JP2003302241A - Car navigation device, main road merging spot determining method and program for it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set, in an arbitrary spot, a merging spot into a main road included in a running route, in setting the running route from a start point to a destination. <P>SOLUTION: A conjunction enable spot from a start point is specified for a main road contained in a running route from the start point to the destination (step S6), the specified conjunction enable spot is informed to a user (step S7), and among the informed conjunction enable spots, a running route from the start point to the destination containing a route for entering the main road from the spot selected by the user is set (step S9). Thus, even if there are two or more conjunction enable spots in the main road near the start point, the user can set the route containing the route for entering the main road from the conjunction spot selected according to the user's taste. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car navigation system, a highway confluence determination method, and its program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of setting a travel route by a user in a conventional car navigation system, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-1998
There is one disclosed in JP-A 1-211500. This car navigation device sets a travel route including a road corresponding to the road name by designating the road name from the list of road names displayed on the display device, for example. Also, in this list of road names,
The road names of other roads that intersect the road corresponding to the already specified road name are displayed, and the user specifies the road names according to the order of the displayed list, so that the travel route that passes through the roads in the specified order is displayed. Set. If other roads that intersect the road corresponding to the already specified road name intersect at multiple points, a list of intersection names is displayed on the display device, and the user specifies the intersection name from the list. By doing so, a traveling route that enters another road at the intersection corresponding to the designated intersection name is set. As described above, in the conventional car navigation device, the user can specify the roads that form the route.

[0003]

When setting a travel route, the user may want to set the route based on the main road. For example, when the distance from the starting point to the destination is long, especially when setting a traveling route that can quickly reach the destination by using a highway such as a highway or a toll road, Strong demand.
When setting a travel route like this, the user wants to specify not only the main road but also the point where the main road merges, considering the distance from the departure point and the ease of merging. I may think that.

However, in the conventional car navigation system, only a main trunk road with a name can be designated as a passing road, and a confluence point to the main road cannot be designated. Therefore, for example, there may be a case where an intersection where vehicles for merging tend to be crowded is automatically set as a merging point.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.
A car navigation device and a method of determining a main road junction where a merged point can be arbitrarily selected and a traveling route from a starting point to a destination including a route entering the main road from the selected merged point can be set. And to provide the program.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a car navigation system for a map data storing means for storing road map data and a main road to be included in a traveling route from a starting point to a destination. A point specifying means for specifying a confluent point from the departure point based on the road map data, a point notifying means for notifying a user of the confluent point specified by the point specifying means, and the point notifying means From the merging point notified by the point selection means for selecting an arbitrary point, and as a travel route from the departure point to the destination, from the merging point selected by the user by the point selection means to the main road And a route setting means for setting a traveling route from a departure place to a destination including an approaching route based on the road map data.

As described above, the point specifying means specifies a point where the start point can merge with the main road, and the point notifying means notifies the user of the specified mergeable point. Therefore, the user can select any confluence point from the points by the point selection means. As a result, it is possible to set a travel route from the departure place to the destination, which includes a route that enters the main road from the confluence point that matches the taste of the user.

Here, the main road can be defined as a road of any road type such as a highway, a toll road, a national road or a prefectural road (general road). In addition, a road having a predetermined road width or more (for example, 5.5 m or more) may be defined as a main road.

According to another aspect of the car navigation device of the present invention, at least one main road near the departure point is specified by the start point main road specifying means based on the road map data, and the start point main road specifying means is specified. In order to select an arbitrary main road from a departure-point main road notifying means for notifying the user of at least one main road near the departure point and a main road near the departure point notified by this departure-point main road notifying means The starting point main road selecting means is provided, and the point specifying means specifies, on the basis of the road map data, points where the starting point can be merged with respect to the main road selected by the user by the starting point main road selecting means. The route setting means is capable of merging with the main road selected by the user by the departure main road selecting means and the user selected by the point selecting means. And setting a travel route including a point.

As described above, when there are a plurality of merging arterial roads near the departure place, the user is notified of the plurality of arterial roads so that the user selects one of the arterial roads based on his / her own taste. be able to. In addition, the user can also select a point at which the main road selected by the user can join. As a result, it is possible to set a traveling route that includes a main road that meets the taste of the user and a point that joins the main road.

According to the car navigation device of the third aspect, the route setting means sets the primary traveling route on the basis of the departure place and the destination information, and the main road included in the primary traveling route. In contrast, after the point to be merged is determined by the point notification means and the point selection means, the final traveling route including the main road and the merge point is set.

With the above configuration, even after the first travel route including the main road is set, the user can change the confluence point to the main road as necessary. As a result, it is possible to set the final travel route that enters the main road from the confluence selected by the user.

As in the car navigation device according to the fourth aspect, the spot notification means, together with the mergeable spot,
By notifying the unique information including at least one of the distance information and the intersection information regarding the merging point, the user can select the merging point based on these pieces of information. For example, when there are a plurality of merging points, the user can select the merging point with the shortest distance by referring to the distance from the departure point. As a result, it is possible to set the route from the departure place to the confluence point having the shortest distance as the traveling route.

Further, by notifying the user of intersection information such as the number of lanes of the road merging with the main road, the presence or absence of a time difference type traffic light at the merging point, and the presence or absence of a lane dedicated for right / left turns
The user can determine whether or not the point is an easy point to enter the main road. As a result, the user can determine the confluence point based on his or her taste.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a car navigation device, which is a destination highway specifying means for specifying at least one highway near a destination based on road map data.
A destination main road notification means for notifying a user of at least one main road near the destination specified by the destination main road specifying means, and a main road near the destination notified by the destination main road notification means From the destination for selecting an arbitrary highway from the above-mentioned highway selecting means and the highway selected by the user by the highway selecting means of the destination, based on the road map data, points that can be diverted to the destination. From the diversion point specifying means for notifying the user of the diversion possible point specified by the diversion point specifying means, and the diversion possible point notified by the diversion point informing means. Further comprising a diversion point selection means for selecting a point,
The route setting means is characterized by setting a traveling route including a main road selected by the user by the destination main road selecting means and a divertable point selected by the user by the diversion point selecting means.

As described above, even when there are a plurality of shuntable roads near the destination, the user is notified of the plurality of shunted roads so that the user can select 1 according to his / her preference.
You can select one highway. Further, the user can also select a point where the flow can be diverted from the main road selected by the user. As a result, it becomes possible to set a travel route including a route diverted from the main road at a point that matches the taste of the user.

In the car navigation system according to the present invention, the route setting means sets the primary traveling route based on the departure point and destination information, and the route is selected from the main roads included in the primary traveling route. A diversion point specifying means for specifying a diversion point toward the ground, a diversion point informing means for informing the user of the diversion possible point specified by the diversion point specifying means, and a diversion possibility informed by the diversion point informing means A branch point selecting means for selecting an arbitrary point from the different points, and after determining the branch point from the main road by the branch point notifying means and the branch point selecting means, the final point including the main road and the branch point It is characterized by setting a traveling route.

As described above, even after the first travel route including the main road is set, the user can change the diversion point from the main road as necessary. This makes it possible to set the final travel route with the branch point selected by the user as the exit from the main road.

As in the car navigation system according to the seventh aspect, the point notifying means is provided with a divertable point,
By notifying the specific information including at least one of the distance information and the intersection information regarding the divertable point, the user can select the divertable point based on the information. For example, when there are multiple divertable points, the user can select the shortest diversion point by referring to the distance to the destination. As a result, it is possible to set a travel route including a route with the shortest distance from the diversion point to the destination.

Further, for example, by notifying the user of intersection information such as the number of lanes of the road shunting from the main road, the presence / absence of a time difference type traffic light at the shunting point, the presence / absence of a lane dedicated for right / left turns, the user can: It is possible to judge whether or not the point is an easy diversion from the main road. This allows the user to determine the diversion point based on his or her taste.

In the car navigation system according to the present invention, the route setting means sets a plurality of traveling routes based on the departure point and destination information, and one of the plurality of traveling routes selected by the user. It is characterized in that the traveling route is the first traveling route.

Thus, the user can select one traveling route from the presented traveling routes based on his / her taste. Then, by selecting a confluence point to the main road included in the traveling route or a converging point from the main road, the traveling route including the confluence point and / or the converging point of the main road that matches the taste of the user. Can be set.

Since the method and operation of the method for determining the junction of the main roads according to claim 9 and the function and operation of the program according to claim 10 are the same as those of the car navigation device according to claim 1, The description is omitted.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A car navigation system, a method for determining a junction of a main road and a program therefor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a car navigation apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the car navigation system of this embodiment includes a position detector 1, a map data input device 6, an operation switch group 7, and a control circuit 8 connected to these.
Is equipped with. Further, an external memory 9 connected to the control circuit 8, a display device 10, an external information input / output device 11, and a remote controller sensor 12 are provided. The control circuit 8 is configured as an ordinary computer, and includes a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, an input / output circuit, and a bus line connecting these configurations inside. ROM
A program to be executed by the control circuit 8 is written in, and the CPU or the like executes predetermined arithmetic processing according to this program. It should be noted that this program can be acquired from the external information input / output device 11 or externally via the external memory 9.

The position detector 1 is a GPS (Glo) that detects the position of the vehicle based on radio waves from the well-known geomagnetic sensor 2, gyroscope 3, distance sensor 4, and satellite.
balPositioning System). Since each of them has an error of different nature, they are configured to be used while being complemented by a plurality of sensors. Depending on the accuracy of each sensor, the position detector 1 may be configured by a part of the above, and further includes a rotation sensor that detects the steering position of the steering wheel, a wheel sensor that detects the rotation speed of each rolling wheel, and the like. You may use.

The map data input device 6 is a device for inputting to the control circuit 8 map data necessary for drawing a map such as node data, link data, and landmark data such as place names. The map data input device 6 is provided with a storage medium for storing map data, and a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM is generally used as the storage medium because of the amount of data, but a memory card, a hard disk, or the like. A medium may be used.

Here, the structures of the node data and the link data will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in (a) of the figure, the node data includes a node ID, a node coordinate, a node name, and a number of all links connected to the node, each node having a unique number attached to each of intersections, merging, and branching of a plurality of roads. The connection link ID in which the link ID is described, the intersection type,
It is composed of various data such as lane information for right / left turns, number of lanes, and regulation information. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, the link data includes a link ID with a unique number for each road, a link length, node coordinates of start and end points, road types such as highways and national roads, road width, etc. It is composed of each data of. Among them, the link of the link data is defined as a link between two nodes by dividing each road on the map into a plurality of nodes by nodes indicating intersections, branch points and the like. The node coordinates of the start point and end point are
The coordinates of the start and end of the link are described.

The display device 10 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and the position detector 1 is provided on the screen of the display device 10.
The vehicle mark displayed based on the current position of the vehicle detected by the map data, the map data input from the map data input device 6, and additional data such as a guide route displayed on the map are displayed.

The external information input / output device 11 is, for example, a VIC.
S (Vehicle Information and Communication System)
It is a device that receives information provided from the outside and sends information to the outside. Information received from outside is
It is processed by the control circuit 8 and, for example, traffic jam information, regulation information, etc. are displayed in an overlapping manner on the map. If necessary, the control circuit 8
The information processed in 1 is output from the external information input / output device 11.

The remote control sensor 12 receives various operation signals from a remote control terminal (hereinafter referred to as a remote control) 13 and outputs them to the control circuit 8. The operation switch group 7 is configured as, for example, a touch switch integrated with the display device 10 or a mechanical switch, and is used for various inputs.

Next, as a feature of the present invention, when setting a traveling route from a starting point to a destination, a highway specifying process for specifying a highway near the starting point and a highway selected by the user. 2A is a block diagram of the node data, FIG. 2B is a link data configuration diagram, FIG. 3 is a flow chart, and FIG. 4 is a travel route. An explanation will be given using an image diagram.

As shown in FIG. 3, first, when the car navigation system is powered on, initialization is performed (step S1). The initialization performed here includes initialization processing of various sensors, processing for establishing a communication link with the outside such as GPS and VICS, and processing for detecting the current position of the host vehicle. The current position of the host vehicle is detected by the position detector 1, and the detected position by the GPS receiver 5 is acquired in the same form as the coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the node data and link data described above. Further, the geomagnetic sensor 2, the gyroscope 3, and the distance sensor 4 simultaneously acquire information about the traveling direction and the traveled distance of the own vehicle, calculate the coordinate data of the current position by autonomous navigation, and perform the map matching with the road data. By doing so, the detection accuracy of the current position is improved.

Then, if the initial setting is completed, it is judged whether or not the user has set the destination (step S2). If the destination is set by the user, the main road identifying process (step S3) is executed. In addition, when the destination is not set, the subsequent processing is in a standby state until the destination is set.

In the highway identification process (step S3), the current position of the vehicle detected in the initial setting (step S1) is set as the departure point, and the departure from the link data of FIG. 2B is based on the coordinates of the departure point. A highway near the ground is identified.
The user can also change the departure point from the current position by operating the remote controller 13 or the operation switch group 7.

Here, the identification of the main road near the departure place will be described. The link data has node coordinates of a start point and an end point, as shown in FIG. Therefore,
By referring to the node coordinates based on the coordinates of the departure place, it is possible to determine whether or not the link is near the departure place. Further, since the link data also has data on road type and road width, it is possible to determine whether or not the link near the departure point corresponds to the main road. Furthermore, FIG.
By referring to the connection link ID of the node data in (a), the connection relationship of the links can be specified. Therefore, the arterial road link that has a connection relationship with the link that is the arterial road near the point of departure is the connection link ID of the node data.
By specifying from the above, the main road near the departure point composed of a plurality of links is specified.

In this highway identification process, for example, a highway located within a predetermined distance from the place of departure is identified. The user may arbitrarily set the distance. The identified highway is a road of any road type such as a highway, a toll road, a national road or a prefectural road (general road). It may be set arbitrarily. Alternatively, a road having a road width of 5.5 m or more may be set as a main road. The data on the road type and the road width can be specified by referring to the road type and the road width of the link data in FIG.

When the main road near the departure place is specified by the main road specifying process, the main road displaying process is executed (step S4). In this highway display processing, a road map of a highway passing near the departure place as shown in FIG.
Display to 0. As shown in the figure, the display device 1 is also added with attributes of the main road (for example, names of the main line A and the main line B).
When it is displayed at 0, the user can easily understand the main road. Further, when the number of identified highways is large, the names of the highways may be displayed in a list format.

Then, it is judged whether or not one main road is selected from the main roads displayed on the display device 10 by the user (step S5). The main road can be selected, for example, by operating the remote controller 13 or the operation switch group 7. Then, when the main road is selected, the point specifying process (step S6) is executed. When the main road is not selected, the subsequent processing is in a standby state until the main road is selected. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the user selects the trunk line A shown in FIG.

Next, in the spot identifying process (step S6), spots that can be merged into the main road selected by the user are identified based on the node data between the links forming the main road. Since this node data has the connection link ID in which the link IDs of all the links connecting to the node are described, from this connection link ID,
By extracting the nodes that have a connection relationship with the link extending to the departure local area excluding the link ID of the link of the main road, the point where the road can join the main road is specified.

It should be noted that it is preferable to search for the point where this merge is possible under the condition that it is a predetermined distance or less from the departure place. The distance condition may be arbitrarily set by the user.

Then, when the point where the merging is possible is specified,
A point display process (step S7) is executed. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, it is assumed that three merging points (merging points A, B, and C) have been searched by the point specifying process. In this point display processing, the road map as shown in FIG. In addition, referring to the node name of the node data, the name of the confluence point (name of intersection, interchange, tollgate, etc.) is also added to the display device 1.
When it is displayed at 0, the user can easily understand the confluence point.
Furthermore, when the number of identified merge points is large, the names of the merge points may be displayed in a list format.

Subsequently, it is judged whether or not one of the merge points displayed on the display device 10 has been selected by the user (step S8). The selection of the confluence point can be performed, for example, by designating the name of the confluence point with the remote controller 13 or the operation switch group 7. Then, when the confluence point is selected, a route setting process (step S9) including the main road selected by the user and the confluence point to the main road is executed, and the final travel route is set. Note that step S
In 8, when the mergeable point is not selected, the subsequent processing is in a standby state until the mergeable point is selected. In the present embodiment, the user is not shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the confluence point A shown in (b) is selected. Then, the final travel route is set in the route setting process (step S9). FIG. 4C shows an example of the finally set travel route.

As described above, even when there are a plurality of merging arterial roads near the departure place, the user is notified of the plurality of arterial roads so that the user can select one arterial road from the plurality of arterial roads. You can choose. as a result,
It is possible to set a travel route including a main road that matches the taste of the user.

Further, even when there are a plurality of confluence points to the selected main road, the user is notified of the plurality of confluence points so that the user can select one of the confluence points. You can choose. as a result,
For example, it becomes possible to set a travel route that passes through a confluence point that is easy for the user to enter.

In the point display process (step S7), when the points where the merging points can be displayed are displayed on the display device 10, the unique information of the merging points as shown in FIG. 5 may be presented to the user. As shown in the figure, the unique information is a point name, a distance from a departure place, an intersection type, right / left turn dedicated lane information, regulation information, and the like. By providing such unique information to the user, the user can select a confluence point based on his / her taste, and can set a travel route according to the user's preference.

Further, although the car navigation device of this embodiment uses the remote controller 13 or the operation switch group 7 as a user interface, the invention is not limited to this, and a device having a voice recognition function is used to input by the voice of the user. But good. Furthermore, the highway display processing (step S4) and the point display processing (step S7) may be presented to the user by voice.

(Modification 1) In the car navigation system described above, in addition to the main road specifying process near the departure place and the process of specifying a point that can join the main road, the main road specifying process near the destination and the main road You may make it perform the specific process of the point which can be diverted from the road. That is, in the highway identification process (step S3), the highway near the departure place is identified, but in addition to this, the highway near the destination set by the user is also identified. Also in the identification of the main road near the destination, the main road near the destination can be specified from the link data of FIG. 2B based on the coordinates of the destination, similarly to the main road near the departure place. In addition,
Similar to the specification of the main road near the departure place, the main road located within a predetermined distance from the destination is specified, and the user may arbitrarily set the distance. In addition, the type of highway to be specified may also be arbitrarily set by the user.

Further, in step S5, the merge point and the branch point for the main road near the departure place and the main road near the destination selected by the user are specified in the point specifying process (step S6). Then, in the point display process (step S7), the confluence point and the branch point of the main road near the departure point and the destination are displayed, and the user selects each point. Then, the travel route passing through the confluence point and the diversion point selected by the user is finally set (step S9). It should be noted that, when displaying the diversion point, it is preferable to present the unique information of the diversion point (point name, distance to the destination, intersection type, right / left turn dedicated lane information, regulation information, etc.) to the user.

In this way, in addition to setting the main road near the departure point and the confluence point to the main road, the user can also set the main road near the destination and the branch point from the main road. It is possible to set a travel route including a confluence point to the main road and a branch point from the main road according to the.

In this modification, the main road near the departure place and the main road near the destination, and the respective confluence and branch points can be set as the traveling routes. It is also possible to set only the point where the flow can be diverted from the main road as the traveling route.

(Second Embodiment) Since the second embodiment has a lot in common with the first embodiment,
Hereinafter, detailed description of common parts will be omitted, and different parts will be mainly described.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that after the user sets the destination, the route from the starting point including the main road to the destination is set as the primary route, This is to allow the user to select a point that is included in this route and can join the main road near the departure point, and set a route that passes through the selected point as the final travel route. FIG. 6 shows the present embodiment.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 and the image diagram of the road map in FIG. Note that the configuration of the car navigation device according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, first, when the car navigation device is powered on, initialization is performed (step S11). The initial settings performed here are the first
As described in the above embodiment, the initialization processing of various sensors is performed. Then, if the initial setting is completed, it is determined whether or not the user has set the destination (step S12). Here, when the destination is set by the user, the first route setting process (step S13) is executed. In addition, when the destination is not set, the subsequent processing is in a standby state until the destination is set.

Primary route setting process (step S13)
Sets the current position of the host vehicle detected in the initial setting (step S11) as the departure point and automatically selects the route to the destination set by the user to set the primary route. At this time, the primary route from the starting point to the destination is automatically set to include the main road.

Here, as described in the first embodiment, the main road is a road of any road type such as a highway, a toll road, a national road or a prefectural road (general road). The road type of the main road may be arbitrarily set by the user. Alternatively, a road having a road width of 5.5 m or more may be set as a main road. The data regarding the road type and the road width can be specified by referring to the road type and the road width of the link data described in the first embodiment. Note that FIG. 7A is an example of setting the primary route including the main road (main line C).

Subsequently, the main road included in the set primary route is specified (step S14). Here, the main road included in the primary route is specified by referring to the road type and the road width of the links that form the primary route. For this identification processing, basically the main road closest to the departure place is selected. However, when the primary route includes a plurality of main roads, the user may arbitrarily select it. Then, with respect to the identified main road, a primary route point identification process (step S
15) is executed. Also in this primary route point identification processing, as described in the first embodiment, the mergeable points are identified based on the node data between the links forming the main road. That is, since the node data has a connection link ID in which the link IDs of all the links that connect to the node are described, a link extending from this connection link ID to the departure local area excluding the link ID of the link of the main road By extracting the nodes that are connected to each other, the points that can join the main road are identified.

It should be noted that it is preferable to search for the point where this merge is possible under the condition that it is a predetermined distance or less from the departure place. The distance condition may be arbitrarily set by the user.

Then, when the points where the merging is possible are specified,
The primary route point display processing (step S16) is executed. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, it is assumed that three points (merging points D, E, and F) where merging is possible are specified by the point specifying process on the first route. First
In the next route point display processing, a road map as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, referring to the node name of the node data and displaying the names of the confluence points (names of intersections, interchanges, toll gates, etc.) on the display device 10, the user grasps the confluence points. It will be easier. Furthermore, when there are many identified confluence points,
The names of the confluence points may be displayed in a list format.

Then, it is judged whether or not one of the merge points displayed on the display device 10 is selected by the user (step 17). Then, when the confluence point is selected, a route setting process including the confluence point to the main road selected by the user (step S
18) is executed and the final travel route is set. In addition, when the merging point is not selected, the subsequent processing is in a standby state until the merging point is selected. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user selects the confluence point F shown in FIG. Then, in the final route setting process (step 18), the traveling route as shown in FIG. 7C is set.

As described above, in the route including the main road from the starting point to the destination set in advance, even when there are a plurality of merging points near the starting point, the plurality of merging points are available. By informing the user of, the user can select one confluence point based on his / her preference and set a traveling route passing through that point.

In the primary route point display processing (step S16), when the points where the merging points can be displayed on the display device 10, the unique information of the merging points may be presented to the user. This unique information is the name of the spot, the distance from the starting point, the type of intersection, the lane information for right / left turns, the regulation information, etc., as in the case of the first embodiment. By providing such unique information to the user, the user can select a confluence point based on his / her taste, and can set a travel route according to the user's preference.

(Modification 2) In the car navigation system according to the second embodiment described above, the point where the flow is divided from the main road near the destination to the destination may be specified. That is, the primary route point identification process (step S
In 15), points that can merge from the origin to the main road are specified. In addition to this, points that can branch from the main road to the destination are specified. Furthermore, the first
In the next-route point display process (step S16), the user is notified of the diverging points from the main road near the destination, in addition to the merging points on the main road near the departure point. And
In the final route setting process (step S18), a route that passes through the selected merge point and branch point is set as the final travel route.

By doing so, in addition to setting the confluence point to the main road near the departure place for the route including the preset main road, the branch point from the main road near the destination is also set. Therefore, it is possible to set a traveling route including a confluence point to the main road and a branch point from the main road according to the taste of the user.

In this modification, the confluence point to the main road near the departure point and the branch point from the main road near the destination can be set as the travel route. It is also possible to set only a divertable point in the travel route.

Further, although one traveling route is set in the primary route setting process, a plurality of traveling routes are set in advance, and the traveling route selected by the user from the plurality of traveling routes is set as the primary route. It may be a route.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a car navigation device.

2A is a configuration diagram of node data, and FIG. 2B is a configuration diagram of link data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the car navigation device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C relate to the first embodiment,
It is an image diagram of a travel route.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing unique information of a merge point according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the car navigation device according to the second embodiment.

7A to 7C are image diagrams of a travel route according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Position detector 2 Geomagnetic sensor 3 gyroscope 4 distance sensor 5 GPS receiver 6 Map data input device 7 Operation switch group 8 control circuit 9 External memory 10 Display 11 External information input / output device 12 Remote control sensor 13 Remote control

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C032 HB02 HB22 HB23 HB24 HC08                       HC14 HC15 HC16 HD03 HD16                       HD30                 2F029 AA02 AC02 AC09 AC14 AC19                 5H180 AA01 FF01 FF05 FF06 FF14                       FF27

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A map data storage means for storing road map data, and a point which can be merged from the departure place in the road map data for a main road to be included in a traveling route from the departure place to the destination. An arbitrary point is selected from the point specifying means specified on the basis of the point, the point notifying means for notifying the user of the point where the merging is possible specified by the point specifying means, and the merging point notified by the point notifying means From the starting point to the destination, including the point selecting means for carrying out, and the route from the starting point to the destination, which includes the route entering the main road from the mergeable point selected by the user by the point selecting means. A car navigation device comprising: a route setting means for setting a travel route based on the road map data. 2. A starting point main road specifying means for specifying at least one main road near the starting point based on the road map data, and at least a vicinity of the starting point specified by the starting point main road specifying means. Departure point main road notifying means for notifying the user of one main road, and departure point main road for selecting an arbitrary main road from the main roads near the departure point notified by the departure point main road notifying means Selecting means, the point specifying means, with respect to the main road selected by the user by the departure point main road selecting means, specifies points that can merge from the departure point based on the road map data, The route setting means is capable of merging with the main road selected by the user by the departure road main road selection means and the user selected by the point selection means. Car navigation device according to claim 1, wherein setting the driving route including the point. 3. The route setting means sets a primary traveling route on the basis of information on a starting point and a destination, and the point to be merged with a main road included in the primary traveling route is the point. 2. The car navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the final traveling route including the main road and the confluence is set after being determined by the notification unit and the point selection unit. 4. The point notifying means notifies the merging point and unique information including at least one of distance information and intersection information regarding the merging point. The car navigation device according to any one of 1. 5. A destination main road specifying means for specifying at least one main road near the destination based on the road map data, and at least a vicinity of the destination specified by the destination main road specifying means. A destination trunk road notifying means for notifying a user of one trunk road, and a destination for selecting an arbitrary trunk road from the trunk roads near the destination notified by the destination trunk road notifying means. A road selecting means, a diversion point specifying means for specifying a divertable point to the destination on the main road selected by the user by the destination arterial road selecting means based on the road map data; A diversion point informing unit that informs the user of the diversion possible point specified by the identifying unit, and a diversion-possible land informed by the diversion point informing unit. From the above, further comprising a diversion point selection means for selecting an arbitrary point, the route setting means, the main road selected by the user by the destination main road selection means, and the user selected by the diversion point selection means 2. The car navigation device according to claim 1, wherein a travel route including a point where the diversion is possible is set. 6. The route setting means sets a primary traveling route on the basis of information of a starting point and a destination, and a point at which a main road included in the primary traveling route should be divided toward a destination. From the diversion point specifying means for specifying the diversion point, the diversion point informing means for informing the user of the diversion possible point specified by the diversion point identifying means, and the diversion possible point informed by the diversion point informing means. A branch point selecting means for selecting a point, and after determining a branch point from the main road by the branch point notifying means and the branch point selecting means, a final traveling route including the main road and the branch point The car navigation device according to claim 1, wherein: 7. The point notifying means notifies, together with the divertable point, unique information including at least one of distance information and intersection information regarding the divertable point. The car navigation device described. 8. The route setting means sets a plurality of traveling routes based on the departure point and destination information, and selects one of the traveling routes selected by the user from the plurality of traveling routes as a primary traveling route. 7. The method according to claim 3 or 6, wherein
The car navigation device described. 9. On a main road that should be included in a travel route from a starting point to a destination, points that can merge from the point of departure are identified based on road map data, and the identified points that can be merged are identified. A route that informs the user and allows the user to select an arbitrary point from the informed merging point, and enters the main road from the merging point selected by the user as a traveling route from the departure point to the destination. A method for determining a junction point of an arterial road, characterized in that a travel route from a starting point to a destination is set based on the road map data. 10. A program used in a car navigation device, wherein the program is a road map showing points that can merge from the departure point with respect to a main road that should be included in a travel route from the departure point to the destination. A function of specifying based on data, a function of notifying the user of the specified merging point, a function of allowing the user to select an arbitrary point from the notified merging point, and a starting point to a destination A function of setting a travel route from a departure place to a destination based on the road map data, including a route entering the main road from a confluence point selected by the user, A program characterized by being executed by a car navigation device.