JP2004133782A - Portable navigation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To guide a route through which a user can go around a plurality of individual facilities in an efficient sequence reflecting a crowded situation in an institution such as an amusement part. <P>SOLUTION: A guide mode in an institution in which a DSRC (dedicated short range communication) radio communication apparatus is carried and used by the user can be carried out in the institution having a plurality of rides, etc., of an amusement part, etc. In the guide mode in an institution, the DSRC radio communication apparatus receives situation data including map data of the institution and a waiting time of each ride from a DSRC fixed situation (S1), searches for a route by which the user can efficiently go around the plurality of individual facilities and guides the searched route on the screen of a display device (S2 to S8). In such a case, when a system of a priority path is adopted, using the priority path is taken into consideration and a reservation of the priority path is also made by radio communication. If situations are changed from one when the route was searched for during a route guide, a route can be searched again (S9 to S11). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable navigation device that can be used in a facility having a plurality of individual facilities such as an amusement park.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a route guidance system that performs route guidance using a portable terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA owned by a user has been considered (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this system, a user operates a portable terminal to input a departure place, a destination, and use conditions (such as not using stairs or selecting a wide passage), and to input the information into a service center of a mobile phone company. , The service center creates an optimal route according to the conditions based on the map data, and returns the route guidance data to the portable terminal. Further, Patent Literature 1 also describes that a user is guided in an amusement facility with a route to a destination (such as a restroom or a rest room).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-13-336947
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, a user who wants to use a facility such as an amusement park (amusement park) wants to efficiently go around desired ones among a plurality of individual facilities (vehicles and the like) in the facility, or even a single one. There is a demand to go around a lot, but depending on the congestion situation, the waiting time is often unexpectedly long and often does not turn as expected.
[0005]
In this case, the technology described in the above publication does not provide a route that efficiently goes around a plurality of individual facilities (vehicles and the like) in an amusement park such as an amusement park. Therefore, when a user uses a facility such as an amusement park (amusement park), a portable navigation system that provides a route that allows the user to go around a plurality of individual facilities in an efficient order reflecting the congestion situation and the like. The device makes it convenient for the user.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a route guide that can go around a plurality of individual facilities in an efficient order reflecting the congestion state in a facility such as an amusement park. To provide a portable navigation device.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a portable navigation device of the present invention obtains map data in a facility such as an amusement park by a map data obtaining means, and uses time of each individual facility in the facility by a situation data obtaining means. And route data, such as waiting time, and route search means. The route search means searches for a route that can efficiently go around a plurality of individual facilities based on the map data and the situation data, and the route searched by the route guidance means. (The invention of claim 1).
[0008]
According to this, in consideration of the situation data acquired by the situation data acquisition means, it is possible to search for a route that can efficiently go around a plurality of individual facilities. As a result, it is possible to guide a route that can go around a plurality of individual facilities in an efficient order reflecting the congestion state and the like. In this case, as for the data of the waiting time of each individual facility in the situation data, the data of the waiting time according to the actual congestion degree at that time is of course used. It is also possible to acquire data of waiting time according to a date (day of the week) or a time zone estimated from the results or the like, and use the data for a route search.
[0009]
At this time, more specifically, the route search means can be configured to search for a route that can go around a plurality of individual facilities specified by the user in the shortest time (the invention of claim 2), or The route searching means can be configured to search for a route that can use as many individual facilities as possible (the third aspect of the present invention). In any case, it is possible to meet the demands of the user and it is convenient.
[0010]
It is conceivable that the waiting time (congestion degree) of each individual facility in the situation data described above fluctuates with time. Therefore, when the situation data changed from the time of the route search is acquired by the situation data acquisition means, the route re-search means may be configured to re-search the route according to the changed situation data. Invention 4), whereby a route can be searched for using situation data that matches the actual situation.
[0011]
By the way, in amusement parks, there is a case where a system of a priority path (for example, a so-called “fast path”) that can preferentially use predetermined individual facilities at a designated time is adopted. . In such a case, the route search means can be configured to search for a route taking into consideration the use of the priority path (the invention of claim 5). It is possible to search for a route that can go around individual facilities.
[0012]
In addition, when the priority path system is employed as described above, generally, the user needs to go to a predetermined place to obtain the priority path. If the configuration is such that the priority path can be reserved (the invention of claim 6), it is possible to reduce the trouble of the user for acquiring the priority path, and it becomes more efficient.
[0013]
Furthermore, the portable navigation device of the present invention has almost the same parts as a car navigation device mounted on a vehicle in view of the hardware configuration. , That is, it can also be used as a car navigation device (the invention of claim 7).
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The portable navigation device according to the present embodiment is configured to be also used as a car navigation device mounted on a vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as a navigation device 1). In this embodiment, a specific example is described in which the navigation device 1 is used in an amusement park as a facility such as an amusement park.
[0015]
First, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an electrical configuration of a navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment. Here, the navigation device 1 sends a position of itself (navigation device 1) to a control circuit 2 mainly composed of a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O, etc. based on radio waves from GPS satellites. A GPS positioning unit 3 as a position detector to be detected, a map data input device 4, an operation switch group 5, an external memory 6, for example, a display device 7 including a full-color liquid crystal display, a remote control sensor 9 for detecting a signal from a remote control 8, and the like. Connected and configured.
[0016]
An external information input / output device 10 such as a VICS communication device or a mobile phone is detachably connected to the control circuit 2 to enable communication with, for example, a VICS system or the like. Furthermore, a DSRC wireless communication device 11 is connected to the control circuit 2 via a communication control device 12 that performs signal processing and the like. As described later, in this embodiment, communication is performed with the infrastructure (a DSRC fixed station provided in an amusement park) via the DSRC wireless communication device 11.
[0017]
The map data input device 4 includes a drive device for reading out various data such as map data and accompanying data such as destination data (facility data) from a map data recording medium. For example, a large-capacity storage medium such as a DVD or a CD-ROM is used. The map data includes data of a road shape, a road width, a road name, a signal, a railroad crossing, a building, various facilities, a place name, a topography, and the like, and data for reproducing the map on a screen of the display device 7. Contains.
[0018]
Although not shown in detail, the operation switch group 5 includes a mechanical switch provided near the screen of the display device 7 and a touch panel provided on the screen of the display device 7. 5, various commands such as designation of a destination and a passing point, selection of a scale of a map displayed on the display device 7, and the like can be input. The remote controller 8 also has a function equivalent to the operation switch group 5. Incidentally, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a voice can be input for designating the destination or the like.
[0019]
On the screen of the display device 7, a map around the current position of the user (navigation device 1) is normally displayed on various scales, and a current position mark indicating the current position and the traveling direction of the user is superimposed on the display. Is displayed. The display device 7 also displays an input screen for the user to perform various inputs and settings (selection) such as a destination, various messages, and the like. Further, at the time of executing route guidance (route guidance), a screen for route guidance is displayed on the display device 7.
[0020]
The control circuit 2 realizes a location function for knowing the current position of the navigation device 1 by means of its software configuration (execution of a program), and searches for a recommended route to a designated destination and provides a route for guidance. A guidance function is realized. Among them, the location function displays the map on the display device 7 based on the map data from the map data input device 4 as described above, and indicates its own current position and traveling direction based on the detection of the GPS positioning unit 3. The present location mark is displayed.
[0021]
The control circuit 2 searches for a recommended route to a designated destination based on a user's operation of the operation switch group 5 (or the remote controller 8), and realizes a route guidance function for guiding. ing. In this route search, a recommended route from the departure point (current position) of the navigation device 1 to the destination specified by the user is automatically calculated using, for example, the well-known Dijkstra method. When the route is obtained by the route search (route calculation), the control circuit 2 displays a route to be superimposed on the map on the screen of the display device 7 and guides the user to the destination. I have.
[0022]
Although not shown, the navigation device 1 is built in a portable case, and is detachably set to, for example, a mounting portion on the front of an instrument panel of an automobile. At this time, power is obtained via a cigarette lighter connection cable when mounted on a vehicle, and a secondary battery (battery pack) such as a lithium ion battery is used as a power source when used outside the vehicle. Therefore, the navigation device 1 can function as a car navigation device when set in a vehicle, and can be carried around and used by a user by removing it from the mounting portion.
[0023]
By the way, the navigation device 1 according to the present embodiment can execute an in-facility guidance mode that is carried and used by a user in a facility having a plurality of individual facilities (vehicles and the like) such as an amusement park (amusement park). ing. In the in-facility guidance mode, a map of the facility is displayed on the display device 7 of the navigation device 1, and the current position detected by the GPS positioning unit 3 can be displayed in a superimposed manner. I have.
[0024]
At this time, a DSRC fixed station is provided at a key point in the facility, and the navigation device 1 receives (acquires) the map data of the facility from the DSRC fixed station by the DSRC wireless communication device 11. It has become. The DSRC fixed station transmits not only map data but also status data indicating the status of each individual facility in the facility, and the DSRC wireless communication device 11 receives (acquires) the status data. It has become.
[0025]
Therefore, the DSRC wireless communication device 11 functions as a map data acquisition unit and a situation data acquisition unit. In this case, the situation data includes data on the use time of each individual facility (vehicle) (time required to enjoy the facility), data on the waiting time (congestion situation) at that time, and a priority path described later. In addition to the above data, it is also possible to include expected data of waiting time corresponding to a date (day of the week) or a time zone estimated from past results or the like.
[0026]
Then, as will be described later in the description of the operation, the control circuit 2 is configured, based on the software configuration, based on the acquired map data and the situation data when a route guidance is instructed by the operation of the operation switch group 5 by the user. Thus, a route that can efficiently go around a plurality of individual facilities is searched for, and guidance on the searched route is provided on the screen of the display device 7. Therefore, the control circuit 2 functions as a route search unit and a route guidance unit.
[0027]
In this case, when searching for a route, whether to find a route that goes around a plurality of individual facilities (vehicles) specified by the user in the shortest time, or to find a route that can use as many individual facilities (vehicles) as possible within the allowed time Can be selected by the user. The route search is performed by integrating the time required to move from the current position to the next individual facility, the waiting time at the individual facility, and the usage time of the individual facility, and combining the times to minimize the accumulated time (permutation). ). At this time, the waiting time in each individual facility may fluctuate depending on the time zone, so that the expected data of the waiting time is used as needed.
[0028]
Further, when the situation data (waiting time data or the like) acquired by the DSRC wireless communication device 11 has changed since the route search, the control circuit 2 can re-search the route according to the changed situation data. , And also functions as route re-search means. In this embodiment, the user can select whether or not to re-search the route. It should be noted that the route can be searched again even if the user wants to change the route, regardless of the situation data.
[0029]
Furthermore, in amusement parks, in order to avoid severe congestion, priority passes (such as "fast passes") that can use particular individual facilities that are particularly popular at a specified time preferentially can be used preferentially. If the priority path can be used, the control circuit 2 searches for a route (as a premise) in consideration of using the priority path. It is supposed to. At this time, in this embodiment, the priority path can be reserved by wireless communication by the DSRC wireless communication device 11.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described mainly with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, a case where a plurality of vehicles are driven in an amusement park as a facility will be described as a specific example. In this amusement park, it is assumed that a priority pass system is adopted.
[0031]
The flowchart of FIG. 2 schematically shows a processing procedure executed by the control circuit 2 of the navigation device 1 when performing route search and route guidance in an amusement park. That is, when the navigation device 1 is instructed to execute the in-facility guidance mode, first, in step S1, the DSRC wireless communication device 11 transmits facility data (map data and status data) from the infrastructure (DSRC fixed station) in the amusement park. Etc.) to be received.
[0032]
Here, the user can select whether to seek a route that goes around a plurality of designated vehicles in the shortest time or a route that can use as many vehicles as possible within the permitted time. For example, by displaying a selection screen showing a list of vehicles and the like on the screen of the display device 7 and specifying a desired vehicle on the screen (or instructing a route search that can use at least one vehicle) Done.
[0033]
When the user specifies a plurality of desired vehicles (YES in step S2), in step S3, a search for a route that goes around the plurality of vehicles in the shortest time is performed. On the other hand, when the user instructs a route search in which at least one vehicle can be used (NO in step S2), a search for a route in which at least one arbitrary vehicle can be used is performed in step S4. As described above, these route searches are performed in consideration of the congestion state (waiting time) of each vehicle, and for vehicles that can use the priority pass, consideration is given to using the priority pass. It is done by putting.
[0034]
Then, when the searched route uses the priority path, the user is made to select whether to use the priority path (abbreviated as “FP” in the figure) in the next step S5. If the user selects to use the priority path (YES in step S5), the reservation of the priority path is performed by wireless communication by the DSRC wireless communication device 11 in step S6. On the other hand, if the user selects not to use the priority path (NO in step S5), in step S7, a route that does not take into account the use of the priority path is searched again.
[0035]
Thereafter, route guidance based on the searched route is executed (step S8). This route guidance is performed by, for example, displaying the current position of the user on a screen of the display device 7 while superimposing the current position on a map of the facility, and displaying the route to be advanced on the map. As a result, the user can ride on a plurality of vehicles in an efficient order reflecting the actual congestion state without being lost.
[0036]
Thus, during this route guidance, the situation in the facility may fluctuate from the time of the route search. For example, there is a change in the degree of congestion (waiting time) in each vehicle, or suspension of use of a specific vehicle due to a trouble such as a failure. Therefore, if the situation data obtained by the DSRC wireless communication device 11 has changed since the route search (YES in step S9), the user is allowed to select whether or not to change the route by, for example, displaying a screen on the display device 7. (Step S10).
[0037]
Here, if the user selects to change the route (YES in step S10), in step S11, the optimum route from that point is re-searched, and the re-searched route is processed from step S5. Is repeated. Although not shown in detail, even if there is no change in the situation data as described above, even when the user changes his mind on the way and wants to change the route, the operation of the operation switch group 5 can be performed. , The route can be changed.
[0038]
On the other hand, if there is no change in the situation (NO in step S9), or if the user does not want to change the route (NO in step S10), the route remains unchanged until the route guidance is completed (step S12). The guidance is continued (step S8). When the navigation device 1 is used in a facility, the navigation device 1 is used not only for guiding a route through a plurality of individual facilities as described above, but also for a user to search for a toilet, a restaurant, a store, a specific meeting place, and the like. For example, when a car is parked in a large parking lot, the user can remember the position of the car and provide guidance when returning.
[0039]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a facility such as an amusement park, a search for a route that can go around a plurality of individual facilities in an efficient order reflecting an actual congestion state or the like according to a user's request is performed. Can be provided, which is convenient for the user.
[0040]
In particular, in the present embodiment, when the situation changes from the time of the route search, the route can be searched again, so that the route can be searched using the situation data that matches the actual situation. . Furthermore, in facilities that use the priority path system, route search is performed taking into account the use of the priority path, so it is necessary to search for routes that can go around multiple individual facilities more efficiently. Since the priority path can be reserved by wireless communication, it is possible to reduce the trouble of the user for acquiring the priority path, and it is possible to further improve the efficiency.
[0041]
In the above-described embodiment, the navigation device 1 is configured as a device that also serves as a car navigation device. However, the navigation device 1 may be configured as a dedicated portable navigation device that can be carried and used by pedestrians. Alternatively, the navigation function may be incorporated in a portable personal computer or the like. Various modifications are also possible as a data acquisition unit, such as receiving data with a mobile phone.
[0042]
In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, various modifications can be considered for the entire hardware configuration, and the facility is not limited to an amusement park, but may be a theme park, an animal and plant garden, The present invention can be applied to an event venue such as a festival or the like, and can be appropriately changed and implemented without departing from the gist.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an electric configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of route search and guidance in an amusement park. ]
In the drawings, 1 is a navigation device, 2 is a control circuit (route search means, route guidance means, route re-search means), 5 is an operation switch group, 7 is a display device, 11 is a DSRC wireless communication device (map data acquisition means, Status data acquisition means).

Claims (7)

A portable navigation device that can be used in a facility having a plurality of individual facilities such as an amusement park,
Map data acquisition means for acquiring map data in the facility,
Status data acquisition means for acquiring status data such as the use time and the waiting time of each individual facility,
Route search means for searching for a route that can efficiently go around a plurality of individual facilities based on the map data and the situation data;
A portable navigation device comprising: route guidance means for guiding a searched route. 2. The portable navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the route searching means is configured to search for a route that can go around a plurality of individual facilities specified by a user in the shortest time. 2. The portable navigation device according to claim 1, wherein said route search means is configured to search for a route that can use as many individual facilities as possible. 4. A route re-searching unit for re-searching a route according to the changed status data when the status data obtaining unit obtains status data that has changed since the route search. A portable navigation device according to any one of the above. If it is possible to obtain and use a priority path that allows preferential use of specified individual equipment at a specified time,
The portable navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the route search means searches for a route in consideration of using the priority path. The portable navigation device according to claim 5, further comprising a priority path reservation function for reserving the priority path by wireless communication. The portable navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the portable navigation device functions as a car navigation device by being detachably set to a vehicle.

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