JP2003240561A - Apparatus and method for searching for facility - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems of being unable to immediately utilize desired facilities and so on, since a vehicle cannot enter a parking lot unless there are vacant places there, even if the vehicle reaches a destination. <P>SOLUTION: An apparatus is so composed as to have a facility searching portion 5 which refers to facility information collected by an information collecting portion 3, and searches for facilities which are immediately utilizable. Besides, it is so composed that an input portion 1 accepts setting of a searching condition for facilities as occasion demands, and that the searching portion 5 searches for facilities which satisfy the searching condition. Consequently, facilities immediately utilizable out of facilities which satisfy user's desire can be represented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facility search device and a facility search method for searching a facility that is immediately available.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A navigation device searches for a route from a current location to a destination and presents the route when a user sets a desired facility as a destination. This allows the user to easily reach the destination, but even if the user arrives at the destination, if there is no space in the parking lot at the destination or due to restrictions such as vehicle height, the user can enter the parking lot. Sometimes there is not.

Therefore, in the navigation device (corresponding to the facility search device of the invention of the present application) disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-142421, the vehicle height of the vehicle is referred to and a parking lot where parking is possible is set as a destination. Proposing a technology to set.
However, even in this case, since it is not considered whether or not the parking lot is empty, even if the vehicle arrives at the destination, it cannot enter the parking lot if there is no space.

[0004]

Since the conventional facility search device is configured as described above, even if the destination is reached, the parking lot cannot be entered if there is no space, and the desired facility search device is not available. There were problems such as not being able to use the facility immediately.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain a facility search apparatus and a facility search method capable of presenting immediately available facilities.

[0006]

The facility search device according to the present invention is provided with a search means for searching a facility which can be immediately used by referring to the facility information collected by the information collecting means.

The facility search device according to the present invention is adapted to detect the current location of a vehicle and search for a facility existing around the current location.

The facility search device according to the present invention is for searching facilities existing around a destination or a waypoint.

The facility search device according to the present invention receives the setting of the genre of the facility to be searched and searches for the facility belonging to the genre.

The facility search device according to the present invention is adapted to receive the setting of the search condition of the facility and search for the facility satisfying the search condition.

The facility search device according to the present invention is a device for narrowing down the facilities having a vacant parking lot from the facilities which can be used immediately.

The facility search device according to the present invention searches for a facility having a parking lot in which a parking space for parking is secured.

The facility search device according to the present invention is adapted to search for a facility located within a predetermined distance from a certain point.

The facility search device according to the present invention is for searching a facility whose usage charge is within a predetermined charge.

The facility search device according to the present invention is for searching facilities during business hours.

The facility search device according to the present invention is for searching a vacant facility adjacent to a desired facility.

The facility search device according to the present invention is adapted to search for vacant facilities indoors or outdoors.

The facility search device according to the present invention detects the current position of the vehicle, searches for a route from the current position to the facility searched by the search means, and presents the route. .

In the facility search method according to the present invention, the facility information indicating the utilization status of the facility is referenced to immediately search for a facility that can be used.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facility search device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a setting of destinations and transit points, setting of genres of facilities to be searched, setting of search conditions of facilities, etc. An input unit for accepting 2 is a map data storage unit for storing map data, 3 is an information collecting unit (information collecting means) for collecting facility information indicating the usage status of the facility, and 4 is for receiving GPS data of a GPS satellite, for example. The current location detection unit that detects the current location of the vehicle,
Reference numeral 5 refers to the facility information collected by the information collection unit 3 and the map data stored in the map data storage unit 2, and searches for facilities that are immediately available, for example, from facilities existing around the destination. It is a facility search unit. It should be noted that the input unit 1, the map data storage unit 2, the current location detection unit 4, and the facility search unit 5 constitute a search means.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a route search unit that searches for a route from the current location to the facility searched by the facility search unit 5, and 7 displays the facility searched by the facility search unit 5 and searches by the route search unit 6. It is a display part which displays the route which was carried out. The route searching unit 6 and the display unit 7 constitute a presenting means. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the facility search method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Next, the operation will be described. When the user wants to search for a facility (for example, a hotel, restaurant, convenience store, supermarket, movie theater) near the destination, the waypoint, or the current location, the user operates the input unit 1 to search for the genre of the facility. Then, the search location of the facility is input (step ST1). Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the user inputs “hotel” as the facility genre and “destination” as the facility search location.

When the "hotel" is entered as the facility genre and the "destination" is entered as the facility search location as described above, the facility search unit 5 refers to the map data stored in the map data storage unit. Then, search for hotels around the destination (for example, centering on the destination, with a radius of 3 km
Then, the information collecting unit 3 is requested to collect the facility information indicating the usage status of the hotel.

When the information collection unit 3 receives the facility information collection request from the facility search unit 5, it uses the wireless communication device to collect the facility information indicating the usage status of the hotels around the destination from the outside. Yes (step ST2). Here, the facility information includes whether or not there is a vacancy in the hotel, whether or not there is a vacant parking lot attached to the hotel, the parking lot compatibility conditions (for example, vehicle height restrictions, length restrictions), usage fees, business hours, etc. Is information indicating.

When the information collecting unit 3 collects the facility information indicating the usage status of the hotel, the facility searching unit 5 refers to the facility information to find the current empty space from the hotels around the destination. Search for hotels with rooms as available facilities immediately. Then, when there is a vacant hotel, the facility search unit 5 displays the name and position of the hotel on the map screen of the display unit 7 (step ST3).
ST4). Alternatively, the name and position of the hotel may be output as voice from a speaker (not shown). On the other hand, when there is no hotel with a vacant room, the fact that there is no hotel with a vacant room is displayed on the screen of the display unit 7 (steps ST3 and ST5). Alternatively, a voice output from a speaker (not shown) indicates that there is no hotel with a vacant room.

If there is a hotel with vacant rooms,
The route search unit 6 refers to the map data stored in the map data storage unit 2 under the instruction of the facility search unit 5 and routes from the current location detected by the current location detection unit 4 to a hotel with vacant rooms. Is displayed and the route from the current location to the hotel with the vacant room is displayed on the screen of the display unit 7.

As is clear from the above, the first embodiment
According to the configuration, the facility information collected by the information collecting unit 3 is referred to, and the facility that can be used immediately is searched for. Therefore, the facility that can be used immediately can be presented.

Embodiment 2. In the first embodiment, the genre of the facility to be searched and the search location of the facility are input, and the facility that can be immediately used is searched.
Furthermore, you may make it search for the facilities which satisfy the search condition by inputting the search condition of the facility. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a facility search method according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Next, the operation will be described. When the user desires to search for a facility at a destination, a transit point, or around the current location, he / she operates the input unit 1 to input the genre of the facility to be searched and the facility search location (step S).
T11). Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the user inputs “hotel” as the facility genre and “destination” as the facility search location.

When the user desires to set facility search conditions, he operates the input section 1 to input facility search conditions (step ST12). Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the user inputs the condition “the attached parking lot is empty” as the facility search condition.

When the "hotel" is input as the facility genre and the "destination" is input as the facility search location as described above, the facility retrieval unit 5 retrieves the map data stored in the map data storage unit 2. Refer to search for hotels existing in the vicinity of the destination (for example, centering on the destination, with a radius of 3K
A hotel existing within m is searched for), and the information collecting unit 3 is requested to collect facility information indicating the usage status of the hotel. When the information collection unit 3 receives the facility information collection request from the facility search unit 5, it uses the wireless communication device to collect the facility information indicating the usage status of the hotels existing around the destination from the outside (step ST13).

When the information collecting unit 3 collects the facility information indicating the usage status of the hotel, the facility searching unit 5 searches for facilities satisfying the search condition. From the existing hotels, a hotel that currently has a vacant room and an empty parking lot is searched for as an immediately available facility.

Then, when there is a hotel that satisfies the search conditions, the facility search unit 5 displays the name and position of the hotel on the map screen of the display unit 7 (step ST1).
4, ST15). Alternatively, the name and position of the hotel may be output as voice from a speaker (not shown). On the other hand, if there are no hotels that satisfy the search conditions,
The fact that there is no hotel that satisfies the search conditions is displayed on the screen of the display unit 7 (steps ST14 and ST16). Alternatively, a speaker (not shown) may output a voice indicating that there is no hotel that satisfies the search condition.

When there is a hotel satisfying the search conditions, the route search unit 6 refers to the map data stored in the map data storage unit 2 under the instruction of the facility search unit 5 to detect the current location. The route from the current position detected by the unit 4 to the hotel satisfying the search condition is searched, and the route from the current position to the hotel satisfying the search condition is displayed on the screen of the display unit 7.

As is clear from the above, the second embodiment
According to the above, since the setting of the search condition of the facility is accepted and the facility satisfying the search condition is searched for,
This has the effect of being able to search for facilities that meet the user's wishes.

Embodiment 3. In the above-described second embodiment, the user inputs the condition “the attached parking lot is empty” as the facility search condition. However, the user may input another search condition. Good. For example, when "parking lot where parking space is secured" is entered as another search condition, the matching condition of the parking lot included in the facility information (for example, vehicle height limit) , Length limit), to search for a hotel with an attached parking lot that is empty and has a parking space that can be parked. To do. Accordingly, even if the vehicle of the user is a vehicle such as a wagon with a high vehicle height, it is possible to present a facility having a parking lot that can be reliably parked.

Fourth Embodiment In the second embodiment described above, the user inputs the condition “the attached parking lot is empty” as the facility search condition, but the present invention is not limited to this. May be input.

For example, “facility located within a predetermined distance from a certain point” may be input as a facility search condition,
In this case, for example, the facility search unit 5 can search for a hotel or the like located within 300 m from the destination, Osaka Castle. Further, “facility whose usage charge is within a predetermined charge” may be input as the facility search condition, and in this case, for example, the facility search unit 5 can search for a hotel or the like whose accommodation cost is 10,000 yen or less.

Further, "facility during business hours" may be entered as a facility search condition. In this case, for example, the facility search section 5 can search for a restaurant or the like currently in business. Furthermore, “vacant facility adjacent to desired facility” may be input as a facility search condition. In this case, for example, the facility search unit 5 may use an empty parking lot in a shopping area adjacent to a destination theme park. Can be searched. Alternatively, you may enter "vacant facility indoors (or outdoors)" as a facility search condition. In this case, for example,
The facility search unit 5 can search for an empty parking lot of a tennis court indoors (or outdoors).

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the search means for searching the facility that can be used immediately by referring to the facility information collected by the information collecting means is provided. It is effective to be able to present possible facilities.

According to the present invention, the present location of the vehicle is detected and the facilities existing around the present location are searched, so that the facilities present around the present location can be presented. .

According to the present invention, since the facilities existing around the destination or the transit point are searched, there is an effect that the facilities existing around the destination or the transit point can be presented.

According to the present invention, since the setting of the genre of the facility to be searched is accepted and the facility belonging to the genre is searched, the user can specify the facility to be searched.

According to the present invention, since the setting of the search condition of the facility is accepted and the facility satisfying the search condition is searched for, the facility which meets the user's request can be searched. .

According to the present invention, the facilities having the vacant parking lot are narrowed down from the facilities which can be immediately used, so that the facilities having the parking lot which can be immediately parked can be presented. There is.

According to the present invention, the facility having the parking lot where the parking space where the parking is possible is secured is searched. Therefore, the facility having the parking lot which can be surely parked is presented. There is an effect that can be.

According to the present invention, since the facility located within a predetermined distance from a certain point is searched, there is an effect that the facility near the destination can be presented.

According to the present invention, since the facility for which the usage fee is within the predetermined fee is searched for, there is an effect that a facility with a low usage fee can be presented.

According to the present invention, since the facility during the business hours is searched, it is possible to present the facility during the business hours.

According to the present invention, since the vacant facility adjacent to the desired facility is searched, the vacant facility adjacent to the desired facility can be presented.

According to the present invention, since the vacant facility located indoors or outdoors is searched, the vacant facility located indoors or outdoors can be presented.

According to the present invention, the present position of the vehicle is detected, the route from the present position to the facility searched by the search means is searched, and the route is presented, so that the user can see the present position. There is an effect that it is possible to grasp the route from the to the facility.

According to the present invention, the facility available for immediate use is searched with reference to the facility information indicating the utilization status of the facility, so that the facility available immediately can be presented. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a facility search device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a facility search method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a facility search method according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 input section (search means), 2 map data storage section (search means), 3 information collection section (information collection means), 4 current location detection section (search means), 5 facility search section (search means), 6
Route search section (presentation means), 7 Display section (presentation means).

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Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An information collecting means for collecting facility information indicating a utilization situation of the facility, a searching means for referring to the facility information collected by the information collecting means, and a facility which can be immediately used, and the search. A facility search device comprising: a presenting unit that presents the facilities searched by the unit. 2. The search means detects the current position of the vehicle,
The facility search device according to claim 1, wherein a facility existing around the present location is searched. 3. The facility search device according to claim 1, wherein the search means searches for a facility existing around the destination or the waypoint. 4. The facility according to claim 1, wherein the search means receives a setting of a genre of a facility to be searched and searches for a facility belonging to the genre. Search device. 5. The search means receives a setting of a search condition for a facility and searches for a facility satisfying the search condition, according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
Facility search device described in item. 6. The facility search device according to claim 5, wherein the search means narrows down facilities having a vacant parking lot from facilities that are immediately available. 7. The facility search device according to claim 6, wherein the search means searches for a facility including a parking lot in which a parking space for parking is secured. 8. The facility search device according to claim 5, wherein the search means searches for a facility located within a predetermined distance from a certain point. 9. The facility search device according to claim 5, wherein the search means searches for a facility whose usage charge is within a predetermined charge. 10. The facility search device according to claim 5, wherein the search means searches for a facility during business hours. 11. The facility search device according to claim 5, wherein the search means searches for a vacant facility adjacent to the desired facility. 12. The facility search device according to claim 5, wherein the search means searches for a vacant facility indoors or outdoors. 13. The presenting means detects the current location of the vehicle, searches for a route from the current location to the facility searched by the search means, and presents the route. The facility search device according to claim 12. 14. When the information collecting means collects the facility information indicating the usage status of the facility, the searching means refers to the collected facility information to immediately search for the available facility, and the presenting means searches the searched facility. A facility search method that presents.