JP2003240576A - Navigation system, information center, and on-vehicle device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a navigation system to calculate the accurate toll of a vehicle by specifying the latest interchange from which the vehicle enters into a toll road even when the communication with the on-vehicle device of the vehicle becomes impossible. <P>SOLUTION: In the navigation system, an information center transmits route information prepared by retrieving a route meeting a demand from the on-vehicle device of the vehicle to the on-vehicle device, and the on-vehicle device gives route guidance to the driver of its own vehicle based on the route information. The on-vehicle device has a traveled locus preserving means which preserves the information on the traveled locus of the vehicle under an uncommunicable condition, a transmitting means which transmits the information on the traveled locus when communication is restored, and a receiving means which receives toll information from the information center. The device also has an informing means which informs the driver of the vehicle of the toll information. The information center has a traveled route estimating means which estimates the traveled route of the vehicle under the uncommunicable condition based on the information on the traveled locus of the vehicle received from the on-vehicle device, a toll information preparing means which prepares the toll information based on the traveled route and a route retrieved after the communication is restored, and a transmitting means which transmits the toll information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a navigation system, an information center, and an in-vehicle device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a navigation device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, when an operator such as a driver operates a predetermined input section to set a destination, the destination and the current position are detected. A route from the current position to the destination is searched based on the current position of the vehicle detected by the processing unit, and guidance of the searched route is performed. In this case, the route is searched so that the distance from the current position to the destination and the required time are the shortest.

An information center for holding road information and an on-vehicle device as a navigation device mounted on a vehicle communicate with each other to provide a communication-type navigation system for guiding the route (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-1998). 195
88 publication).

In this case, the information center reads out necessary information from the database based on a request from the vehicle-mounted device and creates a map image. In addition, a route search is performed to create information indicating the optimum route.
Then, the created map image and information indicating the optimum route are transmitted from the information center to the in-vehicle device and displayed on the display means of the in-vehicle device to guide the route.

As a result, the in-vehicle device does not need to have a database, and the structure can be simplified. Further, since the database provided in the information center is updated frequently, it is possible to always provide the operator with the route search result and the map information based on the latest information.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional navigation system, since the map image and the information indicating the optimum route are transmitted from the information center to the vehicle-mounted device, the vehicle is in an incommunicable area or When communication between the information center and the in-vehicle device becomes impossible due to traveling in a poor communication area or system down of the information center, the in-vehicle device may receive the map image and information indicating the optimum route. I can not do it, and I will not be able to provide route guidance.

In order to solve such a problem, when communication between the information center and the in-vehicle device becomes impossible, the information is stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM provided in the in-vehicle device. There is provided a navigation system that continues route guidance using existing map information (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-147132).

However, since the information center cannot grasp what route the vehicle-mounted device has taken while the communication was impossible, the route search is redone when the communication is restored. Will end up. Therefore, the in-vehicle device
It becomes impossible to accurately display information such as tolls on toll roads on which the vehicle is running.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of route guidance in a conventional navigation system.

For example, as a result of the route search at the information center, when a route passing through a toll road such as an expressway is selected and guided as an optimum route, the toll road 92 is set as the route as shown in FIG. The current position 91 of the vehicle is displayed on the route.

The vehicle is the portion 92a of the toll road 92.
If the communication between the information center and the in-vehicle device becomes impossible at the point 93a after traveling on the road, the in-vehicle device displays the map information stored in the storage medium of the in-vehicle device based on the already received information indicating the optimum route. Utilizing this, the route of the portion 92b which is passed while communication is impossible is displayed on the display means. Subsequently, when the communication between the information center and the vehicle-mounted device is restored at the point 93b, the information center restarts the route guidance based on the current position received from the vehicle-mounted device. However, since the information center has not received the data such as the traveling locus in the portion 92b, it cannot grasp what route the vehicle-mounted device has taken while the communication was impossible. Therefore, the information center will redo the route search from the point 93b to the destination.

In this case, assuming that the on-vehicle device has started from the point 93b, the information center re-performs the route search and creates the guidance information. Therefore, the toll road fee guidance included in the guidance information does not include the fees corresponding to the portions 92a and 92b, but includes only the fees corresponding to the portion 92c, and thus inappropriate toll guidance is provided. turn into.

As described above, in the conventional navigation system, when the communication is restored from the state where the communication is disabled, the route from the current position to the destination is searched and the charge is calculated. Therefore, if the place where communication is disabled or the place where communication is restored is on the toll road, the route from the middle of the toll road to the destination is searched, and the interchange that entered the toll road is unknown, Will not be able to calculate. Further, even if the user exits the toll road in a state where communication is disabled and then re-enters the toll road, it becomes impossible to calculate the fare from the entered interchange.

The present invention solves the problems of the conventional navigation system described above, and even if communication is disabled, the latest interchange that has entered the toll road can be specified to calculate an accurate toll. An object is to provide a system, an information center, and an in-vehicle device.

[0015]

To this end, in the navigation system of the present invention, the information center transmits route information created by searching a route in response to a request from the vehicle-mounted device to the vehicle-mounted device, and In a navigation system in which a device provides route guidance based on the route information, the in-vehicle device includes a traveling locus storage unit that stores traveling locus information during communication failure, and a transmission unit that transmits the traveling locus information when communication is restored. A reception unit that receives charge information from the information center and a notification unit that notifies the charge information, and the information center of a vehicle incapable of communication based on the traveling locus information received from the vehicle-mounted device. A travel route estimating means for estimating a travel route, and a charge information creator for creating charge information based on the travel route and the route searched after the communication is restored. When, and a transmitting means for transmitting the charge information.

In the information center of the present invention, the information center for transmitting the route information created by searching the route in response to the request from the vehicle-mounted device to the vehicle-mounted device is based on the traveling locus information received from the vehicle-mounted device. A travel route estimating means for estimating a travel route of a vehicle in which communication is impossible, a charge information creating means for creating charge information based on the travel route and a route searched after the communication is restored, and a transmitting means for transmitting the charge information. Have and.

In another information center of the present invention, further, there is a route storing means for storing the information of the route searched before until the next route is searched, and the communication disabled stored in the route storing means. Charge information is created based on the route information searched before, the traveling route, and the route searched after the communication is restored.

In the in-vehicle apparatus of the present invention, a request is transmitted to the information center, the information center searches for a route in response to the request, receives the route information created, and performs route guidance based on the route information. In an in-vehicle device, a traveling locus storage unit that stores traveling locus information during communication failure, a transmitting unit that transmits the traveling locus information when communication is restored, a receiving unit that receives fee information from the information center, and the fee information. And an informing means for informing.

In another on-vehicle device of the present invention, the traveling locus information is a traveling locus estimated to be that the vehicle has traveled by comparing the measured current position with the map information.

In still another on-vehicle device of the present invention, the traveling locus information is a locus point of the measured vehicle.

[0021] In still another on-vehicle device of the present invention, the charge information further includes a charge for a section from the entrance where the vehicle enters the toll road to the exit where the vehicle is scheduled to exit.

In yet another on-vehicle device of the present invention, the charge information is created based on the travel route and the searched route.

In yet another on-vehicle device of the present invention, the travel route is a road on which the vehicle travels.

In still another on-vehicle device of the present invention, the route information of the traveling route further includes a list of interchanges and junctions of the road on which the vehicle has traveled,
The toll information is created based on the list and the interchanges scheduled to leave the toll road on the route searched after the communication is restored.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the navigation system in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of map information in the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the navigation system comprises a server 10 as an information center and an in-vehicle device 100 as a navigation device on the moving side. Although there are actually a plurality of in-vehicle devices 100, one in-vehicle device 100 is represented in the present embodiment for convenience of description.

Here, the server 10 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 1
2, a computer having an arithmetic processing unit 14, a database 30, and an external information collecting unit 40. The server 10 may be a single server, a distributed server in which a plurality of devices are organically combined to function as a single server, or a large server or computer. It may be one of the systems built in.

The transmission / reception unit 12 includes communication equipment including a transmission device and a reception device (not shown), and communicates with the vehicle-mounted device 100 via a network. Here, the network is a wired or wireless public communication line network, a dedicated communication line network, the Internet, an intranet, a LAN (Local Area Network).
rk), WAN (Wide Area Network)
k), satellite communication network, car telephone network, mobile telephone network, P
HS (Personal Handy-PhoneSy)
A telephone network or the like, or a combination of these may be used. In addition, CS by broadcasting satellite
It may communicate using broadcasting or BS broadcasting, may use terrestrial digital television broadcasting, may use FM multiplex broadcasting, and may be installed beside a road. Communication may be performed using an optical beacon or a radio wave beacon that transmits traffic jam information, regulation information, and the like.

The arithmetic processing unit 14 includes a CPU, M
It is provided with a computing means 16 such as a PU and a storage means 18 such as a semiconductor memory and a magnetic disk. Further, the storage means 18 stores a program for searching a route from the current position of the vehicle (navigation start position or departure point) to the destination (navigation end position), the route search program file 20, the vehicle A road length setting program file 22 for storing a program for setting the road length to be transmitted to the side, a program for searching for and extracting guide information corresponding to the road length set by the road length setting program, and editing the program. A server 10 such as a guide information extraction program file 24 to be stored, a communication determination program file 25 to store a program for determining suitability of data transmission, and a system control program file 26 to store a program for controlling and managing the entire operation. Files of various programs executed by To have. In addition, a requested road length information file 2 that stores information about the road length for which the vehicle-mounted device 100 has requested a route search.
7. An extracted guide information file 28 that stores the extracted information for route guidance, and a main guide point information file 29 that stores information on the main guide points are also stored. Further, a working area used for executing various programs is secured in the storage means 18. As a result, the arithmetic processing unit 14 functions as a route searching unit that searches for a route and an information creating unit that creates information such as route information, guidance information, toll road guidance information, and the like for the searched route.

Then, in the database 30, a route search information file 32 for storing road network data for searching a route to a destination, a guidance information file 34 accumulating route guidance information, and communication. Communication area information file 36 that collects information about areas
A file of information necessary for route search and route guidance such as a destination setting information file 38 for storing information such as a telephone number or address for setting a destination and a position corresponding to the telephone number or address is stored. .

Here, the route search information file 32
The guide information file 34 stores map information having the structure shown in FIG. The map information includes road information, spot name information, and interchange information. Here, the interchange information is information about interchanges on toll roads such as highways and toll roads, and may include information about not only interchanges but also junctions. The interchange information includes information about each interchange. The information about each interchange includes a facility number, name, coordinates, intersection number, road number, attribute (entrance, exit, toll gate, etc.) and the like.

Further, the communication area information file 36
Includes data for identifying areas where radio waves do not reach (areas where communication is not possible), areas where communication is weak even though waves are received (areas where communication is poor), etc. Since the area can be specified, these pieces of information can be considered as information for specifying the communicable area).

An external information collecting unit 40 is connected to the database 30. The external information collecting unit 40
Is traffic congestion information, accident information, road construction, traffic regulation, new construction of roads and facilities, incommunicable areas or poor communication areas (areas)
This is for collecting the latest road / traffic information and communication information such as changes of the above using a telephone line network or the like, and updating the information stored in the database 30 at any time. Incidentally, the traffic jam information, the accident information, the road construction information, the traffic regulation information, the new information of the road and the facility, etc., the occurrence position and the occurrence date and time thereof are collected. For example, as for the traffic jam information, the traffic jam occurrence position and the traffic jam occurrence date and time are collected. Other,
The same applies to accident information and the like.

From the viewpoint of function, the server 10 estimates the travel route of the vehicle incapable of communication based on the travel trajectory information received from the vehicle-mounted device 100, and the travel route and after communication is restored. Charge information creating means for creating charge information based on the searched route, transmitting means for transmitting the charge information, and route storing means for storing the information of the route searched before until the next route is searched. Have. In this case, the arithmetic processing unit 14 corresponds to the travel route estimating unit, the charge information creating unit, and the route storing unit, and the transmitting / receiving unit 12 corresponds to the transmitting unit.

Next, the on-vehicle device 100 will be described.

Here, the in-vehicle device 100 includes a CPU, an M
Calculation means such as PU, semiconductor memory, storage means such as magnetic disk, liquid crystal display, LED display, CR
Display means such as T, keyboard, remote controller,
It is provided with an input means such as a touch panel and a communication interface, and is, for example, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a PDA (Personal Digital As).
Any of a computer, a game machine, a digital television, etc.,
In the present embodiment, a case where the navigation device is mounted on a vehicle such as a passenger car, a truck, a bus, and a motorcycle will be described. In the present embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 100 includes an arithmetic processing unit 101 and a storage unit 10.
2, a position measurement unit 104 as a current position determination unit, an input unit 105 as a destination setting unit, a display unit 106 and a voice output unit 107 as a guidance output unit, and a transceiver unit 10.
Have eight.

The transmitting / receiving unit 108 is a transmitting device,
A communication device including a receiving device is provided, and communication is performed with the server 10 via the network. The arithmetic processing unit 101 includes an arithmetic unit such as a CPU and an MPU, and the storage unit 102 includes a semiconductor memory and a magnetic disk and includes a program storage area 102A and a data storage area 102B.

Here, the program storage area 102A
Displays a route or a landmark on the display unit 106 based on the route information transmitted from the server 10 (using the guide information), or outputs the voice of the route guidance by the voice output unit 10.
7, a route guidance program file 150 for storing a program for outputting from 7, and data for storing a program for requesting the next route information or guidance information by comparing the current position of the vehicle with the received route information or guidance information. Request program file 152, control program file 15 storing a program for controlling the overall operation
4 etc. are stored.

Further, the data storage area 102B functions as a working area that is appropriately used when executing a program, and, for example, the route guidance information file 1 that stores route guidance information transmitted from the server 10.
60, an ID information file 162 that stores a unique ID assigned to each in-vehicle device 100 to identify each in-vehicle device 100, the position measuring unit 10
The vehicle position information file 164 etc. which store the vehicle position information (longitude / latitude) measured by 4 are stored. Further, map information and toll road guidance information downloaded from another device such as the server 10 may be stored.

The vehicle position information file 164 includes a plurality of past position information in addition to the current position information measured by the position measuring unit 104 at predetermined time intervals. For example, the position information of a plurality of measurement points included in a route of a certain distance that the vehicle has passed in the past or the position information of a certain number of measurement points included in a route that the vehicle has passed in the past is stored. When the position measurement unit 104 newly performs measurement, the latest position information is stored and the oldest stored position information is deleted. The running locus of the vehicle can be obtained by connecting the plurality of pieces of position information. The traveling locus is
It is used for map matching to identify the road on which the vehicle is traveling.

Next, the position measuring unit 104 uses the GPS
(Global Positioning System
m) and the like for measuring the position of the vehicle, and for receiving the signals from a plurality of GPS satellites to measure the absolute position of the vehicle, for measuring the relative position of the vehicle It is equipped with a speed sensor and direction sensor. The speed sensor and the direction sensor are used for autonomous navigation. The relative position measured by these sensors is
The S receiver can obtain the current position of the vehicle, such as in a tunnel where the radio wave from the satellite cannot be received.
It is used when correcting the measurement error of the absolute position measured by the PS receiver. The in-vehicle device 10
When 0 is a mobile phone, a mobile information terminal, etc., the position of the base station is detected as the current position based on communication with the base station in which the mobile phone, mobile information terminal, etc. are located.

The input unit 105 includes various switches, a touch panel attached to the display screen of the display unit 106, a remote controller, a data input device using voice recognition, and the like. Then, on the touch panel, when the user touches the icon or the like displayed on the display unit 106 with a finger, corresponding information or command is input. In the data input device using voice recognition, the voice generated by the operator is recognized and the corresponding data or command is input.

The display unit 106 is a liquid crystal display or a CR.
It is a display such as a T, and it is desirable to include a touch panel as described above.

The transmitting / receiving unit 108 also communicates with the server 10 via the network.

Further, the in-vehicle device 100 stores a route search program, route search information, guidance information, destination setting information, etc., and performs route search and return without communication with the server 10. It is desirable to have the ability to create information and guidance information. In this case, the operator appropriately selects whether the server 10, which is an information center, or the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 should execute a part or all of the processing such as destination setting, route search, and route information creation. You can

From the viewpoint of the function, the vehicle-mounted device 100 has a traveling locus storage means for storing traveling locus information during communication failure, a transmitting means for transmitting the traveling locus information when communication is restored, and an information center. It has a receiving means for receiving fee information from the server 10 and an informing means for informing the fee information. In this case, the storage unit 102 corresponds to the traveling locus storage unit, the transmission / reception unit 108 corresponds to the transmission unit and the reception unit, and the display unit 106 and the voice output unit 107 correspond to the notification unit.

Next, the operation of the navigation system having the above structure will be described.

First, the information such as the destination set in the in-vehicle apparatus 100 is transmitted to the server 10, and the server 10 is caused to execute processing such as route search and route information creation so that the route information is transmitted in the vehicle. The outline of the operation when making the device 100 reply will be described.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the operation of the vehicle-mounted device of the navigation system in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information center of the navigation system in the embodiment of the present invention.

First, an operator such as a driver of a vehicle operates the input unit 105 of the in-vehicle apparatus 100 to set a destination, and inputs to search for a route to the destination. Then,
As shown by F1 in FIG. 5, the in-vehicle apparatus 100 transmits information such as the current position of the vehicle and the destination measured by the position measuring unit 104 to the server 10 and also executes a route search to find the vehicle. A request is sent to the server 10 so as to return the route information of the route and the guide information for guiding the route. Further, ID information for distinguishing the in-vehicle device 100 from other in-vehicle devices is simultaneously transmitted.
The communication between the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the server 10 is performed by packet communication, for example.

On the other hand, in the server 10, the request from the in-vehicle device 100 is received by the transmitting / receiving unit 12 and transmitted to the arithmetic processing unit 14. When the arithmetic processing unit 14 receives the request, the storage unit 1
The route search program stored in 8 is operated by the calculating means 16
To perform a route search. In this case, first, based on the received information, the current position of the vehicle and the destination are extracted, as indicated by F2 in FIG. For example,
When information such as a telephone number or an address is received as the destination information, the destination is extracted using the destination setting information file 38 of the database 30.

Next, the information about the road length in the received information is stored in the requested road length information file 27, and
Search for a route from the current vehicle position to the destination. The road length may be set appropriately in the server 10. Here, the route search is performed in the database 3
The route search information stored in 0, that is, the intersection information, the road information, and the node information is referred to. Note that the route search processing is a known technique, and the recommended route is set under conditions such that the route with the shortest overall distance is set as the optimum route (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-173297,
See JP-A-1-173298).

In the present embodiment, each time the vehicle receives the request, the route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is searched. in this case,
In the server 10, the external information collecting unit 40 acquires road information and traffic information from the outside, and the database 30 is updated with the latest information. Therefore,
By conducting route search for each request from the vehicle side, it is possible to avoid congestion points, construction points, accident points, etc., and always provide the vehicle side with route information of the recommended route and its guidance data based on the latest data. be able to.

Next, the guidance information extraction program stored in the storage means 18 is executed, the guidance information file 34 of the database 30 is referred to, and the guidance information in the range corresponding to the road length is searched and extracted. To do. Then, as shown by F3 in FIG. 5, the route information is transmitted as route guide information to the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 by the transmitting / receiving unit 12 together with the guide information.

Subsequently, the vehicle-mounted device 100 executes guidance on a route in a range corresponding to the road length, as indicated by F4 in FIG. In this case, the guidance is displayed by being displayed on the display unit 106 or output by voice from the voice output unit 107. Then, when the vehicle travels a distance corresponding to the road length and guidance information for performing guidance on a continuing route, that is, route guidance continuation information is required, the in-vehicle device 1
00 transmits the information such as the current position of the vehicle and the destination to the server 10 again as shown by F5 in FIG. 5, executes the route search, and returns the route information of the searched route. Then, the request is transmitted to the server 10.

Then, the server 10 repeats the above-described operation to transmit the route information regarding the continued road length to the in-vehicle device 100 as route guidance information. Or later,
The above-described operation is repeated until the vehicle arrives at the destination or the operator inputs the cancellation of guidance to the input unit 105 of the in-vehicle apparatus 100, as shown in FIG.

The server 10 continues to hold the route searched when the first request from the vehicle side is received, and when route guidance continuation information is needed, the server 10 obtains the route information based on the route. It may be transmitted to. This reduces the number of route searches and reduces the load on the server 10. Moreover, since the route information is divided and transmitted, the communication time for one time is shortened. When it is determined that the vehicle is traveling off the route based on the received current position, the server 10 restarts the route search and searches for a new route.

Next, the flowchart will be described.
Step S1 The server 10 waits to receive the route information request from the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100, and if it receives the request, the process proceeds to step S2. Step S2 The server 10 extracts the current position of the vehicle and the destination information. Step S3 The server 10 searches for a route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination. Step S4 The server 10 searches for and extracts route information corresponding to the road length. Step S5 The server 10 transmits the route information to the in-vehicle device 100.

Next, when an abnormality occurs in the communication state between the server 10 and the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100, and the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 cannot receive the guide information transmitted by the server 10, the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 can receive the guidance information. The operation will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle-mounted device of the navigation system according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a toll road charge table according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, an operator such as a driver of a vehicle operates the input unit 105 of the in-vehicle apparatus 100 to set a destination, and inputs to search for a route to the destination. In this case, it is desirable that the operator can set desired search conditions. For example, a search condition that searches for a route that travels on a highway as much as possible, a search condition that searches for a route that travels on an ordinary road as much as possible, a search condition that searches for a route that costs as low as possible, It is desirable to be able to set search conditions such as searching for routes that avoid urban areas.

Next, the operator operates the input unit 105 to select whether the in-vehicle device 100 should execute the route search or the server 10 should be accessed and executed by the server 10. For example, when the route search by the server 10 is charged, or the communication between the server 10 and the vehicle-mounted device 100 is charged, an operator who wants to reduce the cost may search the route by the vehicle-mounted device 100. You can choose. Further, while the vehicle-mounted device 100 does not have the latest map information, road network information, etc., the server 10 has the latest map information, road network information, etc., and a route search based on the information. When executing, the operator who desires a route search result or guidance information based on the latest information can select to have the server 10 search a route. If the in-vehicle device 100 does not have a route search function, the operator cannot cause the in-vehicle device 100 to execute the route search, and selects to cause the server 10 to perform the route search. Further, the in-vehicle device 100 does not have to include the map information. In this case, since it is impossible for the in-vehicle apparatus 100 to execute the route search, the server 10 is caused to execute the route search.

In the present embodiment, the case where the server 10 is caused to execute the route search will be described. In this case, the vehicle-mounted device 100 executes the route search together with the search information, the ID information, the information about the road length, etc., which are the information necessary for searching the current position of the vehicle, the destination, etc. A route request is transmitted to the server 10 so as to return information (including guide information for guiding the route). As a result, the server 10 executes the route search. Subsequently, the server 10 creates route information of the searched route. Then, the in-vehicle device 100 is provided with information about a predetermined road length together with the route information.
Reply to. The server 10 stores the route information of the route in the storage unit 18, and stores it until the next route request is received from the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 and the route search is executed again. In this case, the route information of the route is the I
Based on the D information, it is stored so as to correspond to each in-vehicle device 100.

Here, a case where the route includes a toll road such as an expressway and a toll road will be described. In this case, the server 10 creates a toll table as shown in FIG. 7 based on interchange information such as an interchange (including a junction) for entering the toll road and an interchange for leaving the toll road. The toll road charge is calculated with reference to the toll road charge information.

Then, the server 10 divides the route information of the route from the current position to the destination so as to correspond to the road length, and sends it back to the vehicle-mounted device 100. Here, the road length is determined by various conditions, for example, 5 [km] when all the routes are general roads, and 15 [km] when the route includes a toll road. You can Further, in a range such as a tunnel that includes an incommunicable section, the road length can be set such that all the sections are included between both ends of the road length. The road length may be changed according to various conditions, or may be fixed regardless of the conditions.

Since the vehicle-mounted device 100 receives and stores only the route information of the route corresponding to the road length from the server 10, the vehicle-mounted device 100 can store the following information before the vehicle travels for the road length. The route information of the route corresponding to the road length is received from the server 10. As described above, the in-vehicle device 100 only needs to store the route information of the routes divided according to the road length, and therefore the capacity of the storage unit 102 can be reduced. Therefore, the structure of the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 can be simplified and the manufacturing cost of the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 can be reduced.

The route information of the route may be transmitted in a batch without being divided so as to correspond to the road length. However, in the present embodiment, the route information corresponds to the road length. The case where the data is divided into two and transmitted will be described.

Then, when the vehicle-mounted device 100 receives the route information, it starts guiding the route. Here, when the current position is on the toll road, that is, when the vehicle is traveling on the toll road, the vehicle-mounted device 100
Receives the toll road charge information together with the route information of the route from the server 10. As a result, the vehicle-mounted device 100 provides guidance for the route and guidance for the toll road. In this case, for example, by displaying a toll on the display unit 106, toll guidance for the toll road is performed.

Subsequently, the in-vehicle apparatus 100 determines whether or not the route information of the route corresponding to the next road length is necessary based on the information about the road length included in the guide information. In this case, the in-vehicle apparatus 100 may determine that the route information of the route is necessary when the following condition (1) is satisfied, or the following (1) or (2)
When any one of the conditions is satisfied, it may be determined that the route information of the route is necessary.

First, the condition (1) is that the distance from the current position to the tip of the route which has already been received and is currently guiding is not more than a predetermined distance, that is, the storage means 102.
The rest of the route corresponding to the guidance information stored in is less than or equal to a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance may be adjusted according to the vehicle speed. Then, when the rest of the route is less than the predetermined distance, it is determined that the route information of the route corresponding to the next road length is necessary.

Next, the condition (2) is that the distance from the current position to the guide point of the route is not more than the predetermined distance. The guide point is a point for displaying an enlarged view on the display unit 106 and for providing voice guidance by the voice output unit 107. Further, the predetermined distance can be adjusted according to the vehicle speed. When the distance to the guide point is less than or equal to the predetermined distance, it is determined that the route information of the route corresponding to the next road length is necessary. The condition (2) is for surely guiding the route after passing the guidance point.

Even when it is determined that the current position is off the route, the vehicle-mounted device 100 determines that the route information of the route corresponding to the next road length is necessary. In this case, the in-vehicle device 100 determines whether or not the current position is off the route based on the distance between the current position and the route or the comparison between the traveling locus and the shape of the route.

Since the vehicle-mounted device 100 receives and stores only the route information of the route corresponding to the road length from the server 10, the route information of the route corresponding to the next road length is stored. If necessary, it is necessary to send a route request corresponding to the next road length to the server 10.
Therefore, the vehicle-mounted device 100 determines whether communication with the server 10 is possible. In this case, for example,
The vehicle-mounted device 100 transmits a communication protocol to the server 10 and sends a corresponding communication protocol to the server 1.
Whether or not communication is possible can be determined based on whether or not the communication can be received from 0.

If any abnormality occurs in the communication state, communication becomes impossible. Here, the communication state becomes abnormal, for example, when the vehicle is traveling in an incommunicable area or a poor communication area, when the state of the ionosphere in the atmosphere is unstable, a system down occurs in the network. This is the case. When it is determined that communication is possible,
The vehicle-mounted device 100 transmits a route request corresponding to the next road length to the server 10.

On the other hand, when it is determined that communication is impossible, the vehicle-mounted device 100 stores the traveling locus information of the vehicle in the vehicle position information file 164 and saves it. In this case, the traveling locus information is stored without being erased at least until communication becomes possible again, that is, until communication is restored.

In this case, the traveling locus information is information relating to the traveling locus of the vehicle, and the traveling locus estimated that the vehicle has traveled by comparing the current position measured by the position measuring unit 104 with the map information. Or a plurality of past positions measured by the position measuring unit 104,
That is, it may be a locus point. When the traveling locus information is a locus point, the server 10 compares the locus point with map information to create a traveling locus.

Then, the in-vehicle apparatus 100 determines whether or not the communication with the server 10 is possible again, that is, whether or not the communication is restored. Then, when it is determined that the communication is not restored, the traveling locus information is stored and saved in the vehicle position information file 164.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication is restored, the vehicle-mounted device 100 sends a route request to the server 10. In this case, the traveling locus information stored and saved in the vehicle position information file 164 is also transmitted. The travel locus information that needs to be transmitted is the server 1
The traveling locus information from the time when communication with 0 is disabled, and the traveling locus information before that, that is, before the communication is disabled, may or may not be transmitted.

Then, when the server 10 receives the route request at the time when the communication is restored, the server 10 estimates the traveling route during the communication failure based on the traveling locus information transmitted together with the route request. The in-vehicle device route estimation process is executed by the traveling route estimating means. in this case,
The server 10 can estimate the traveling route during the period when communication is impossible based on the route information of the route stored and stored in the storage unit 18 and the traveling locus information received from the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100. Here, the in-vehicle device 100
When the traveling locus information received from the vehicle is a traveling locus created by the vehicle-mounted device 100, the server 10 can estimate the traveling route by using the traveling locus as it is. If the travel locus information received from the vehicle-mounted device 100 is a locus point, the server 10 compares the information of the plurality of positions with the map information to create a travel locus, and then the travel locus. Is used to estimate the travel route.

The route information of the traveling route includes information on the road on which the vehicle has traveled. When the road is a toll road, a list of interchanges (including junctions) of the toll road is also included. included.

Subsequently, when the travel route is estimated, the travel route is stored in the storage means 18 and merged with the route searched after the communication recovery and the route searched and saved last time. Then, based on the fused routes, the server 1
0 determines the entrance as an interchange or junction where the vehicle has entered the toll road and the exit as an interchange or junction for the vehicle to leave the toll road. Further, the server 10 calculates the toll road fee based on the entrance and exit, and creates fee information included in the guidance information. Since the main purpose is to calculate the toll on the toll road, the travel route estimating means may estimate the travel route by obtaining at least an interchange (including a junction) on the toll road. Good. Thereby, the toll road charge is calculated as if the communication was not disabled.

Next, the server 10 transmits the toll road charge information together with the route information of the route. Accordingly, the in-vehicle device 100 can provide guidance on the toll road along with the guidance on the route. In this case, the charge displayed on the display unit 106 is the same as the charge displayed on the display unit 106 before communication is disabled.

As a result, the in-vehicle device 100 and the server 10 are
Even if the communication with the server is lost, the server 10
Does not restart the route search from the beginning when communication is restored, and does not create guidance information or fee information in which the guidance information does not include an incommunicable section. Therefore, inappropriate charge information that does not reflect the section where communication is disabled or the section before communication is restored is not created. Then, the fare of the toll road is calculated based on the entrance and the exit, and fare information is created.

When the communication is disabled, the in-vehicle device 100 executes a route search based on the map information and road information stored in the storage means 102 to guide the searched route. You can also In this case, when the communication is restored, the vehicle-mounted device 100 transmits the searched route to the server 10. Then, the server 10 executes a route search after the communication is restored, fuses the searched route with the route received from the vehicle-mounted device 100, and calculates a toll road charge.

Next, the flowchart will be described. Step S11 The in-vehicle device 100 transmits a route request to the server 10. Step S12 The server 10 receives the route request. Step S13 The server 10 executes a route search. Step S14 The server 10 creates route information and transmits it to the in-vehicle device 100. Step S15 The vehicle-mounted device 100 receives the route information. Step S16 The in-vehicle device 100 provides route guidance. Step S17 The in-vehicle device 100 determines whether or not the route information corresponding to the next road length is necessary. If it is necessary, the process proceeds to step S18, and if it is not necessary, the process returns to step S16. Step S18 The in-vehicle device 100 determines whether or not communication with the server 10 is impossible. If it is determined that communication is impossible, the process proceeds to step S19, and if communication is not possible, a route request is transmitted. Step S19 The in-vehicle device 100 stores and saves the traveling locus information of the vehicle in the vehicle position information file 164. Step S20 The in-vehicle device 100 determines whether the communication is restored. When it is determined that the communication is restored, the process proceeds to step S21, and when the communication is not restored, the process returns to step S19. Step S21 The server 10 receives the route request at the time of communication recovery. Step S22: The server 10 executes the in-vehicle device route estimation processing based on the received traveling locus information,
Return to 14.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the navigation system includes the server 10 and the in-vehicle device 100.
And causes the server 10 to perform route search,
The in-vehicle device 10 is provided with guidance information for guiding the search result and the route.
0 is a system that can receive and output,
Further, the vehicle-mounted device 100 stores the traveling locus information of the vehicle when the vehicle loses communication while traveling on a toll road, and when the communication is restored, transmits the traveling locus information to the server 10 together with a route request. It has become.

Therefore, the server 10 can estimate the traveling route of the vehicle while the communication is impossible based on the traveling locus information, so that the section in which the communication is disabled or the communication is restored. It is possible to create guidance information that guides a route that reflects the section. As a result, an appropriate fare reflecting the section from the entrance of the vehicle entering the toll road to the exit of the toll road is calculated, and the fare information is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 100.
0 can properly guide the toll road charge.

For example, "problems to be solved by the invention"
In the case of the conventional navigation system described in 1., since the information center does not receive the traveling locus information while communication is impossible, the route that reflects the section where communication is disabled or the section before communication is restored It is not possible to create guide information that guides. Therefore, the information center rediscovers the route from the point where the communication is restored to the destination and calculates the charge.
The charges of the section where communication is disabled or the section before communication is restored are not reflected and become improper.

On the other hand, in the navigation system of the present embodiment, the in-vehicle device 100 stores the traveling locus information of the vehicle when the vehicle loses communication while traveling on the toll road, and when communication is restored, The travel locus information is transmitted to the server 10 together with the route request. Thereby, the server 10 is based on the traveling locus information,
Since it is possible to estimate the travel route of the vehicle while the vehicle was in communication failure, it is possible to calculate an appropriate fare that reflects the section from the entrance where the vehicle entered the toll road to the exit where the vehicle is scheduled to exit.

Therefore, even if communication is lost while the vehicle is traveling on a toll road, when the communication is restored, the in-vehicle device 100 guides an appropriate charge, so that the operator does not pay an appropriate charge. You can get a reliable guide without being confused by the guide.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the case where the vehicle-mounted device 100 is capable of storing the map information and the road information in the storage means 102 and executing the route search has been mainly described. , The in-vehicle device 10
0 may be, for example, a mobile phone, a mobile information terminal, a PDA, or the like, which does not store map information or road information in the storage means and cannot execute route search.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0094]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, even if communication is disabled, the latest interchange that has entered the toll road can be specified and an accurate fare can be calculated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an operation of an in-vehicle device of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of route guidance in a conventional navigation system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a structure of map information in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the operation of the vehicle-mounted device of the navigation system in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the information center of the navigation system in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a toll road charge table in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 servers 12, 108 Transmitter / receiver 14 Arithmetic processing unit 100 In-vehicle device 104 Position measurement unit 105 Input section 106 display

Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C032 HB03 HB08 HB11 HB22 HB23                       HB24 HB25 HB31 HC08 HC31                       HD13 HD16                 2F029 AA02 AA07 AB01 AB07 AB13                       AC02 AC08 AC14 AC18 AC20                 5H180 AA01 AA21 BB02 BB04 BB05                       CC12 FF04 FF05 FF10 FF13                       FF22 FF25 FF27 FF33 FF38

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A navigation system in which an information center transmits route information created by searching a route in response to a request from an in-vehicle device to the in-vehicle device, and the in-vehicle device provides route guidance based on the route information. (A) The in-vehicle device stores a traveling locus storing unit that stores traveling locus information during communication failure, a transmitting unit that transmits the traveling locus information when communication is restored, and a receiving unit that receives fee information from the information center. And an informing means for informing the charge information,
(B) The information center is based on a travel route estimating means for estimating a travel route of a vehicle incapable of communication based on the travel trajectory information received from the vehicle-mounted device, and the travel route and a route searched after communication is restored. A navigation system comprising: charge information creating means for creating charge information according to the above; and transmitting means for transmitting the charge information. 2. An information center for transmitting route information created by searching a route in response to a request from an on-vehicle device to the on-vehicle device, wherein (a) communication is disabled based on traveling locus information received from the on-vehicle device. Traveling route estimating means for estimating the traveling route of the vehicle, (b) fee information creating means for producing fee information based on the traveling route and the route searched after communication is restored, and (c) transmitting the fee information. An information center, comprising: 3. A route storage means for storing information of a previously searched route until the next route is searched, the route information stored before the communication failure stored in the route storage means, and the traveling. The information center according to claim 2, wherein the charge information is created based on the route and the route searched after the communication is restored. 4. An in-vehicle device that transmits a request to an information center, receives the route information created by the information center searching for a route in response to the request, and guides the route based on the route information. ) A traveling locus storing means for storing traveling locus information during communication failure, (b) a transmitting means for transmitting the traveling locus information when communication is restored, and (c) a receiving means for receiving fee information from the information center. (D) An in-vehicle device having an informing unit for informing the charge information. 5. The in-vehicle device according to claim 4, wherein the traveling locus information is a traveling locus estimated to be a vehicle traveling by comparing the measured current position and the map information. 6. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 4, wherein the traveling locus information is a measured locus point of the vehicle. 7. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 4, wherein the charge information includes a charge for a section from an entrance where a vehicle enters a toll road to an exit where the vehicle is scheduled to exit. 8. The in-vehicle device according to claim 4, wherein the charge information is created based on a travel route and a searched route. 9. The in-vehicle device according to claim 8, wherein the travel route is a road on which a vehicle travels. 10. The route information of the traveling route includes a list of interchanges and junctions of the road on which the vehicle has traveled, and the fee information includes an interchange scheduled to leave the toll road on the route searched after the communication is restored and the list. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 8, which is created based on the above.