JP2003004469A - Guidance-route search apparatus for navigation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To present a congestion bypass route at the degree of congestion which matches the distaste of a user, in order to find the congestion bypass route, when there is congestion on a guidance route. SOLUTION: When the guidance route up to a destination is computed by a basic- guidance route computing part 23, a vehicle is run. At this time, congestion information is extracted by a congestion-information input and processing part 26 from among traffic information from a VICS receiver 21, the congestion information is displayed on a screen, and the degree of the congestion on the guidance route is detected by a guidance-route congestion-degree detection part 27. The user, who views the screen of the congestion, follows a bypass instruction from a setting input part 30. A screen in which a degree taking the congestion into consideration is formed by a setting-screen formation part 33, and the user performs a setting input operation according to the screen. When the degree of an actual congestion is larger than a set and input value by a congestion-bypass-guidance-route computing part 24, a congestion detour route is computed so as to be presented. As required, the set and input value is stored in a memory 31 for congestion-consideration-degree setting, the value is compared with the degree of the actual congestion, and the guidance-route search apparatus may be actuated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a navigation route search device for searching a route for guiding a vehicle to a destination, and more particularly, to an appropriate navigation route corresponding to the preference of the degree to which a user considers traffic congestion. The present invention relates to a navigation guidance route search device capable of searching a route.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a vehicle navigation device, a CD-ROM storing map data for drawing a map and facility information data for searching facilities,
A map / information storage medium such as a DVD-ROM and this map / information storage medium.
Vehicle position detection for detecting the current position of the vehicle and the azimuth of the traveling direction by a reproduction device that reads data in the information storage medium, a display device that displays a map, a self-contained navigation device such as a distance sensor or a gyro, and a GPS receiver It has a device, reads map data including the current position of the vehicle from the map / information storage medium, draws a map image around the vehicle position on the screen of the display device based on the map data, and displays the vehicle position mark. You can see where the vehicle is currently driving by displaying it on the screen and scrolling the map image according to the movement of the vehicle, or fixing the map image on the screen and moving the vehicle position mark. I try to understand at a glance.

Maps such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM
The map data stored in the information storage device is divided into longitude and latitude widths of appropriate sizes according to various scale levels, and roads and the like are set as a coordinate set of nodes represented by longitude and latitude. Remembered A road is composed of two or more nodes, and the map data displays roads, buildings, facilities, parks, rivers, etc. on the road layer including a road list, a node table and an intersection node list, and a map screen. Background layers and other map data, and information data for displaying characters and map symbols such as administrative division names such as municipalities, road names, intersection names and facility names.

Further, this navigation device has a route guidance function for allowing the user to easily travel to a desired destination on the road without making a mistake. According to this route guidance function, if you specify the starting point to the destination using the map information and, if necessary, the transit point, you can select the time, distance,
Automatically search for the most suitable route, taking into account conditions such as charges
The searched route is stored as a guide route, and while driving, the guide route is displayed on the map image by changing the color from other routes and making it thicker and displaying it, or the vehicle changes the route on the guide route. When an approaching intersection is approached within a certain distance, the intersection is magnified and displayed on the screen by drawing an arrow or the like indicating the direction in which the course should be changed. Is able to guide you to your destination.

Further, in the navigation device,
It has become possible to incorporate road traffic information such as traffic jams, accidents, regulations, etc. provided by a road traffic information communication system (VICS) using FM multiplex broadcasting, beacons and the like. Three types of VICS, level 1 to level 3, can be used, and road traffic information can be displayed at a desired level according to the situation and purpose.

That is, level 1 is a character information display mode in which characters, such as sections, travel time information, fault information, service information, general FM character information, etc., can be displayed in the information area of the display screen. Level 2 is a simple figure display mode in which a simple figure of a congestion monitoring road is drawn, and traffic jam / fault information and the like are displayed on this simple figure. Level 3 is a map information display mode, which displays information such as traffic jams, accidents, regulations, etc. by changing the color of roads on the map. These pieces of information are updated and provided at predetermined time intervals such as 5 minute intervals, and are recorded in the VICS data buffer while being updated at any time in the navigation device.

As described above, particularly in VICS level 3, information such as traffic jams, accidents, regulations, etc. can be periodically taken in and displayed on the roads on the map, so that the status of traffic jams with respect to the travel route of the vehicle can be known. Therefore, when there is a detour for a congested road, you can use that road, and even when you are driving as it is, you can grasp the situation to some extent beyond that, so you can change your future action plan etc. , You can take some action.

In the navigation device as described above, when a destination or a waypoint is set in advance, when searching for a guide route, as described above, the time, distance, This is to automatically search for the most suitable route in consideration of conditions such as tolls. However, by retrieving the traffic information of VICS level 3 as described above, it is possible to re-establish the guide route according to the congestion state of the road. It becomes possible to search.

That is, when the vehicle is traveling on the first searched route, when the user finds from the VICS information that a traffic congestion has occurred on the navigation route that the vehicle is about to travel, the user avoids the traffic congestion. I want to know a new guide route. In such a case, the user selects the guide route re-search function in consideration of traffic information that is provided in advance in the navigation device, and instructs the navigation device to search for an optimum guide route that avoids traffic congestion. At this time, the navigation device searches for and presents one or more guide routes that bypass the congested road based on the captured traffic information data and presents the guide route that is considered appropriate by the user's confirmation input. The route is set as a new guide route. After the confirmation, the navigation device provides guidance so that the vehicle can safely travel along this new guide route.

[0010]

As described above, the VIC
When setting a new guide route according to the traffic jam information by S, in the case where the user instructs the re-search of the guide route by looking at the display of the traffic jam, etc., the user always judges the traffic jam situation and guides. It is troublesome because it is necessary to instruct the route to be searched again. As a countermeasure, for example, when congestion is continued for 15 km along the guide route or when it is detected that there is 10 km of traffic congestion along the guide route, the route is automatically searched again in consideration of traffic information. Is performed and the candidate is displayed.

However, for example, when congestion is continued for 15 km along the guide route, or when it is detected that traffic congestion continues for 10 km along the guide route, the guide automatically considers traffic information. In the case where the route is re-searched, it is most appropriate in advance when manufacturing the navigation device in advance how to determine the traffic condition criteria for automatically re-searching the guide route in consideration of traffic information. It is set to a value that seems to be. for that reason,
The condition cannot be set to satisfy everyone, and some people may want to immediately search for a new guidance route even when there is less congestion, but on the other hand, I think it is not preferable for me to drive along a new guidance route due to traffic congestion,
You may want to search for a guide route only when the traffic becomes more intense.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when searching for a new guidance route according to traffic congestion information, the degree of consideration of traffic congestion, which is a criterion for searching for a new guidance route, can be arbitrarily set according to the preference of the user. It is a main object to provide a navigation guidance route search device that can be set.

[0013]

In order to solve the above problems, a navigation guidance route search device according to the present invention comprises a traffic congestion information input section for inputting traffic congestion information, calculation of a guidance route to a destination, A guide route calculation unit that performs calculation of a congestion detour guide route that bypasses traffic congestion on the guide route based on the traffic congestion information input in the congestion information input unit,
A traffic congestion consideration degree setting unit for setting the degree of traffic congestion consideration for calculating the traffic congestion detour guidance route.

Another navigation route search apparatus for navigation according to the present invention comprises a setting input unit for setting and inputting the degree of consideration of the traffic congestion while traveling along the guide route, and the guide route operation unit is When the degree of traffic congestion input in the congestion information input unit is larger than the degree of traffic congestion consideration set and input, the congestion detour guidance route is calculated.

Further, another navigation route search apparatus according to the present invention comprises a memory for storing the set input value of the degree of consideration of traffic congestion, and the route calculation unit includes:
When the degree of traffic congestion input in the traffic congestion information input unit is larger than the set input value stored in the memory, the traffic congestion bypass guidance route is calculated.

Further, another navigation route search apparatus according to the present invention comprises a setting input section capable of inputting the degree of consideration of the traffic congestion before the start of traveling along the guide route.
And a memory for storing a setting input value of the degree of traffic congestion consideration, the guide route calculation unit, when the degree of traffic congestion input in the congestion information input unit is larger than the set input value stored in the memory, It is designed to calculate the congestion detour guidance route.

Further, in another navigation route search apparatus according to the present invention, in the navigation route calculation unit, the degree of traffic congestion input in the congestion information input unit is a degree of consideration of traffic congestion stored in the memory. When it is detected that the input value is larger than the set input value, the congestion detour guidance route is automatically calculated.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main functional configuration block mainly performing the functions of the present invention and a mutual relationship among them in a navigation device 10 equipped with a guide route search device according to the present invention. An example is shown in which the implementation can be performed in various modes, including functional blocks that are not used in basic operation. Various functional blocks and various devices are connected to a system control unit 28 including a CPU that performs arithmetic processing, a ROM that records a program, and a RAM that temporarily records data so that the navigation device operates comprehensively. It has become.

In this example of the device, a GPS receiver 11 for receiving a GPS signal is provided, and a self-contained navigation sensor 12 including a vehicle distance sensor, an angle sensor, etc. is provided. The signal generation unit 13 generates signals for the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle. With this current position signal, the map information reading unit 15 records a map of map data in the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle and various related information such as facility information on the DVD-RO.
A predetermined map is formed by the map drawing unit 16 based on the read map data, which is read from an information storage medium such as M14, and a map image around the vehicle position is drawn on the screen of the image display device 20 by 3D display or the like. There is. By displaying the vehicle position mark on the map image and scrolling the map image according to the movement of the vehicle, or by fixing the map image on the screen and moving the vehicle position mark,
It makes it possible to see at a glance where the vehicle is currently traveling.

The map data stored in the map information storage medium such as the DVD-ROM 14 is divided into a longitude width and a latitude width of an appropriate size according to various scale levels, and roads and the like have a longitude and a latitude. It is stored as a coordinate set of nodes represented by. A road is composed of two or more nodes, and the map data displays roads, buildings, facilities, parks, rivers, etc. on the road layer including a road list, a node table and an intersection node list, and a map screen. Background layers and other map data, and information data for displaying characters and map symbols such as administrative division names such as municipalities, road names, intersection names and facility names.

In the navigation device 10, the guide route calculation unit 22 obtains a guide route so that the user can easily travel to the desired destination without making a mistake on the road. With this route guidance function, the most appropriate route from the origin to the destination using the map information, and of the routes that pass through the route points input as necessary, considering the conditions such as time, distance, and charge To search automatically. Also, the searched route is stored as a guide route, and while traveling,
The guidance route is displayed on the map image by changing the color from other roads and drawing it thicker. This guide route calculation unit 22
In addition to the basic guide route calculation unit 23 that calculates the normal guide route as described above, a traffic congestion detour guide route calculation unit 24 that is used as one function of a traffic congestion detour route processing unit 25 described in detail later is provided. ing.

Further, provided with the intersection guidance creating unit 17, when the vehicle approaches within a certain distance to the intersection on which the route on the guide route should be changed, the intersection is enlarged and displayed to indicate the direction to change the route. It is possible to guide the user to the destination by drawing and displaying the same on the image display device 20 or by guiding the sound output device 18 to turn right or left. Further, for example, a remote controller, a touch panel of an image display device, an operation switch, and a recently popularized use so that a user can arbitrarily set various functions of the navigation device 10 and perform an operation arbitrarily. The system control unit 28 includes an operation signal input unit 35 including a voice recognition device or the like for recognizing a voice such as a user's operation instruction.
The signal is being input to.

The navigation device 10 is provided with a VICS receiver 21 and can receive various traffic information transmitted from the VICS center by an FM multiplex broadcast receiver, a radio beacon receiver, an optical beacon receiver, or the like. It is like this. In FM multiplex broadcasting, a radius of 20 to 5 around each station in FM broadcasting stations nationwide
It provides traffic information within the reach of radio waves of about 0 km. In addition, the traffic information is provided mainly from the optical beacon transmitter provided on the roadside of the general road. On the vehicle side that receives the traffic information, the traveling direction of the vehicle is 30 km and the backward direction is 1 km.
I get some traffic information. Further, the radio beacon transmitter mainly provides traffic information to vehicles on highways, and the vehicle side receiving the information obtains traffic information about 200 km in the traveling direction and about 1 km behind.

In the example of the traffic congestion detour route processing unit 25 shown in FIG. 1, of the various traffic information received by the VICS receiver 21, the traffic congestion information with link travel time is input to the traffic congestion information input / processing unit 26. Based on the operation control by the system control unit 28, the traffic congestion information in the range that affects the traveling of this vehicle is extracted, input and processed. When representing the state of traffic congestion, VICS information is provided separately for congestion and congestion depending on the degree of congestion, and the navigation device can distinguish between congestion and orange, and congestion can be identified by red. Although they are displayed, they are simply referred to as “congestion”, “traffic congestion”, and the like, except for the part that needs to be described separately in this specification.

In the guide route congestion degree detecting unit 27, based on the data of the congestion information input / processing unit 26, the road portion along the guide route which is searched for in the basic guide route calculating unit 23 in advance. It is detected whether or not there is a traffic jam, and the degree of the traffic jam is detected. This data is output to the traffic congestion detour guidance route computation unit 24 in the guidance route computation unit 22 and also input to the system control unit 28 as necessary to be used in other functional units.

On the other hand, the congestion detour route processing section 25 is provided with a setting input section 30, and among the various manual operation instruction signals and operation instruction signals by voice recognition from the operation signal input section 35,
An instruction signal necessary for processing a congestion detour route is being input. For example, when the user knows that a traffic jam has occurred on the guidance route by looking at the screen display of the navigation device or by voice guidance, the user is instructed to set the guidance route to bypass the traffic congestion. Input signal, and outputs this signal to the setting screen forming unit 33. Further, when the user selects a desired one on the setting screen displayed on the image display device 20, the selected data also enters the setting input section 30.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a traffic congestion consideration degree set value memory 31 is provided, and when the occurrence of traffic congestion is detected during traveling as described above, the process of searching for a route bypassing this is started. When setting and entering the degree of congestion,
The value input by the user through the setting input section 30 is recorded, and the recorded value can be read by the set value reading section 32.

The navigation device 10 composed of the functional blocks as described above is constructed so that it can be implemented in various modes. As a first mode, for example, along the operation flow shown in FIG. The processing can be performed in sequence. The first mode will be described below with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 1 and the example of the screen display shown in FIG.

In the congested detour route setting process (1) shown in FIG. 2, it is first determined whether or not there is a congested detour instruction input (step S1). In this navigation device, a guide route to a destination is set in advance and the vehicle travels along the guide route. In this state, for example, a one-sided arrow on the guide route A as shown by a thick broken line in FIG. When traffic congestion B indicated by a line occurs, the data is taken in by the VICS receiver and the screen display as shown in the figure is displayed on the image display device 20 of FIG. At this time, if necessary, the voice output device 18 of FIG. 1 notifies the user that a traffic jam has occurred ahead.

When the user who knows the occurrence of traffic congestion desires to search for a route that bypasses this traffic congestion depending on the extent of the traffic congestion, the "detour" key previously assigned to the operation unit of the navigation device. Is operated or a voice message of "detour" is generated to the voice recognition device, thereby inputting an instruction for detouring the congestion to the setting input unit 30 of FIG. By performing such an input, it is possible to detect in step S1 that there is a congestion detour instruction input, and the operation is repeated until the input is made, and the operation waits.

When it is determined in step S1 that an instruction input for detouring a traffic jam has been input, an input display output indicating the degree of traffic jam consideration is performed (step S2). This is because when the setting screen forming unit 23 in FIG. 1 receives the above-mentioned instruction input from the setting input unit 30, for example, as shown in FIG.
This is performed by displaying the detour route setting instruction input screen as shown in (b). In the figure, the degree of traffic congestion consideration is displayed in three levels of "high", "medium", and "low", and the user indicates any one of these by operating the cursor and presses the enter key to instruct the setting. Input (Step S
3). The illustrated embodiment shows the case where the cursor is instructed to set the detour route when the degree of traffic congestion is "medium", and therefore this display portion is displayed in a color different from the others. It is shown that.

It should be noted that the degree of consideration of traffic congestion when searching for a detour as described above is set to "high", "medium" or "low".
When setting to a stage, the boundary value of the stage can be set arbitrarily. Further, the degree can be set to any stage such as two stages or four stages other than the above three stages, and the threshold value corresponding to each stage is preset in the stage of manufacturing the navigation device. I'll do it.

When the three levels of "high", "medium", and "low" are set as described above, for example, "high" is preferentially passed through a vacant road so as not to pass a traffic jam or a congested place as much as possible. If there is no traffic at all, 40
On a road which can travel at a speed of 30 km / h and normally travels at a speed of 30 km / h, "congestion" is set to 10 km / h and "traffic jam" is set to 5 km / h. For "medium", "congestion" is set to 15 km / h and "congestion" is set to 10 km / h on the above roads, and the standard value is set. For "low", "congestion" is 25 km / h. , "Traffic jam" is set to 20 km / h, and when this is selected, the traffic jam is not taken into consideration so that the short traffic jam section is allowed to travel as it is. Such setting can be set to any value as described above.

In selecting the parameters at each stage, for example, "medium" is set as a recommended parameter in advance, and when displaying the list as described above, the "medium" portion is flash-displayed from the beginning. In particular, if there is no selection operation by the user, this may be automatically selected. In addition, the parameter for which the selection operation has been performed previously is stored in the congestion degree setting value memory 35 of FIG. 1, and when the list is displayed, this is flash-displayed from the beginning, and when the user does not perform the selection operation in particular, This may be selected only by the confirmation operation by the user. As a result, for example, when "High" was selected in the previous operation, this "High" will be flashed from the beginning next time, and the preference corresponding to the congestion of the user will be reflected here to reduce the number of input steps. You can measure.

After the setting and input of the degree of traffic congestion consideration as described above are performed and the confirmation operation is appropriately performed, or simultaneously with the operation, the navigation apparatus detects the traffic congestion degree based on the VICS information (step S4). ). This operation is performed by the congestion degree detection unit 27 on the guide route in FIG. Next, it is determined whether or not the traffic congestion detected in step S4 is larger than the traffic congestion consideration degree set value set in step S3 (step S).
5). As a result of the determination, when it is determined that the congestion is larger than the set value, the guide route that bypasses the congestion is calculated (step S6). When it is determined that the traffic congestion larger than the set value does not occur as a result of the determination, the process returns to step S1 again and the same operation as described above is repeated. Therefore, the detour route is not set unless there is a traffic congestion larger than the set value of the traffic congestion consideration degree.

This calculation is performed by the congestion detour guidance route calculation unit 24, which operates as a function of the congestion detour route processing unit 25 in the guidance route calculation unit 22 of FIG. 1, and the congestion degree of the guidance route congestion degree detection unit 27. Data and setting input section 3
From 0, the parameters of the degree of traffic congestion instructed by the user are compared, and when the above-mentioned predetermined conditions are satisfied, the arithmetic processing is started, and the map data from the map information reading unit 15 Calculate the appropriate traffic congestion detour guidance route using the traffic congestion data, etc.

The resulting congestion detour guidance route is displayed on the image display device (step S7). It should be noted that it is also possible to confirm this by performing a confirmation input by the user after such a display is performed. The congestion detour guidance route thus obtained is shown as a route that bypasses the congestion route B, for example, as a new guidance route C shown in FIG. 3C, and thereafter, in this navigation device, this guidance route is shown. Intersection guidance along C will be performed. Also, if necessary, a guidance display for the user is displayed on the screen as shown in the figure, "A detour route has been set. We will guide you with a new route."

Then, it is judged whether or not the vehicle has arrived at the destination (step S8), and when the vehicle has not arrived at the destination yet, the process returns to step S1 and the same operation is repeated. Further, when the vehicle arrives at the destination, this processing flow ends (step S9).

In principle, the above operation flow is performed without using the traffic congestion degree setting value memory 31 of FIG.
Even if it is used, an example was shown in which the previously set and input value was only displayed to the default on the setting input screen to assist the user's input, but further, when the set value was input to this memory, It is also possible to eliminate the need to perform a setting input operation for the degree of traffic congestion consideration until the vehicle arrives at the destination thereafter. FIG. 4 shows an operation flow in that case.

That is, in the congestion detour route setting process (2), the basic operation is the same as the operation float shown in FIG. 2, and when the vehicle is traveling along the guide route, the first congestion occurs. It is determined whether or not a detour instruction has been input (step S11). Next, it is determined whether or not the set input value is recorded in the traffic congestion degree setting value memory (step S12), and when it is not recorded, the display of the traffic congestion degree input display is performed as in the operation float shown in FIG. (Step S13), and based on that, the user sets and inputs the degree of traffic congestion consideration (step S1).
4) Then, the set input value is recorded in the memory (step S15).

When it is determined in step S12 that the set input value is recorded in the memory, and step S12
When the set input value is recorded in the memory at 15, the degree of congestion is detected (step S17). Subsequent steps S17 to S20 operate in the same manner as steps S5 to S8 in FIG. 2. When it is determined in step S20 that the vehicle has arrived at the destination, the input value recorded in the memory is deleted and the operation flow is executed. Is finished (step S22). By performing such an operation, once the setting value is input to the memory, it is not necessary to perform the setting input operation to the degree of consideration of traffic congestion thereafter until the vehicle arrives at the destination.

In the operation flows shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, for example, when the user sees a traffic jam display on the guidance route on the screen of the navigation device, or the traffic jam information is presented by voice. The following shows an example of inputting instructions to calculate whether or not the user needs to set up a detour, and whenever a detour needs to be set However, when a traffic congestion detour instruction is input once while traveling on the guidance route and the degree of traffic congestion consideration is input at that time, after that, arithmetic processing is performed using the value input earlier until reaching the destination. It can also be set. FIG. 5 shows the operation flow.

That is, in the congestion detour route setting process (3), the basic operation is the same as the operation float shown in FIG. 4, and step S11 to step S17 of FIG. 4 are step S31 to step S31 of FIG. This corresponds to step S37. In step S37 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the congestion is larger than the set value, and when it is determined that the congestion is not larger than the set value, it is determined whether or not the congestion is resolved (step S42), and the congestion is resolved. If not, the process returns to step S36 again to detect the degree of traffic jam again. When it is determined in step S37 that the traffic congestion is larger than the set value, the process proceeds to step S38, and the same operations in steps S38 to S40 as those in steps S18 to S20 in FIG. 4 are performed.

If it is determined in step S42 that the congestion has been resolved, the process returns to step S31 and the above operation is repeated until the destination is reached. When it is determined in step S40 that the destination is reached, the input place recorded in the memory is deleted (step S41), and this operation flow is ended (step S4).
3) is the same as that shown in FIG. By making such an operation, the user notices the occurrence of congestion and inputs an instruction for bypassing the congestion, and after setting and inputting the degree of congestion consideration, the navigation device will change the congestion until the congestion is resolved. It is possible to detect and automatically calculate and present a detour when congestion becomes larger than the set input value.

In the above embodiment, when the user knows that a traffic jam has occurred on the guidance route while the navigation device is in use, it is necessary or necessary to search for a detour. Every time we check whether or not a new traffic jam occurs, a menu screen for starting the detour search process is displayed by key operation or voice input,
Although an example of performing the input process of the degree of traffic congestion consideration is shown, for example, in the operation flow shown in FIG. 6 and the display screen example displayed at that time as shown in FIG. It is also possible to set the degree of traffic congestion consideration in advance by the initial setting function of the device.

That is, in the operation of the detour route setting process (4) at the time of traffic jam shown in FIG. 6, the setting of the degree of traffic jam consideration is first input (step S51). In that case, for example, FIG.
On the system setting screen in the setting / editing screen as shown in (a), select the item of "detour route (congestion degree of consideration)" from the various setting items of the system by moving the cursor up and down, and select the item It is possible to perform selection setting by selecting one of the three items of "high", "medium" and "low" displayed at the cursor by moving the cursor left and right and pressing the enter key. The illustrated embodiment shows an example in which "medium" is selected.

When such an input is made in advance, the set input value is recorded in the traffic congestion consideration degree set value memory 31 via the setting input unit 30 in FIG. 1 (step S5).
2). When the user starts traveling along the guide route by using the navigation device having such system settings set in advance (step S53), the user is notified of the occurrence of the traffic jam on the guide route as in the case of each aspect. By knowing, etc., it is determined whether or not a traffic congestion detour instruction has been input (step S
54). If it is determined that the instruction has not been input, this operation flow is repeated until the input is made.

When it is determined in step S54 that a traffic congestion detour instruction has been input, the degree of traffic congestion is detected in the same manner as described above (step S55), and thereafter, the same as steps S5 to S8 in FIG. When Step S56 to Step S59 are performed and it is determined that the traffic congestion larger than the set value is generated (Step S5
6) Calculate the congestion detour guidance route (step S5
7), the screen display as shown in FIG. 7B is performed, and then the obtained congestion detour guidance route is displayed as shown in FIG. 7C (step S58). Further, when it is determined that the vehicle has arrived at the destination (step S59), this processing ends (step S60). At the end of this process, the input value recorded in the memory was deleted in the examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, but here, this operation is not performed, and the pre-input value is especially reset. Record and keep it until you perform.

When it is determined in step S56 that the traffic congestion is not greater than the set value, it is determined whether the traffic congestion has been resolved, as in step S42 in FIG. 5, and the traffic congestion has been resolved. If it is determined that there is not, the process returns to step S55 again to detect the degree of congestion,
It is also possible to automatically continue to detect the degree of traffic congestion until the traffic congestion is resolved, and to automatically calculate the guidance route of the traffic congestion detour when a traffic congestion larger than the set value occurs. At this time, when the traffic congestion is resolved, the process returns to step S54 to determine again whether the traffic congestion detour instruction is input by the user, and the same operation is repeated.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the process proceeds to the next processing for the first time when the traffic congestion detour instruction is input by the user in step S54 has been described. However, the predetermined processing is automatically performed without the user's instruction input. It is also possible to calculate and display the detour when the traffic is over. FIG. 8 shows the operation flow.

That is, in the detour route setting process (5) at the time of traffic jam in FIG. 8, the basic operation is the same as the operation float shown in FIG. Setting and inputting the degree of consideration (step S61) and recording it in the congestion consideration degree setting value memory 31 of FIG. 1 correspond to steps S51 and S52 of the operation flow shown in FIG. When the vehicle travels along the guidance route using this navigation device in which such system settings have been made in advance (step S63), the degree of traffic congestion is immediately detected (step S64), and the value is larger than the set value. It is determined whether or not there is congestion (step S65). If it is determined that there is no congestion, or if there is congestion that is greater than the set value, then again step S6.
Return to 4 and repeat the detection of the degree of congestion.

When it is determined in step S65 that the detected traffic congestion is larger than the preset value input to the memory in advance, the traffic congestion detour guidance route is calculated (step S66), and this is displayed (step S66). S6
7). By performing such processing, the user can automatically make a detour when a predetermined traffic jam occurs, according to the degree of consideration of the traffic congestion detour that is preset and input without the user performing a special operation. The route can be calculated and presented. The detour may be determined only when the user inputs confirmation for the presentation. When it is determined that the vehicle has arrived at the destination (step S68), this process ends (step S69).

[0053]

As described above, the navigation route search apparatus for navigation according to the present invention inputs the traffic congestion information input unit for inputting the traffic congestion information, the calculation of the guidance route to the destination, and the traffic congestion information input unit. Based on the traffic congestion information, a guidance route calculation unit that calculates a congestion detour guidance route that bypasses the traffic congestion on the guidance route, and a congestion consideration degree that sets the degree of traffic congestion consideration that calculates the congestion detour guidance route Since it is equipped with a setting unit, when searching for a new guidance route according to traffic congestion information, the degree of consideration of traffic congestion, which is the criterion for searching for a new guidance route, can be arbitrarily set according to the preference of the user. Can be set.

Further, another navigation route search apparatus according to the present invention comprises a setting input unit for setting and inputting the degree of traffic congestion consideration while traveling along the guide route, and the guide route calculation unit is When the degree of traffic congestion input in the congestion information input unit is larger than the degree of traffic congestion consideration input in the setting, the congestion detour guidance route is calculated, so any setting regarding the detour of the traffic congestion is made first. If the user notices a traffic jam even while the vehicle is traveling along the guidance route in the absence of traffic, the traffic congestion can be used by setting and inputting the degree to consider the traffic jam. It is possible to obtain a detour for traffic congestion only when the traffic congestion is as desired by the person.

Further, another navigation route search apparatus according to the present invention comprises a memory for storing the set input value of the degree of consideration of traffic congestion, and the route calculation unit includes:
When the degree of traffic congestion input in the traffic congestion information input unit is larger than the set input value stored in the memory, the traffic congestion detour guidance route is calculated. If the user notices a traffic jam even while the vehicle is traveling along the guidance route without the setting of, the traffic congestion is set by inputting the degree to consider the traffic jam. Only when the traffic congestion is as desired by the user, the detour of the traffic congestion can be obtained. In addition, even if the traffic congestion is not as high as the user desires at that time,
Since the set input value is stored, when the degree of traffic congestion increases after that and the user again gives an instruction regarding the detour, the degree to consider the traffic congestion is input and stored without inputting again. When the traffic congestion is such that the user desires to make a detour, it is possible to obtain a guidance route that bypasses the traffic congestion.

Further, another navigation route searching apparatus according to the present invention comprises a setting input section capable of inputting the degree of consideration of the traffic congestion before the start of traveling along the route.
And a memory for storing a setting input value of the degree of traffic congestion consideration, the guide route calculation unit, when the degree of traffic congestion input in the congestion information input unit is larger than the set input value stored in the memory, Since the calculation of the congestion detour guidance route was performed, when using this navigation device, set and input the degree of traffic congestion that will start calculation of the detour when traffic congestion occurs beforehand and store this. Therefore, if the user notices traffic congestion while the vehicle is traveling along the guidance route, the user can simply set a degree to consider the traffic congestion and simply give an instruction to get the detour, and It is possible to obtain a guide route that bypasses a traffic jam when the traffic jam is a traffic jam that the user desires. Further, even when the traffic congestion is not as high as the user desires at that time, since the setting input value is stored in advance, the degree of the traffic congestion increases after that, and the user is again involved in the detour. When instructing, use the value stored in advance without re-inputting the degree to consider traffic congestion, and when the traffic congestion is as high as the user desires to detour, bypass the traffic congestion. Can be obtained.

Further, in another navigation route search apparatus according to the present invention, the degree of traffic congestion input in the congestion information input unit in the navigation route calculation unit is the degree of traffic congestion stored in the memory. When it is detected that it is larger than the set input value of, the congestion detour guidance route is automatically calculated, so when using this navigation device, the detour calculation is started when traffic congestion occurs in advance. If you set and input the degree of traffic congestion that you want to store and memorize it, or if the vehicle is traveling along the guidance route while the vehicle is not making any settings for bypassing traffic congestion first, If you notice a traffic jam and set and input the degree to consider the traffic jam and memorize it, the navigation device remembers it while the vehicle is running. When traffic congestion is detected that exceeds the level of consideration of traffic congestion, the detour route can be automatically calculated and presented to the user without waiting for the user's instruction. It can be a device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flow chart of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a screen displayed on the image display device in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an operation flow chart showing a modified example of the above embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation flow chart showing another modification of the above embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation flow chart of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a screen displayed on the image display device in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an operational flowchart showing a modification of the above embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Navigation device 18 Audio output device 20 Image display device 21 VICS receiver 22 Guidance route calculator 23 Basic guidance route calculator 24 Congestion detour guidance route calculation unit 25 Congestion detour route processing unit 26 Congestion information input / processing section 27 Congestion degree detection unit on the guide route 28 System control unit 30 Setting input section 31 Congestion consideration degree setting value memory 32 Set value reading section 33 Setting screen forming unit 35 Operation signal input section

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G09B 29/00 G09B 29/00 A 29/10 29/10 A // G01S 5/14 G01S 5/14 G08G 1/09 G08G 1/09 FF term (reference) 2C032 HB02 HB06 HB08 HB22 HB23 HC08 HC13 HC16 HC22 HC24 HC31 HD03 HD07 HD16 HD23 HD24 2F029 AA02 AB01 AB07 AB09 AC01 AC02 AC04 AC13 5C16 5BB0A FF02 FF03 FF04 FF17 FF19 GG07 GG14 GG19 GG31 GG51 5H180 AA01 BB02 BB04 BB13 FF04 FF05 FF12 FF13 FF22 FF25 FF27 FF32 5J062 AA03 BB01 CC07 DD12 FF04 HH07

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A traffic congestion information input unit for inputting traffic congestion information, calculation of a guidance route to a destination, and traffic congestion for bypassing traffic congestion on the guidance route based on the traffic congestion information input at the traffic congestion information input unit. A navigation guidance route search comprising: a guidance route calculation unit that calculates a detour guidance route; and a traffic congestion consideration degree setting unit that sets a degree of traffic congestion consideration that calculates the congestion detour guidance route. apparatus. 2. A setting input unit for setting and inputting the degree of consideration of the traffic congestion while traveling along the guide route, wherein the guide route calculation unit determines the degree of traffic congestion input by the congestion information input unit. 2. The navigation route search device for a navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the route guidance route calculation is performed when the degree of traffic congestion consideration that has been set and input is larger. 3. A memory for storing a setting input value for the degree of traffic congestion consideration, wherein the guide route calculation unit stores the setting value for the degree of traffic congestion input in the congestion information input unit in the memory. 3. The navigation route search device for a navigation device according to claim 2, wherein when it is larger, a traffic congestion detour guidance route is calculated. 4. The guide comprises: a setting input unit capable of inputting the degree of traffic congestion consideration before starting traveling along the guide route; and a memory storing the set input value of the degree of traffic congestion consideration. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the route calculation unit calculates a congestion detour guidance route when the degree of traffic congestion input by the congestion information input unit is larger than a set input value stored in the memory. Guidance route search device. 5. The guide route calculation unit automatically detects when the degree of traffic congestion input in the congestion information input unit is larger than a set input value of the degree of traffic congestion consideration stored in the memory. 5. The navigation route search device for a navigation device according to claim 3, wherein a traffic congestion detour guidance route is calculated.