JP2004301589A - Navigation device and method, and software for navigation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device and a method, and a software for navigation capable of guiding a secondary route as well as a guide in the traveling direction near a guide spot on a guide route. <P>SOLUTION: This device is equipped with an absolute position/azimuth detection part 1, a relative azimuth detection part 2, a car speed detection part 3, a main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4, a memory group M, a user interface part 9, a display part 10, an input part 11, a CD/DVD-ROM control part 12, an FM multiple reception and processing part 13, and a light/beacon reception and processing part 14. The main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 have a present position calculation part 40, a destination designation accepting part 41, an ordinary guide route calculation part 42, an ordinary guide route guide part 43, a next candidate route calculation part 44 for calculating a next candidate route by using a guide spot on the route as a starting point based on ordinary guide route information by the ordinary guide route calculation part 42 and present position information, a next candidate route guide control part 45 for informing of the next candidate route based on the present position information when passing near a crossing which is the guide spot following a next candidate route guide based on next candidate route guide information by the next candidate route calculation part 44 and a display control part 46. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a navigation technology, and more particularly, to a navigation device and method, and navigation software in which a route guidance function at a guidance point such as a branch point of a route is improved.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of automobiles and the development of information processing technology, navigation devices mounted on vehicles to provide road guidance have rapidly become widespread. The navigation device calculates and sets an optimal route to a specified destination based on road map data representing roads and the like, and sequentially detects the position of the own vehicle by GPS or autonomous navigation, and displays a map or synthesized voice. It is used to guide the driver to turn right or left.
[0003]
In order to receive directions by the navigation device, the user needs to set a destination. The setting of the destination can be performed by designating a specific point on the display map with a cursor. It is also possible to search for and set a destination based on search conditions such as an area and a name. In addition, it has a function of searching for a facility near the own vehicle position or a specific point based on the type of the facility, and displaying the facility in the order of closest location.
[0004]
When the user sets the destination as described above, the navigation device calculates a route and starts guidance. Then, the user drives the vehicle according to the guidance route. While the vehicle is traveling on the guidance route, the navigation device displays the distance to the guidance point and the direction to turn on the screen when the guidance point, such as an intersection on the guidance route, approaches within a predetermined distance from the vehicle position. Display and provide voice guidance at the same time.
[0005]
In addition, even if the vehicle deviates from the route during traveling, the route to the destination is recalculated by the automatic recalculation function, and a new guidance route is provided. For example, as shown in Patent Literature 1, in calculating a re-route, a section in which a vehicle travels in the time required for the calculation is included in the calculation, and an object is to improve the reliability of re-route guidance after the re-route calculation. Some have done it.
[0006]
In a conventional navigation device having the above functions, a user can arrive at a destination by proceeding along a guided route.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-281789
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, for example, when the vehicle is traveling on a road having a right-turn-only lane and the guidance route in the navigation device at the guide point indicates the right direction, that is, the vehicle is actually driving on the lane, However, it may not be the right turn lane. In such a case, if the user tries to make a right turn in accordance with the instruction of the navigation device, the user may be forced to make a lane change to a right turn lane or a lane change immediately before an intersection. In addition, the vehicle may stop at a traveling lane near an intersection due to a lane change to a right-turn lane, which may cause traffic congestion.
[0009]
In addition, since the re-route calculation by the automatic re-calculation function in the car navigation device as described in Patent Document 1 is started at the time of passing an intersection that is a guide point on a guidance route, at the time of passing the guide point, The user may then be confused about what route to follow. Further, in order to pass through the road of the guidance route, the vehicle may be instructed to make a U-turn to the intersection where the vehicle has passed once, and the user may have to return to the route once advanced. Thus, the conventional automatic recalculation function is inconvenient for the user and wasteful in time and space.
[0010]
Further, for example, in a case where the guide point on the guidance route is an intersection that leads to an interchange on an expressway (hereinafter, referred to as an IC), in the conventional navigation device as described above, while the vehicle is traveling on the route, the IC When approaching the intersection to enter, only voice guidance such as "*** m ahead of the expressway entrance" or a screen display of the same content was performed. That is, the user has been given only an option of entering from the nearest expressway entrance as a method of heading for an IC on the expressway.
[0011]
Therefore, for example, if the user wants to enter the highway from the next IC to avoid traffic congestion, or if he accidentally passes through this intersection, the user will pass through the intersection The user must wait for the result of the re-route calculation from the user or perform operations such as searching for the next IC by displaying or scrolling the screen over a wide area by his / her own operation. It was inconvenient.
[0012]
Such a case is not limited to the entrance of a highway, but is also the same at a general intersection, but the effect of being unable to enter the target IC on the highway is exceptional, and the arrival time at the destination, In addition, the schedule of the user may be greatly disturbed, so that the user is not limited to the temporal and spatial problems, and may be a mental burden.
[0013]
The present invention has been proposed to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and its object is to provide a guidance route in the vicinity of a guide point in a guidance route and a secondary route. The present invention provides a navigation device and method capable of also providing guidance, and navigation software.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the navigation device according to claim 1 calculates a first route from a current position of a moving object to a given destination based on road map data prepared in advance, Means for guiding and outputting the traveling direction for each predetermined guide point in accordance with the calculated first route, and a next candidate route different from the first route from the guide point for all or some of the guide points And means for calculating and guiding are realized by a computer.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the first aspect of the present invention is captured from the viewpoint of a method, and a first route from a current position of a moving object to a given destination is prepared on a road map prepared in advance. Calculating based on the data, outputting the guidance direction for each predetermined guide point according to the calculated first route, and for all or some of the guide points, Calculating and guiding a next candidate route different from the first route.
[0016]
According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, by calculating and guiding the next candidate route at the guide point in the first route, the user can obtain information on the guide point in the route such as an intersection. It is possible to know not only the first route, that is, the normal route, but also the next candidate route in advance. Therefore, even if the user accidentally passes through an intersection, the user can consider the next candidate route as the next option, and can drive safely on an unfamiliar road, and suddenly change lanes. It can avoid unreasonable driving such as.
[0017]
The invention described in claim 2 is a means for storing road map data in advance, a means for calculating a current position of a moving object, a means for receiving designation of a destination, and a method for moving a moving object from a current position to a destination. A navigation device having means for calculating a first route to be performed based on the road map data, and display means for displaying the first route on a screen. Means for notifying of the traveling direction in step, means for calculating a next candidate route other than the first route ahead from the guide point based on the road map data and the first route, And a means for notifying the next candidate route together with the notification.
[0018]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method according to the second aspect of the present invention, which includes a means for storing road map data in advance, a step of calculating a current position of a moving object, Receiving the designation of the moving object, calculating a first route for the moving body to reach the destination from the current position based on the road map data, and displaying the first route on the screen. In the navigation method, a step of notifying a traveling direction at a guide point to be guided in the first route, and a step other than the first route beyond the guide point based on the road map data and the first route. Calculating the next candidate route, which is the route of the above, and notifying the next candidate route together with the notification of the traveling direction.
[0019]
The ninth aspect of the present invention captures the second and sixth aspects of the present invention from the viewpoint of software executable by a computer. By controlling the computer, road map data is stored in advance, and The current position is calculated, the designation of the destination is accepted, the first route for the moving body to reach the destination from the current position is calculated based on the road map data, and the first route is displayed on the screen. In the navigation software, the computer notifies the computer of the traveling direction at a guide point to be guided in the first route, and based on the road map data and the first route, the The next candidate route which is a route other than the first route is calculated, and the next candidate route is notified together with the notification of the traveling direction. To.
[0020]
In the above-described inventions of claims 2, 6 and 9, in addition to the invention of claim 1 or 5, the calculation of the next candidate route is performed by excluding the first route from the target. For example, the processing that is performed in the re-route calculation of the conventional car navigation device, such as instructing to return to the intersection that has passed to pass the first route, is not performed. Waste can be reduced.
[0021]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the computer implements means for reporting information on a required time difference from a current position between the first route and the next candidate route at the guide point. It is characterized by. The invention according to claim 7 captures the invention according to claim 3 from the viewpoint of a method. In the invention according to claim 5 or 6, the first route and the next candidate route at the guide point are different from each other. The step of notifying the information about the required time difference from the current position of the user.
[0022]
According to the third and seventh aspects of the present invention, a voice or screen display that takes into account the extension or shortening of the arrival time to the destination when the user selects the next candidate route by changing it to the first route is selected. Therefore, the user can select a guide route according to his / her own intention.
[0023]
The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the notification of the next candidate route is performed at a predetermined guide point set in advance. The invention according to claim 8 is an invention in which the invention according to claim 4 is grasped from the viewpoint of a method. In the invention according to any one of claims 5 to 7, the notification of the next candidate route is And a step performed at a predetermined guide point set in advance.
[0024]
In the above-described inventions according to claims 4 and 8, for example, when the route guidance of the next candidate route is performed at each intersection, depending on the user, it may be felt that there is too much information. Such inconvenience is solved by notifying the next candidate route only at the specified guide point. The setting of the predetermined guide point is performed, for example, at an intersection where a lane dedicated to right turn is provided on a road having a plurality of lanes such as a main road, and is not performed at other roads. It is conceivable to set whether or not to notify according to the scale of such a road, or to meet the needs of the user such that the user can select to perform only at the entrance of the IC on the expressway.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as “embodiments”) will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present embodiment can be realized by controlling a computer with software. However, in this case, the way of realizing hardware and software can be variously changed, and therefore, in the following description, each of the present invention and the present embodiment will be described. A virtual circuit block that realizes a function is used. Further, the “first route” of the present invention is referred to as a normal guidance route in the present embodiment.
[0026]
[1. Constitution〕
The present embodiment relates to an in-vehicle navigation device (hereinafter, referred to as “this device”) that performs route guidance to a designated destination based on map data prepared in advance, and a navigation method executed on this device. It can be understood as software itself for realizing these, and a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, and a ROM chip package in which such software is recorded. For example, such software can be regarded as a cellular phone network or the like. It is an aspect of the present invention to download and execute the program on the navigation device of each vehicle via the communication network. In the present embodiment, each symbol in the figure is for identification and has no relation to an essential or desirable processing order.
[0027]
[1-1. overall structure〕
First, the present device is a navigation device that guides a route to a given destination while displaying a sequentially detected current position on a display screen together with a peripheral map extracted from map data prepared in advance. The following components shown in FIG. 1 are provided.
[0028]
In other words, the absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1 calculates, for example, the absolute position coordinates and the azimuth on the ground surface of the current position of the vehicle (referred to as the own vehicle) on which the apparatus is mounted, that is, , For receiving GPS radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites with an antenna or a receiver. The relative azimuth detecting unit 2 is a part for detecting the relative azimuth of the vehicle using a gyro or the like. The vehicle speed detector 3 is a part that calculates the running speed of the vehicle by processing a vehicle speed pulse obtained from the vehicle.
[0029]
The main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 serve as a control circuit for controlling the entire device. The memory group M is various memories necessary for the operation of the present apparatus. For example, the ROM 5 for storing programs is accessed by the main CPU when the present apparatus is started. A main program is loaded into a dynamic RAM (DRAM) 6 which provides a work area and the like. An SRAM (static RAM) 7 for backing up information such as settings is backed up by a battery even while the main power is off, and provides memory contents when the main power is turned on. A display VRAM (video RAM) 8 stores bitmap data of an image to be displayed on the display unit 10.
[0030]
The display unit 10 is a unit that outputs various information such as a map and an operation menu on a liquid crystal display screen (not shown), voice synthesis, and the like. The input unit 11 is a part for the user to input information such as a command from a switch or the like, and includes a touch sensor function, a remote control unit, an infrared transmitting / receiving unit, and the like. The user interface unit 9 is a user interface that connects the display unit 10 and the input unit 11 to the main CPU and its peripheral circuits 4 using an I / O control circuit, a device driver, and the like.
[0031]
The CD / DVD-ROM control unit 12 is means for reading various data such as road map data recorded on a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM from a database, and a road indicating at least where and what roads and facilities are located. This is a storage medium for storing map data in advance.
[0032]
The FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13 is a part that performs processing of receiving FM broadcast waves and extracting desired data such as VICS service traffic information from the broadcast waves, and the traffic information includes congestion information. The light / beacon receiving and processing unit 14 is a part that receives and processes information such as identification information of each beacon and traffic information of a VICS service from an optical beacon or a radio beacon installed on a road shoulder or the like.
[0033]
[1-2. Role of main CPU and its peripheral circuits]
Further, the main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are configured to play the following functions shown in FIG. That is, the current position calculation unit 40 is means for calculating the current position of the vehicle, that is, the own vehicle position. Specifically, the current position calculation unit 40 calculates the own vehicle position by combining the GPS navigation positioning and the autonomous navigation positioning. Is configured.
[0034]
Here, in the GPS navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained from the absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1 based on radio waves from artificial satellites. In the autonomous navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained from the relative azimuth detecting unit 2 and the vehicle speed detecting unit 3 based on the geomagnetism and the speed of the vehicle.
[0035]
The destination designation receiving unit 41 is a designation unit that designates a facility as a destination from facilities included in the road map data. The normal guidance route calculation unit 42 is a unit that calculates an optimal route from the current vehicle position to the destination specified by the destination specification reception unit 41 based on the road map data.
[0036]
Further, the normal guidance route guidance unit 43 provides means for guiding the route calculated by the normal guidance route calculation unit 42 based on the current position and the like sequentially calculated by the current position calculation unit 40 by using synthetic voice or screen display. It is. In the present embodiment, the normal guidance route calculation unit 42 and the normal guidance route guidance unit 43 are collectively referred to as normal guidance route guidance means.
[0037]
The next candidate route calculation unit 44 uses the normal guidance route information calculated by the normal guidance route calculation unit 42 and the current position information from the current position calculation unit 40 as a starting point at the intersection that is a guide point on the route as a starting point. The route is the means to calculate. The calculation of the next candidate route is performed at the time when the route guidance by the normal guidance route guidance unit is started, and is updated every time the vehicle passes an intersection which is a guidance point on the normal guidance route. ing.
[0038]
Based on the next candidate route information from the next candidate route calculation unit 44, the next candidate route guidance control unit 45 determines whether the next candidate route guidance is to be performed when the vehicle approaches the intersection, which is a guide point in the normal guidance route. This is a means for providing route guidance by synthetic voice or screen display based on the current position or the like sequentially calculated by the position calculation unit 40. The synthesized voice and the screen display are generated as a voice signal and a screen signal by the next candidate route guidance control unit 45, and are sent to the display control unit 46.
[0039]
[2. Action effect)
The present embodiment configured as described above operates as follows. First, when the user inputs a destination using the input unit 11, this signal is sent to the destination specification receiving unit 41, and the destination is specified. Next, based on information from the absolute position / azimuth detecting unit 1, the relative azimuth detecting unit 2, and the vehicle speed detecting unit 3, an optimal route from the own vehicle position calculated by the current position calculating unit 40 to this destination is determined. The normal guidance route calculation unit 42 calculates the route guidance data based on the route search data, and the normal guidance route guidance unit 43 starts the route guidance through the display unit 10 or the like through the synthesized voice or the screen display.
[0040]
Next, the operation of the next candidate route guidance will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart relating to processing from the start of route guidance to the guidance of the next candidate route. At the time when the normal guidance route guidance by the normal guidance route guidance means is started as described above, the next candidate route calculation unit 44 determines the next candidate route starting from the intersection that is the first guidance point of the normal guidance route. It is calculated (step 1).
[0041]
The calculated next candidate route is stored in an internal memory, and is not immediately displayed on a map. The vehicle is set on the guide point in the normal guide route based on information from the current position calculation unit 40. When the vehicle approaches the intersection, the next candidate route guidance control unit 45 displays the synthesized voice or screen display on the display unit 10 or the like via the display unit 10 or the like.
[0042]
After performing the first next candidate route guidance as described above, the next candidate route calculation unit 44 performs the following operation. First, it is determined whether or not the vehicle has passed the guidance intersection based on information from the current position calculation unit 40 (step 2). If the vehicle has not passed yet, this operation is repeated. If it is confirmed that the vehicle has passed, the information of the normal guidance route is extracted from the normal guidance route calculation unit 42, and the next intersection is included in the route based on the information. It is determined whether or not there is (step 3). If there is no more intersection in the route, the process ends. If there is an intersection, the next candidate route starting from the intersection is calculated (step 4), and the process returns to step 2. Then, similarly to the above, when the vehicle approaches the intersection which is the guide point in the normal guide route, the next candidate route guidance control unit 45 through the display unit 10 or the like through the display unit 10 or the like, the display unit 10 or the like through the synthetic voice or screen display. Will be displayed.
[0043]
Here, a method of calculating the next candidate route in the next candidate route calculation unit 44 will be described. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a normal guidance route, and FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of a next candidate route. In FIG. 3A, the normal guidance route A → B → C is a route calculated by the normal guidance route calculation unit 42 for the vehicle to arrive at the destination from the currently traveling road A at the shortest and fastest. And In addition, when the currently traveling road A is a road having a plurality of lanes such as an arterial road, and turns right at the intersection between the roads A and B, it is necessary to enter a lane exclusively for turning right from just before the intersection P. In such a case, a situation is assumed in which the user cannot change lanes to the right-turn-only lane and passes the intersection P.
[0044]
In this case, in the conventional car navigation device, the recalculation of the route is performed, and the recalculation is started after passing the intersection P. In some cases, the calculation is performed up to the intersection P in order to pass the road B. In some cases, it was calculated to make a U-turn and follow a similar route. On the other hand, in the next candidate route calculation unit 44 of the present invention, the next candidate route is calculated in advance as described above, and the road B, which is supposed to travel along the normal guidance route, is subjected to the route calculation. From the calculation. Therefore, as the route calculated by the next candidate route calculating unit 44, a route that does not pass through the road B, such as the road A → D → E, is calculated.
[0045]
Next, as a specific example of the operation of the specific route guidance in the normal guidance route guidance unit 43 and the next candidate route guidance control unit 45, the guidance of the next candidate route is added to the voice guidance of the normal guidance route at the entrance of the expressway. A description will be given using the added embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a normal route and a next candidate route for an intersection just before an expressway interchange (hereinafter referred to as IC).
[0046]
In the voice guidance in the conventional navigation device, when the vehicle is traveling on the road A and approaches the intersection Q1, guidance such as "*** m ahead of an expressway entrance" is performed. With such guidance alone, the user can only be given the option of entering the expressway from the IC, which is the nearest guidance point.
[0047]
Therefore, for example, if the user wants to enter the highway from the next IC to avoid traffic congestion, or if he accidentally passes through an intersection, the user will pass through the intersection. This is very inconvenient for the traveling user, such as searching for the next IC by waiting for the result of the re-route calculation from the user or by displaying or scrolling the screen over a wide area by own operation. In particular, when the route is a highway as in this example, the inability to enter the target IC may cause the arrival time at the destination and even the user's personal schedule to be greatly disturbed. It was not only a matter of spatial and spatial issues, but also a mental burden.
[0048]
Therefore, the next candidate route guidance control unit 45 uses the normal guidance route guidance unit 43 to perform the normal guidance route A → B → C (see FIG. 4) near the intersection Q1 while the vehicle is traveling on the road A, as described above. In), a guidance signal that takes into account the next candidate route calculated by the next candidate route calculation unit 44 is sent to the display control unit 46 in accordance with guiding the intersection Q1 as a guidance point. Then, the display control unit 46 performs guidance by adding a guidance signal relating to the next candidate route to the guidance signal sent from the normal guidance route guidance unit 43. Specifically, voice guidance is provided for a phrase such as “*** m ahead at the Q1 intersection, to the right, at the entrance of the highway. If you turn left at the Q1 intersection, you will ride at a high speed at ** km ahead”.
[0049]
When the user selects and proceeds with the next candidate route that has been calculated and guided by the above-described next candidate route means, the normal guidance route calculation unit 42 determines that the vehicle has deviated from the normal guidance route, and The route to the destination is recalculated based on the current position, and the next candidate route calculation unit 44 calculates a new next candidate route according to the flowchart of FIG. Then, the above processing is continued until it reaches the destination.
[0050]
The present embodiment acting as described above has the following effects. First, the calculation of the next candidate route is started at the time when the route guidance of the normal guide route by the normal guide route guidance unit is started. Since the process is performed at the time when the vehicle approaches the intersection, which is a point, the user can know in advance not only the information on the guide route but also the information on the next candidate route in the route such as the intersection.
[0051]
Therefore, even if the user accidentally passes through an intersection, the user can consider the next candidate route as the next option, and can drive safely on an unfamiliar road, Excessive driving such as change can be avoided.
[0052]
In addition, the route calculation in the next candidate route calculation unit 44 of the present invention is performed by excluding the road B, which is supposed to normally travel on the guidance route, from the target of the route calculation. Processing such as instructing a U-turn to the intersection P to pass through the normal guidance route, which is performed in the re-route calculation of the device, is not performed, so that waste of route guidance can be reduced.
[0053]
In addition, the display control unit 46 performs route guidance in consideration of the next candidate route in addition to the route guidance of the normal guidance route in the normal guidance route guidance unit 43, so that it is possible to temporarily enter the expressway with the nearest IC. Even if it is not possible, entering the expressway with the next IC will be transmitted to the user at the same time as the guidance of the normal guidance route, so there is no need to change lanes or search for a route by yourself while traveling. It is possible to reduce psychological anxiety and mental burden of the user.
[0054]
[3. Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but also includes, for example, the following embodiments. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the guidance of the next candidate route is performed at the same time as the guidance of the normal guidance route. I do not care. Also, for example, by installing an icon or switch on the screen or on the device itself as a “next candidate route”, when the user selects it according to his / her preference, the next candidate route is immediately displayed or output by voice. May be configured.
[0055]
With respect to the next candidate guidance in the present embodiment, only the aspect regarding the expressway entrance has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and guidance can be similarly provided at other intersections. Further, the voice guidance in which the next candidate route is also taken into account is not limited to the above, and as described in claim 3, the required time from the current position of the normal guidance route and the next candidate route at the guide point is determined. It is also possible to configure to notify information on the difference.
[0056]
Specifically, the voice guidance at the entrance of the above expressway is "*** m ahead of the expressway entrance. If you turn left, you will take a highway at *** km ahead. It will be extended ** minutes to the destination (Will be shortened). " As described above, if the notification is made by voice or screen display in consideration of the extension or shortening of the arrival time to the destination, the user can select the guidance route by his / her own will.
[0057]
Further, in the above embodiment, the next candidate route guidance control unit 45 sends the next candidate route information sent from the next candidate route calculation unit 44 for each guide point in the normal guidance route every time, for example, for each intersection, The route control is output to the display control unit 46 to guide the route. However, in this case, the user may feel that there is too much information. The present invention is not limited to such a case, and as described in claim 4, it is also possible to configure so that the notification of the next candidate route is performed only at a predetermined guide point set in advance. is there.
[0058]
Specifically, the next candidate route guidance control unit 45 may be configured to be able to determine whether or not to provide guidance depending on the type of intersection to be guided. This determination criterion is, for example, a road such as an arterial road that has a plurality of lanes and provides guidance at an intersection where a lane dedicated to right turns is provided, and does not perform guidance at other roads. Depending on the scale, or according to the user's selection, it may be performed only at the entrance of the IC on the expressway, or may be according to the user's preference.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a navigation device, a method, and a navigation software that can perform guidance of a traveling route and guidance of a secondary route near a guidance point in a guidance route are provided. Can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a next candidate route guidance unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are a schematic diagram illustrating a normal guidance route of a next candidate route guidance unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a schematic diagram of a next candidate route, respectively;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a next candidate route guidance unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. Absolute position / azimuth detector
2 ... relative azimuth detector
3: Vehicle speed detection unit
4. Main CPU and its peripheral circuits
5 ... ROM
6 ... DRAM
7 ... SRAM
8 ... VRAM
9 ... User interface section
10 Display unit
11 Input unit
12 CD / DVD-ROM control unit
13 ... FM multiplex reception and processing unit
14 light / beacon receiving and processing unit
40: Current position calculation unit
41: Destination designation reception unit
42 ... Normal guidance route calculation unit
43 ... Normal guidance route guide
44 ... Next candidate route calculation unit
45 ... Next candidate route guidance control unit
46 display control unit
M: memory group

Claims (9)

Means for calculating a first route from a current position of the moving object to a given destination based on road map data prepared in advance;
Means for guiding and outputting the traveling direction for each predetermined guide point according to the calculated first route;
Means for calculating and guiding a next candidate route different from the first route from all or some of the guide points,
A navigation device characterized in that a computer realizes the following. Means for storing road map data in advance, means for calculating the current position of the moving object, means for receiving designation of the destination, and a first route for the moving object to reach the destination from the current position. In a navigation device having means for calculating based on the road map data and display means for displaying the first route on a screen,
Means for notifying a traveling direction at a guidance point to be guided in the first route;
Means for calculating a next candidate route that is a route other than the first route ahead from the guide point based on the road map data and the first route;
Means for notifying the next candidate route together with the notification of the traveling direction,
A navigation device characterized in that a computer realizes the following. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the computer implements means for notifying information about a required time difference from a current position between the first route and the next candidate route at the guide point. 4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the notification of the next candidate route is performed at a predetermined guide point set in advance. Calculating a first route from a current position of the moving object to a given destination based on road map data prepared in advance;
Guiding and outputting a traveling direction for each predetermined guidance point according to the calculated first route;
Calculating and guiding a next candidate route different from the first route from the guide point for all or some of the guide points;
A navigation method comprising: Storing the road map data in advance, calculating the current position of the moving object, accepting the designation of the destination, and setting the first route for the moving object to reach the destination from the current position to the road. A navigation method comprising: calculating based on map data; and displaying the first route on a screen.
Notifying a traveling direction at a guidance point to be guided in the first route;
Calculating a next candidate route that is a route other than the preceding first route from the guide point based on the road map data and the first route;
Notifying the next candidate route together with the notification of the traveling direction,
A navigation method comprising: 7. The navigation method according to claim 5, further comprising a step of notifying information about a required time difference from a current position between the first route and the next candidate route at the guide point. 8. The navigation method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the notification of the next candidate route includes a step performed at a predetermined guide point set in advance. By controlling the computer, the road map data is stored in advance, the current position of the moving object is calculated, the designation of the destination is accepted, and the first route for the moving object to reach the destination from the current position is determined. In the navigation software for calculating based on the road map data and displaying the first route on a screen,
To the computer,
At the guidance point to be guided in the first route, the traveling direction is notified,
A next candidate route which is a route other than the first route ahead from the guide point is calculated based on the road map data and the first route,
Navigation software, which notifies the next candidate route together with the notification of the traveling direction.

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