efficient route guidance.

[0007] In this proposal example, information on the current location and destination is transmitted from a vehicle-mounted system to a predetermined service center by communication.
Based on the information, a route is searched using map information prepared in the service center, and the route obtained as a result of the search is transmitted to the in-vehicle system by communication as route information representing a series of coordinate points. Things. As a result, route guidance can be performed in the vehicle-mounted system based on the route information, so that the vehicle-mounted system does not need to have large-capacity map information in advance.

However, in such a proposal example, when the service center collects wide-area road traffic information at regular intervals, it is difficult to collect the ever-changing traffic conditions completely in real time. That is, in the proposed example, there is no specific method for obtaining the recommended route in real time. Therefore, it is unlikely that accurate arrival prediction can be made. For example, it has been substantially difficult to cope with a situation where traffic congestion information has changed significantly due to an accident or the like while a vehicle is traveling on a recommended route.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a recommended route calculation method capable of performing accurate arrival prediction under a situation where a recommended route calculated on the service center side is transmitted to a vehicle-mounted system.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems,
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the present location and the destination recognized by the in-vehicle system mounted on the car are transmitted to a predetermined service center by communication, and the information is compared with the map information held in the service center, and the information is stored in the service center. A recommended route calculation method of searching for a recommended route in the in-vehicle system, and transmitting the searched recommended route to the in-vehicle system, wherein the in-vehicle system transmits a current location and a destination to a predetermined service center, and When searching for the recommended route, the service center sets a plurality of check points on the recommended route, calculates respective expected times from the current location to the respective check points and the destination, and calculates the estimated time. A second step of transmitting time to the in-vehicle system together with the recommended route, and the in-vehicle system has reached each of the check points. No, and when it is determined that the check point has been reached, the current time at that time is compared with each expected time given from the service center, and the current time and the expected time are determined to be a predetermined value. A third step of retransmitting the current location and the destination to the service center by communication to the predetermined service center if the difference is more than the prescribed error, and instructing the service center to search again for a recommended route; And

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recommended route calculating method according to the first aspect, wherein the service center holds or obtains a statistical value of the congestion status of each road for each predetermined situation factor. With the data of the current congestion status of each road from a predetermined road traffic information center, if the difference between the current congestion status of each road and the statistical value is within a certain error range, the statistical value Predict the congestion state of each road using, and search for the recommended route, while the difference between the current congestion state of each road and the statistical value exceeds a certain error range, The congestion state of each road is predicted based on the congestion state, and a search for a recommended route is performed based on the prediction result.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recommended route calculation method according to the first or second aspect, wherein the service center includes a road crossing or connecting to the recommended route together with the recommended route, and A return route that returns to the recommended route from the crossing or connecting road is extracted and transmitted to the in-vehicle system, and the in-vehicle system determines whether or not the current location deviates from the recommended route, and the current location is the recommended location. If it is determined that the current position is off the route, it is determined whether the current location belongs to the intersection or connection road or the return route, and the current location is determined to be the intersection or connection road or the return route. If it does not belong, it instructs the service center to search for a new recommended route.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recommended route calculation method according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the service center transmits information on an area in which the on-board system cannot recognize a current location. Transmit to the in-vehicle system, the in-vehicle system determines, based on the information given from the service center, whether or not there is an area where the current location cannot be recognized on the recommended route, If it is determined that there is an area in which the current position cannot be recognized, it is determined based on the current position whether or not the vehicle approaches the area in which the current position cannot be recognized.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recommended route calculating method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the service center holds or obtains information on a road area where a car is not connected. Then, it is determined whether or not the disconnected road area is present on the recommended route, and when it is determined that the disconnected road area is present on the recommended route, the in-vehicle system is informed accordingly. And / or search the map information for a new recommended route excluding the unconnected road area, and transmit the new recommended route to the in-vehicle system.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recommended route calculation method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the service center holds or obtains information on a road area where a car is not connected. Then, it is determined whether or not the disconnected road area exists on the recommended route, and when it is determined that the disconnected road area exists on the recommended route, Transmitting location information to the in-vehicle system, and the in-vehicle system determines whether or not the disconnected road area provided by the service center exists between the current location and the destination on the recommended route. When it is determined that the disconnected road area is present between the current location on the recommended route and the destination, the service center is instructed to search again for a new recommended route, while the service center is instructed. When it is determined that the disconnected road area provided by the center does not exist between the current location and the destination on the recommended route, the service center is not instructed to search again for a new recommended route. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recommended route calculating method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the service center holds or obtains information on a road area where a car is not connected. Then, it is determined whether or not the disconnected road area exists on the recommended route, and when it is determined that the disconnected road area exists on the recommended route, the disconnected road area is Determining whether the current route on the recommended route given by the in-vehicle system is present between the destination and the destination, and determining that the disconnected road area is between the current location on the recommended route and the destination. When it is determined that the recommended route exists, the new recommended route is searched again and transmitted to the in-vehicle system, while the disconnected road area does not exist between the current location and the destination on the recommended route. When it is determined that Not re-explore the Do the recommended route.

The invention according to claim 8 is the recommended route calculation method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein all positions of the map information held by the service center are located in a plurality of areas. Divided, and recommended routes between all areas are set in advance, when searching for a recommended route between the current location and the destination given from the in-vehicle system, between the previously set areas The recommended route is searched based on the recommended route.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recommended route calculating method according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the service center does not deviate from the recommended route in the map information. The information of the presumed essential route is retained, and the information of the essential route is omitted from the information of the recommended route transmitted from the service center to the in-vehicle system.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recommended route calculating method according to the ninth aspect, wherein the confirmation points are arranged along the essential route at a fixed distance or as a coordinate sequence consisting only of positional information of a specific point. Is set in advance, the service center transmits the confirmation point to the in-vehicle system, and the in-vehicle system determines a distance between a current location and the confirmation point, and determines whether the distance is equal to or more than a predetermined specified distance. If it is determined that the vehicle is away from the specified distance, it is determined that the vehicle is out of the recommended route, and the service center is instructed to search again for a new recommended route.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recommended route calculating method according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the information transmitted from the service center to the in-vehicle system includes audio data. .

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the recommended route calculation method according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, information transmitted from the on-vehicle system to the service center includes audio data. .

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recommended route calculation method according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein information transmitted from the service center to the on-vehicle system includes character information. The in-vehicle system comprises:
The character information is converted into voice data by voice, and the voice data is output as voice in a car.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication system for realizing a recommended route calculation method according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes a service center 1 and an in-vehicle system 3 mounted on a vehicle.

The service center 1 has a radio base station (first
Communication means) 11, an information center 13 as an information processing station, and a road traffic information center 14 for collecting and transmitting road traffic information such as VICS are connected to each other through a communication line 17 such as the Internet.

The radio base station 11 has a function of transmitting and receiving information to and from the vehicle-mounted system 3 by wireless communication under the control of the information center 13, and is connected to the information center 13 via a communication line 17. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the information center 13 includes a communication device 21 for vehicles that communicates with an on-vehicle system through the communication line 17 and the radio base station 11;
7, an infrastructure communication device 22 for communicating with the road traffic information center 14, a map information storage means 23 for storing map information (see FIG. 3) in advance, a communication device 21 for vehicles, and an infrastructure communication device. And a route search means 24 connected to the map information storage means 23 for searching for a recommended route of the vehicle.

[0027] The communication device 21 for automobiles has a communication line 17.
And vehicle information obtaining means 21a for obtaining vehicle information given from the vehicle-mounted system 33 through the wireless base station 11.
And an information transmitting unit 21b for transmitting a search result of the route searching unit 24 to the in-vehicle system 3 through the communication line 17 and the wireless base station 11.

The infrastructure communication device 22 is connected to the communication line 17.
And other information obtaining means for obtaining traffic congestion information and road construction information provided from the road traffic information center 14 through the Internet.

The route search means 24 uses a microcomputer including a RAM, a ROM, and a CPU, and is a functional component that operates according to a software program stored in advance in a ROM or the like. Route search means 24
The operating functions defined by the software program described above will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle system 3 is connected between a GPS receiver 25 that obtains current position information (latitude information and longitude information, etc.) by communication with a GPS satellite communication device (not shown) and the radio base station 11. A wireless communication device 26 for performing wireless communication with
A liquid crystal display panel for displaying various information, a right setting display device 27, and a GPS receiver 25 and a wireless communication device 26 are respectively controlled, and based on information obtained through the GPS receiver 25 and the wireless communication device 26. Setting display device 2
7 and an information processing device 28 for generating information to be transmitted to the wireless communication device 26.

The information processing device 28 of the vehicle-mounted system 3
Is a functional component that uses a microcomputer including a RAM, a ROM, and a CPU, and that operates according to a software program stored in advance in a ROM or the like. The operation functions defined by the software program of the information processing device 28 will be described later.

<Operation Function of Communication System> The following operation mainly consists of a software program stored in advance in the information processing device 28 of the vehicle-mounted system 3 and a software program stored in the route search means 24 of the information center 13. The program follows the processing procedure defined by the program, and the operation is realized by the in-vehicle system 3 and the information center 13 cooperating with each other by the two software programs.

First, while the car is running, the on-board system 3
GPS receiver 25 obtains current location information (latitude information and longitude information, etc.) by communicating with a GPS satellite communication device (not shown). When the operator specifies a destination by a predetermined operation and presses a communication instruction button (not shown) provided near the setting display device 27, the GPS receiver 2 is operated.
The current position information and the destination specifying information (latitude information and longitude information, etc.) obtained in step 5 are wirelessly transmitted to the wireless base station 11 of the service center 1 through the wireless communication device 26 together with a signal for requesting guidance of a recommended route.

The radio base station 11 of the service center 1
When the current location information of the car is obtained, the information is transmitted to the information center 13 through the communication line 17.

The route search means 24 of the information center 13
As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle current position information and the destination specifying information transmitted together with the guidance request signal from the vehicle-mounted system 3 are received from the wireless base station 11 via the communication line 17 and the vehicle information obtaining means 21a. In response to this, the route searching means 24 characterizes the destination based on the destination specifying information, and the route from the current location indicated by the current location information to the specified destination is stored in the map information storage means 23. Search using map information (FIG. 3). Then, when a route is obtained by the search, route information is created that represents the route as a series of a plurality of coordinate points set at intervals along the route (FIG. 4). 3 and FIG. 4, reference numerals C1 to C21 represent intersections, and reference numerals La1 to La6,.
g1 to Lg4 indicate paths (road links), reference symbol P1 indicates the current location of the vehicle on the map, and reference symbol O1 indicates the destination of the vehicle on the map. In addition, points A, B, and C in FIG. 4 indicate intermediate points on the recommended route.

Here, the information center 13 searches for a recommended route by a known Dijkstra method as shown in FIG.
That is, when information on the current location P1 and the destination O1 is given from each car, the information center 13 performs an optimal route calculation based on the current traffic congestion status and the statistical values of the traffic congestion information up to now, and Send to each car. However, for example, the whole of Japan is divided into a plurality of areas Ar1 and Ar2, and each area is divided in advance into a current location P1 (Ar1) and a destination O1.
The optimum recommended route Lp under each traffic condition when (Ar2) is set is obtained in advance. In this case, if the number of areas is large, an extremely large number of combinations of the current location P1 and the destination O1 occur. However, when a route search is performed by the Dijkstra method or the like, all combinations within the route search range from the current location P1 to the destination O1 are performed. For the intersection of, an optimal route from the current location P1 is determined at a time, and only the recommended route to the actual destination O1 is used. As a result, the destination O1 is located sufficiently far from the current location P1, and, for example, the current location P1 is the southern end of Kagoshima and the destination O1 is the northern end of Hokkaido. The optimal route to each intersection can be determined. By utilizing this, it is possible to calculate a route for a destination O1 almost nationwide for a specific current position in a single route search, and it is not necessary to calculate for each combination of each current location and the destination O1. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the optimum route between all the areas in advance with the facilities of the current information center 13. By obtaining the recommended routes between all the areas in advance in such a manner, information about the current position P1 and the destination O1 is sent from each vehicle, and it is possible to obtain the recommended routes for each vehicle very quickly. The treatment equipment of limited capacity can meet the requirements of many automobiles.

Then, the route searching means 24 calculates the recommended route as described above, and upon completion of the creation processing, transmits the information to the information transmitting means 21b of the communication device 21 for vehicles,
The data is transmitted to the in-vehicle system 3 via the communication line 17 and the wireless base station 11.

Further, the route searching means 24 associates the traffic congestion information provided from the road traffic information center 14 with predetermined situation factors such as season, month, day of week, time, holiday / specific day, and weather. The data is totaled in the state, and the traffic congestion state in each condition is statistically stored. Normally, the traffic congestion situation on the road from Monday to Friday (hereinafter referred to as “weekday”) excluding holidays and specific days greatly changes at every time as represented by a commuting rush. Therefore, in the case of weekdays, the difference between the days is not so large. Utilizing this, the information on the current location of the automobile and the destination O1 is transmitted to the in-vehicle system 3 via the communication line 17 and the wireless base station 11.
When obtaining a recommended route given by the user, data such as the current congestion status of each road is obtained from the road traffic information center 14, and the obtained current congestion status of each road is compared with statistical values. When these differences are within a certain error range, the congestion state of each road is predicted using the statistical value, and a search for a recommended route is performed. On the other hand, as a result of comparing the current congestion status of each road with the statistical value, if these differences exceed a certain error range, each road is conveyed using the statistical value closest to the current congestion status of each road. Of the traffic congestion and search for a recommended route. As described above, by using the same statistic value as the current condition, it is possible to accurately predict the traffic congestion state while the vehicle travels to the destination O1. this,
Road links La1 to La based on traffic congestion conditions classified by season, month, day of week, time, holiday / specific day, weather conditions, and the like.
6,..., Lg1 to Lg4 are shown in Table 1 below.

[0039]

[Table 1]

Then, the route searching means 24 calculates speed limit data of the searched recommended route (this is stored in the map information storage means 23 in advance), and congestion information of the recommended route (this is (Obtained from the road traffic information center 14), the arrival time of the destination O1 of the automobile and the specific point on the way are predicted, and the estimated result of the arrival time is transmitted to the information transmitting means 21b of the communication apparatus 21 for vehicles. , To the in-vehicle system 3 via the communication line 17 and the wireless base station 11. This makes it possible to calculate the optimal recommended route and at the same time to accurately predict the arrival time or time at the destination O1.

When the route search means 24 determines that there are a plurality of recommended routes (for example, the first recommended route [P1 → C2 → C6 (point A) → C8 → C1 in FIG. 6).
1 (point B) → C15 → C18 (point C) → O1], and the second
Recommended route [P1 → C2 → C6 (point A) → C5 → C4 →
C10 (B ') → C14 → C17 → C18 (point C) → O
1] is present), both recommended routes are transmitted to the vehicle-mounted system 3. However, when the plurality of recommended routes are calculated and extracted, the priorities are calculated in ascending order of the predicted time, and the information of the priorities is transmitted to the in-vehicle system 3 together. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 7, information on a road link that intersects or connects with each recommended route is also transmitted to the in-vehicle system 3. In FIG. 7, a bold line is a recommended route (first recommended route), and includes all road links that intersect or connect with the first recommended route and information on road links between intersections related to the road link. Have been.
As a result, when transmitting the first recommended route, the second recommended route is also transmitted.

Here, the route searching means 24 sets the first recommended route [P1 → C2 → C6 (point A) → C8 → C11 (point B).
→ C15 → C18 (point C) → O1] and the second recommended route [P1 → C2 → C6 (point A) → C5 → C4 → C10
In the case where both (B ′) → C14 → C17 → C18 (point C) → O1] are calculated, it is assumed that the priority of the first recommended route is higher than that of the second recommended route.

In the on-vehicle system 3 on the automobile side, first,
Only the first recommended route having a higher priority is displayed on the setting display device 27.
Will be displayed. By the way, when the car runs off the first recommended route (for example, in FIG. 6, the recommended route is the first recommended route [P1 → C2 → C6 (A
Point) → C8 → C11 (point B) → C15 → C18 (point C)
(→ O1) is displayed on the setting display device 27, but the current position of the vehicle is at the point B ′), the information processing device 28 in the on-vehicle system 3 determines that, and Based on the current location B 'and the destination O1, a new recommended route (corresponding to a second recommended route) from the current location B' to the destination O1 and an original recommended route from the current location B '( And a return route for returning to the first recommended route). Here, when calculating the return route for returning to the original recommended route, the route searching means 24 performs the calculation based on the road link crossing or connecting to the original recommended route (first recommended route). Do. Then, the information processing device 28
Is a new recommended route (second recommended route) and the current location B '
The setting display device 27 displays a return route from the point to the original recommended route (first recommended route).

In this way, even when the current position B 'deviates from the optimal recommended route (first recommended route), the in-vehicle system 3 does not communicate with the information center 13 and the in-vehicle system 3 3, both the new recommended route (second recommended route) and the return route to the original recommended route (first recommended route) can be displayed on the setting display device 27, eliminating the need for extra communication costs. .

By the way, when the position of the own vehicle is detected by the normal GPS, the error is said to be 10 m or less in a place where the GPS signal from the satellite is normally received, and has sufficient accuracy for the route guidance of the vehicle. However, in locations where GPS signals are not received at all, such as in tunnels, or where GPS radio waves are reflected by extremely high buildings, the location cannot be detected at all, or a significant displacement may occur. Things happen. However, such a place (communicable section) is generally known in advance by a survey.

Therefore, the route search means 24 of the information center 13 obtains information on a communication-disabled section such as a tunnel (communication-disabled section information) in advance. For example, map information storage means 2
3 may be stored in advance, or may be obtained from the road traffic information center 14 through the infrastructure-side communication device 22. Then, when there is a communication-disabled section on the recommended route, or when the current location of the car is located near the communication-disabled section, a signal to that effect is transmitted to the in-vehicle system 3.

In the vehicle-mounted system 3, based on the signal sent from the information center 13, the driver is notified of this by displaying it on the setting display device 27 just before the non-communicable section, for example. The route guidance for the communication disabled section is performed in advance. For example, "5
00m ahead, turn left at the intersection "on the setting display device 27. The driver can follow the correct recommended route even in the section where the GPS signal cannot be received normally and the current location cannot be accurately determined. Can be.

If such a measure cannot be taken,
Car navigation systems need to always detect the correct location to avoid false navigation,
For this reason, an accurate speed detection sensor and turning angle detection sensor are required in addition to the GPS receiver. However, in this embodiment, such a speed detection sensor and a turning angle detection sensor are not required.

When the information center 13 transmits the recommended route to the in-vehicle system 3, the position information (latitude information and longitude information) of a plurality of check points on the recommended route and the information of the expected arrival time are combined together. Send to As the expected arrival time, for example, information on the time at which the automobile is expected to arrive is transmitted. And the in-vehicle system 3
The side constantly determines whether or not the current location recognized by the reception by the GPS receiver 25 has reached the confirmation point. When the current location reaches the confirmation point, the current time at that time and the information center 13 Compare the given expected arrival time. Then, when the current time and the estimated arrival time are different from each other by a predetermined error or more, the fact is displayed on the setting display device 27. Further, when the operator presses a communication instruction button (not shown) at that time, a signal for re-searching for a recommended route to the destination is transmitted to the information center 13 and the signal is transmitted. The information on the current location at the time is transmitted to the information center 13. The information center 13 searches the recommended route again based on the signal of the re-search instruction transmitted from the in-vehicle system 3 and the information on the current location, and retransmits the search result to the in-vehicle system 3. Here, the re-searching instruction signal was transmitted from the vehicle-mounted system 3 to the information center 13 when the driver pressed the communication instruction button (not shown), but at a predetermined point on the recommended route. May be automatically transmitted from the in-vehicle system 3 to the information center 13 upon the arrival of the vehicle at.

In this way, the optimal recommended route taking into account the traffic congestion to the destination and the accurate arrival time prediction can be obtained.
Since it can be displayed on the setting display device 27 of the in-vehicle system 3 and transmitted to the vehicle until the estimated arrival time of the specific point on the recommended route, the arrival of the destination is likely to be significantly delayed due to, for example, an accident on the recommended route. Even in the event that the situation changes, the change in the situation can be grasped on the vehicle side at an early stage, and the information center can easily recalculate the optimum route calculation and the arrival prediction to the destination again.

The route search means 2 of the information center 13
4 stores the recommended route of each vehicle and, when new road construction information is obtained from the infrastructure-side communication device 22, the recommended route including the road link that was interrupted by this road construction. A signal indicating this is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted system 3 of the automobile. Reference symbols X1,
X2 indicates a non-communication section in the first recommended route.

At this time, the in-vehicle system 3 sets and displays on the recommended display route that the road has been disconnected due to road construction.
7 is displayed. When the driver presses a communication instruction button (not shown), a signal for instructing a re-search for a recommended route is transmitted from the vehicle-mounted system 3 to the information center 13. Here, the re-searching instruction signal was transmitted from the vehicle-mounted system 3 to the information center 13 when the driver pressed the communication instruction button (not shown), but at a predetermined point on the recommended route. May be automatically transmitted from the in-vehicle system 3 to the information center 13 upon the arrival of the vehicle at.

Then, the information center 13 searches for a recommended route again based on the path and the node excluding the road that has been disconnected due to the road construction, and transmits the search result to the vehicle-mounted system 3 again. The symbol X3 in FIG. 9 indicates a fault occurrence point (disconnected section) in the first recommended route, and a new recommended route [C8 → C9] to avoid this fault occurrence point X3.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state in which information of “→ C12 → C11” is included. The in-vehicle system 3 displays the new recommended route on the setting display device 27. This makes it easier for the driver to respond to unexpected situations.

However, based on the current location information given by the automobile, if the current location of the automobile has already passed the non-communication section, the information is not transmitted. That is, when the information center 13 determines that a vehicle having a recommended route that passes through a significant obstacle is temporally estimated to have not passed the point (disconnected area), the vehicle is mounted on the vehicle. The information of the non-communication section, which is the failure information, is transmitted to the system 3. FIG. 10 shows that the failure occurrence point (disconnected section) X3 is recognized in the first recommended route,
This indicates a state in which it is recognized or estimated that the current location P2 of the vehicle has already passed the failure point X3. Thus, useless communication can be avoided in a case where the vehicle has already avoided the non-communication section.

The recommended route information transmitted from the information center 13 to the in-vehicle system 3 includes information on a route (essential route) in which the vehicle is clearly expected not to deviate from the recommended route. The description is omitted based on the setting information set by the operator. The in-vehicle system 3 does not provide guidance on the setting display device 27 or the like for the omitted essential route. Here, the indispensable route refers to a route that a vehicle must pass without any choice among road links included in an expressway, a national road, and the like.
Such an indispensable route is guided to a guide sign or the like at a predetermined traveling point (for example, near a tollgate on an expressway) without any particular guidance to the driver, so that the driver must leave the recommended route. It is possible to run easily without being. Thus, for example, when traveling on a long-distance highway, the information center 13 sends the in-vehicle system 3
Can greatly reduce the amount of information to be transmitted, and the communication cost can be significantly reduced.

Here, in the case of omitting the transmission of a part of the recommended route for the portion of the recommended route omitted as described above, not all transmission data is omitted, but the position information of each fixed distance or specific point. A confirmation point is set as a road coordinate sequence consisting of only the road, and the confirmation point is transmitted from the information center 13 to the vehicle-mounted system 3. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the position data R1 to Rn for each interchange on the highway Hs, which does not enter the recommended route of the vehicle, are transmitted as confirmation points. At this time, in the in-vehicle system 3, while traveling on the portion Hs of the recommended route for which the transmission is omitted, the current location is determined by the confirmation points R1 to R1 transmitted from the information center 13.
It is determined whether or not the vehicle is more than a predetermined distance (prescribed distance) from Rn. If it is determined that the vehicle is more than the prescribed distance, it is determined that the vehicle deviates from the recommended route Hs, and the setting is displayed. The notification is displayed on the device 27. Then, based on the operator's pressing operation of a communication instruction button (not shown) or the like,
The information of the current position and the signal of the re-search instruction are transmitted to the information center 13. Note that here, when the driver presses a communication instruction button (not shown) and operates it,
An instruction signal for re-search is sent from the on-board system 3 to the information center 1
3, the re-search instruction signal may be automatically transmitted from the in-vehicle system 3 to the information center 13 when the vehicle arrives at a predetermined point on the recommended route. When the signal of the re-search instruction is transmitted from the in-vehicle system 3 to the information center 13, the route searching means 24 of the information center 13 searches for a new recommended route based on the information on the current location given from the in-vehicle system 3. Then, the recommended route is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted system 3.

Therefore, for example, even if the car happens to have the wrong ramp on the highway, the on-board system 3
However, based on the mileage, it is determined that the vehicle has passed the point of the received position data, and if it deviates significantly from that position, it is easy to determine that it has deviated from the recommended route, and the driver recognizes a route error early it can.

The information center 13 sends the in-vehicle system 3
May include text data (character data) for guidance. That is, the route search means 24 of the information center 13 selects text data for route guidance suitable for guiding to each car from a plurality of text data for route guidance stored in advance, and selects the selected text data for route guidance. The route guidance text data is transmitted to the in-vehicle system 3 together with information on recommended routes and the like. On the in-vehicle system 3 side,
The received route guidance text data is received, the route guidance text data is converted into voice, and voice guidance is provided to the driver through a speaker.

Alternatively, the voice data may be directly transmitted from the information center 13 to the vehicle-mounted system 3 and the information center 13 may guide the route to the driver using the voice information.

In this manner, the driver can receive voice guidance during driving, and thus can contribute to safe driving without distracting his / her eyes such as watching the display. When transmitting the text data and returning the text data by voice on the in-vehicle system 3 side,
There is an advantage that the amount of transmission data can be reduced as compared with the method of transmitting voice itself or voice compressed data.

On the contrary, the information transmitted from the vehicle-mounted system 3 to the information center 13 may be audio data.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example in which the in-vehicle system 3 has a microphone 31 voice transmission function and the information center 13 includes a voice recognition unit 32. FIG. 13 further shows that the voice data is generated by the voice text generating means 33 in the information center 13 and the voice data is transmitted to the in-vehicle system 3 and transmitted to the speaker 34 in the in-vehicle system 3 as described above. It is a block diagram which shows the example which outputs a sound.

[0062]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the in-vehicle system transmits the current location and the destination to a predetermined service center, and when the service center searches for a recommended route, a plurality of routes are provided on the recommended route. Check points are set, the estimated time from the current location to each check point and the destination is calculated, and the estimated time is transmitted to the in-vehicle system along with the recommended route, and whether the in-vehicle system has reached each check point No, and when it is determined that the check point has been reached, the current time at that time is compared with each expected time provided by the service center, and the current time and the expected time are not less than a predetermined specified error. If they are different,
The current location and the destination are retransmitted to the predetermined service center by communication to the service center, and the service center is instructed to re-search for the recommended route.For example, when an accident occurs on the recommended route, etc. Even if the arrival of the destination is about to be delayed significantly, changes in the situation can be grasped by the car at an early stage, and the information center can be recalculated for optimal route calculation and arrival prediction at the destination again. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the optimum recommended route can be calculated based on the statistical value, and the arrival time or time at the destination can be accurately predicted.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, the return path when the vehicle deviates from the recommended route can be easily recognized on the vehicle side.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when an unrecognized road area exists on a recommended route, a new optimal recommended route excluding the unrecognized road area can be easily recognized on the vehicle side. . However, as in the case of the sixth and seventh aspects, in a case where a car has avoided a road area that has already been interrupted, unnecessary communication can be omitted by omitting transmission of information.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the recommended routes between the areas are set in advance, the processing load on the service center after the search for the recommended routes is requested from the vehicle-mounted system is reduced.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, unnecessary communication can be omitted by omitting information transmission of essential routes. In this case, by transmitting only the confirmation points along the omitted essential route to the vehicle-mounted system, even if the vehicle deviates from the essential route, the fact is detected with a light communication load. It becomes possible.

According to the present invention, the interface on the vehicle side can be unified by voice, which contributes to ensuring safe driving of the vehicle. In this case, since the communication is exchanged with character information and converted into voice data in the in-vehicle system, the communication load can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication system for implementing a recommended route calculation method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an information center.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing map information held in a service center.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a recommended route.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a recommended route between areas.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a plurality of recommended routes.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing information on an intersection for one recommended route and roads connected to the intersection.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where an area where the current location cannot be recognized exists on the recommended route;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a new recommended route is searched for avoiding a road area where the recommended route is not connected.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state after the current location of the car has avoided a road section where the car is not connected.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state where an essential route exists on a recommended route.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a communication system in a case where audio data is included in information transmitted to an information center.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a communication system in a case where voice data is included in information of both-way communication between the information center and the in-vehicle system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Service center 3 In-vehicle system 11 Radio base station 13 Information center 14 Road traffic information center 17 Communication line 21 Communication device for vehicles 21a Vehicle information acquisition means 21b Information transmission means 22 Infrastructure communication device 23 Map information storage means 24 Route search means Reference Signs List 25 GPS receiver 26 Wireless communication device 27 Setting display device 28 Information processing device 28 Information processing device 32 Voice recognition means 33 In-vehicle system 33 Voice text generation means 34 Speaker

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Yoshinobu Kobayashi 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Inside the Auto Network Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuaki Sada 1 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 7-10, F-term in Auto Network Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2C032 HB22 HB23 HB24 HB25 HC08 HC31 HD04 HD07 HD16 HD23 2F029 AA02 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC06 AC08 AC09 AC14 AC18 AC20 5H180 AA01 BB04 CC12 DD04 EE02 EE11 FF13FF FF27 FF33

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A current location and a destination recognized by an in-vehicle system mounted on an automobile are transmitted to a predetermined service center by communication, and are compared with map information held in the service center to determine a recommended route in the service center. A recommended route calculation method for searching and transmitting the searched recommended route to the in-vehicle system, wherein the in-vehicle system transmits a current location and a destination to a predetermined service center; When searching for the recommended route, setting a plurality of check points on the recommended route, calculating an estimated time from the present location to each of the check points and the destination, and setting the estimated time to the recommended time A second step of transmitting to the in-vehicle system together with the route; and detecting whether or not the in-vehicle system has reached each of the check points. Out, and when it is determined that the check point has been reached, the current time at that time is compared with each expected time given by the service center, and the current time and the expected time are equal to or greater than a predetermined error. A third step of retransmitting the current location and the destination to the predetermined service center by communication to the service center when the service center is different, and instructing the service center to search again for a recommended route. Route calculation method. 2. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein the service center holds or obtains a statistical value of the congestion status of each road for each predetermined situation factor, and obtains predetermined road traffic information. Data of the current congestion status of each road is received from the center, and when the difference between the current congestion status of each road and the statistical value is within a certain error range, the congestion status of each road using the statistical value. In the meantime, while searching for the recommended route, if the difference between the current congestion status of each road and the statistical value exceeds a certain error range, each road is determined based on the current congestion status of each road. A method of calculating a recommended route, comprising predicting the congestion state of a vehicle and searching for a recommended route based on the predicted result. 3. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein the service center is configured to determine whether the service center intersects or connects with the recommended route together with the recommended route and the road that intersects or connects with the recommended route. A return route that returns to the recommended route is extracted and transmitted to the in-vehicle system.The in-vehicle system determines whether or not the current location is out of the recommended route, and determines that the current location is out of the recommended route. In this case, it is determined whether or not the current location belongs to the crossing or connecting road or the return route, and if it is determined that the current location does not belong to the crossing or connecting road or the return route, And instructing the service center to search for a new recommended route. 4. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein the service center transmits to the vehicle-mounted system information on an area where the vehicle-mounted system cannot recognize the current location, The in-vehicle system determines, based on information provided from the service center, whether or not an area where the current location cannot be recognized is present on the recommended route, and an area where the current location cannot be recognized on the recommended route. And determining whether or not the vehicle is approaching an area in which the current position cannot be recognized based on the current position, when it is determined that the current position is present. 5. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein the service center holds or obtains information on a road area where a car is not connected, and displays the information on the recommended route. It is determined whether or not the disconnected road area exists, and when it is determined that the disconnected road area exists on the recommended route, the fact is transmitted to the in-vehicle system, and / or A recommended route calculation method, wherein a new recommended route is searched for from the map information excluding the unconnected road area, and the new recommended route is transmitted to the in-vehicle system. 6. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein the service center holds or obtains information on a road area where a car is not connected, and displays the information on the recommended route. It is determined whether or not the disconnected road area is present, and when it is determined that the disconnected road area is present on the recommended route, the position information of the disconnected road area is transmitted to the in-vehicle system. Transmitting, the in-vehicle system determines whether the disconnected road area provided by the service center is present between the current location and the destination on the recommended route, When it is determined that the present route exists between the current location and the destination on the recommended route, the service center instructs the service center to re-search for a new recommended route, and is given by the service center. When it is determined that the disconnected road area does not exist between the current location on the recommended route and the destination, the service center does not instruct the service center to search again for a new recommended route. Recommended route calculation method. 7. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein the service center holds or obtains information on a road area where a car is not connected, and displays the information on the recommended route. It is determined whether or not the interrupted road area exists, and when it is determined that the interrupted road area exists on the recommended route, the interrupted road area is given from the in-vehicle system. It is determined whether or not the present route on the recommended route exists between the destination and the destination, and it is determined that the non-connected road area exists between the present location on the recommended route and the destination. At the same time, while re-searching for a new recommended route and transmitting it to the in-vehicle system, when it is determined that the disconnected road area does not exist between the current location on the recommended route and the destination, a new Re-search for a recommended route Recommended route calculation method characterized that no. 8. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein all positions of the map information held by the service center are divided into a plurality of areas, and A recommended route between the areas is set in advance, and when searching for a recommended route between the current location and the destination provided from the in-vehicle system, the recommended route is set based on the preset recommended route between the areas. A recommended route calculation method characterized by searching for a route. 9. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein the service center includes information on an essential route presumed not to deviate from a recommended route in the map information. A method of calculating a recommended route, wherein information of the essential route is omitted from information of the recommended route transmitted from the service center to the in-vehicle system. 10. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 9, wherein a check point is set in advance as a coordinate sequence consisting of only positional information of a specific point at a fixed distance along the essential route, and The center transmits the confirmation point to the in-vehicle system, the in-vehicle system determines the distance between the current location and the confirmation point, and determines whether the distance is greater than or equal to a predetermined specified distance, and determines the specified distance. If it is determined that the vehicle is away from the recommended route,
A method for calculating a recommended route, comprising instructing the service center to search again for a new recommended route. 11. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein information transmitted from said service center to said in-vehicle system includes voice data. Method of calculation. 12. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein information transmitted from said in-vehicle system to said service center includes voice data. Method of calculation. 13. The recommended route calculation method according to claim 1, wherein the information transmitted from the service center to the in-vehicle system includes character information, and the in-vehicle system includes: A method of calculating a recommended route, comprising converting text information into voice data and outputting the voice data into a vehicle.