JP2005077186A - Traffic information notification method of navigation system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traffic information notification method of a navigation system for vehicles capable of knowing information on congestion on a guidance route and traffic information other than that, without depending on visual observation. <P>SOLUTION: By the navigation system for vehicles equipped with an input device capable of controlling actuation feeling, and a traffic information receiver for receiving traffic information sent from the outside of a vehicle on board the system, a list to be obtained by dividing a travelling expected route into two or more sections and arranging these sections in the order of travelling is formed. After that, traffic information is caused to correspond to each section, and actuation feeling of the input device is controlled according to the content of the traffic information corresponding to the section, when a user actuates the input device and selects a section on the list. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic information notification method for an in-vehicle navigation device that receives traffic information sent from the outside of a vehicle and notifies a user of the traffic information.

In recent years, services for providing traffic information from a traffic information center to in-vehicle devices such as navigation devices mounted on vehicles have become widespread. For example, in VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System), traffic information is provided to in-vehicle devices via radio wave beacons, optical beacons, and FM multiplex broadcasting. In the in-vehicle device, the traffic information is notified to the driver by one of the following three methods according to the VICS level.
(1) Level 1 (character display type)
Traffic information such as a traffic jam location and traffic jam information is displayed on the display device in characters of about “2 lines 30 characters”.
(2) Level 2 (simple graphic display type)
A simple road figure is displayed on the display device. A traffic jam location is indicated by an arrow on a simple figure.
(3) Level 3 (map display type)
Traffic information is superimposed on the map displayed on the display device. For example, a traffic jam location is indicated by a red line, a crowded location is indicated by an orange arrow, and a road without traffic jam is indicated by a blue arrow.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-46087 proposes an in-vehicle navigation device that displays not only the traffic information acquired by VICS but only the information on the traveling direction of the vehicle.

  By the way, in a normal in-vehicle navigation device, after searching for a guidance route from a departure place to a destination, all roads constituting the guidance route are divided into appropriate sections, and those sections are arranged in order to determine which road. A list (hereinafter referred to as “maneuver list”) that makes it easy to see how much you are driving is displayed. In-vehicle navigation devices that display traffic information acquired by VICS on a maneuver list have also been developed. In this type of in-vehicle navigation device, the user can easily know how much traffic is congested in which section of the route to be traveled just by looking at the maneuver list displayed on the display device.

In recent years, input devices having a tactile (haptic) function have been developed and used for in-vehicle navigation devices. In this type of in-vehicle navigation device, if the input device is operated while the maneuver list is displayed on the display device, the cursor can be moved to an arbitrary position on the maneuver list. When the cursor reaches the final position of the maneuver list, the input device is vibrated to notify the user that the cursor is at the final position of the maneuver list.
JP-A-5-46087

  In the above-described conventional vehicle-mounted navigation device, it is necessary to visually check a maneuver list in order to confirm a traffic jam location. However, if the distance to the destination is long and the display section of the maneuver list is large, the traffic jam will be confirmed while scrolling the maneuver list, and during this time, the display device must be continuously viewed. .

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a traffic information notification method for an in-vehicle navigation device that allows traffic jams and other traffic information on a guidance route to be known without visual observation.

  In the traffic information notification method for an in-vehicle navigation device provided with an input device capable of controlling an operation feeling and a traffic information receiver for receiving traffic information sent from the outside of the vehicle, the above-described problem is that a plurality of planned travel routes are provided. When the user selects the section on the list by operating the input device, creating a list in which the sections are arranged in the order of travel and corresponding traffic information for each section, This is solved by a traffic information notification method for an in-vehicle navigation device, wherein the operation feeling of the input device is controlled according to the content of traffic information corresponding to the section.

  According to the traffic information notification method of the in-vehicle navigation device of the present invention, when the user operates the input device and selects a section on the list, the input information of the input device is selected according to the content of the traffic information corresponding to the section. Since the operation sensation is controlled, the user can know the traffic information tactilely simultaneously with the operation of the input device without using visual observation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an in-vehicle navigation device that implements a traffic information notification method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The in-vehicle navigation device includes a DVD drive unit 1 that reads map data from the DVD-ROM 1a, an operation unit 2 for manually operating the in-vehicle navigation device, and traffic information reception that receives traffic information sent from the outside of the vehicle. A GPS receiver 4 that receives a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal and detects the longitude and latitude of the current position of the vehicle, a self-contained navigation sensor 5 that detects the rotation angle and travel distance of the vehicle, and a microcomputer A control unit 6 comprising: an image creating unit 7 and a display device 9 for displaying an image; an audio signal output unit 8 and a speaker 10 for generating sound; and traffic received by the traffic information receiver 3 A traffic information storage unit 11 that stores information and a guide route storage unit 12 that records information on the guide route are provided.

  In addition to various operation buttons (not shown) for manually operating the navigation device, the operation unit 2 includes a jog dial type controller unit 2a and a signal output from the control unit 6 (hereinafter referred to as a “haptic signal”). ), An actuator unit 2b that changes resistance when the dial of the controller unit 2a is rotated and applies vibration to the controller unit 2a is provided. The controller unit 2 a sends a manipulation signal to the control unit 6 by generating a signal for scrolling a maneuver list (to be described later) or moving a cursor (hereinafter referred to as “operation signal”) by a user's manual operation.

  The control unit 6 causes the traffic information storage unit 11 to store the traffic information received by the traffic information receiver 3 as needed. In addition, the control unit 6 uses the signal received by the GPS receiver 4 (hereinafter referred to as “GPS signal”) and the signal output from the autonomous navigation sensor 5 (hereinafter referred to as “independent navigation signal”). Detect current position. Then, the control unit 6 controls the DVD drive unit 1 to read out the current position and the surrounding map data from the DVD-ROM 1 a and output the map data to the image creation unit 7. The image creation unit 7 creates a map image around the current position of the vehicle and a vehicle position mark displayed on the map image and indicating the current position based on the map data read from the DVD-ROM 1a.

  When the destination is set by the user, the control unit 6 uses the current position of the vehicle as the departure point, and searches for a guidance route from the departure point to the destination using the map data of the DVD-ROM 1a. Based on the search result, the image creation unit 7 is controlled to create a cursor image indicating the maneuver list and the selected portion on the maneuver list. At the same time, the control unit 6 records the search result in the guidance route storage unit 12.

  Further, the control unit 6 reads the traffic information from the traffic information recording unit 11, and the traffic congestion degree of the section related to the maneuver list and the events and regulations defined by the traffic information (hereinafter referred to as “traffic event” and “traffic regulation”, respectively). .) Is output to the image creating unit 7. The image creation unit 7 creates an image of a mark and a color-coded portion for notifying traffic information based on the information on these traffic events and traffic regulations.

  Then, the image creation unit 7 creates image data by superimposing a map around the vehicle, a vehicle position mark, a maneuver list, a cursor, and traffic information, and displays an image as shown in FIG. Let Details of display on the display device 9 shown in FIG. 3 will be described later. When an operation signal is sent from the controller unit 2a to the control unit 6, the control unit 6 instructs the image creation unit 7 to move the cursor or scroll the screen.

  The audio signal output unit 8 creates audio data based on the signal sent from the control unit 6 and generates audio via the speaker 10.

  A method for notifying traffic information using the navigation device configured as described above will be described below based on the flowchart shown in FIG. However, in the following description, it is assumed that the traffic information received by the traffic information receiver 3 is stored in the traffic information storage unit 11 in advance.

  First, in step S1, when a destination is set by the user, the control unit 6 searches for a guidance route from the departure point to the destination with the current position of the vehicle as the departure point. Then, the maneuver list is displayed on the display device 9. Then, the control unit 6 stores the guidance route in the guidance route storage unit 12 and controls the image creation unit 7 to create the image data of the maneuver list.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a maneuver list. In the maneuver list 20, an IC (interchange), a PA (parking area), or the like serving as the mark 102 in the guidance route is represented, and each mark 102 is divided into four sections 101. Then, the control unit 6 extracts information on the degree of traffic congestion divided into three stages of “congestion”, “congestion”, and “smooth” from the traffic information stored in the traffic information storage unit 12, and the image creation unit 7. Creates an image of the color-coded portion 103 corresponding to the degree of traffic jam in each section 101 based on the extraction result. In the color-coded portion 103 in FIG. 2, the white portion indicates “smooth”, the shaded portion indicates “congestion”, and the shaded portion indicates “congestion”.

  Here, “smooth” means that the vehicle can travel freely without being disturbed by other vehicles, and “congested” means other vehicles that are slow to maintain the speed of their vehicles. Even if you want to overtake the vehicle, you can't overtake it as you think it is because the lane is jammed, and “traffic jam” refers to the state where your vehicle cannot move or is close to it.

  In addition, the control unit 6 determines traffic events such as “construction”, “accident” and “block” and traffic regulation such as “lane regulation”, “speed regulation” and “chain regulation” from the above traffic information. Information is extracted, and an image of the event regulation mark 104 indicating the traffic event and traffic regulation of each section corresponding to these is created. Thereafter, the image creating unit 7 creates image data so that the color-coded portion 103 and the event restriction mark 104 are displayed on the maneuver list 20 in an overlapping manner.

  For example, the maneuver list in Fig. 2 shows that the congestion level is "congested" in all four sections displayed below Shimizu IC (Interchange), and there is a traffic event "construction". It is created based on the traffic information that the congestion level is “traffic” in all four sections between IC and Nihonzaka PA, and the traffic level is “smooth” in other sections, and there is no traffic event and traffic regulation. Yes.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a screen displayed on the display device 9. A map image is displayed together with the maneuver list 20 on the display device 9 so that the user can check the current vehicle position. Further, as will be described later, the maneuver list 20 is scrolled by operating the controller unit 2a. Then, one of the divided sections of the maneuver list is selected by the cursor 21 (see FIG. 2).

  Next, when the user rotates the controller unit 2 a in step S <b> 2, the controller unit 2 a sends an operation signal to the control unit 6. For example, when the controller unit 2 a is rotated leftward by a predetermined angle, the controller unit 2 a sends an operation signal to the control unit 6 to move the cursor 21 to a section one level higher than the currently selected section. When the controller unit 2a is rotated to the right by a predetermined angle, the controller unit 2a sends an operation signal to the control unit 6 to move the cursor 21 to the next lower section from the currently selected section.

  Next, in step S3, the control unit 6 moves the cursor 21 based on the operation signal sent from the controller unit 2a in step S2 and the guidance route information stored in the guidance route storage unit 12 in step S1. Is detected. Then, the degree of traffic congestion, traffic events, and presence / absence of traffic regulation are read from the traffic information storage unit 11.

  Thereafter, in step S4, according to the degree of traffic jam at the selected position of the cursor 21 and the presence / absence of traffic event and traffic regulation, the actuator unit 2b is operated to control the operation feeling of the controller unit 2a and notify the user. For example, at the planned selection position of the cursor 21, the resistance when rotating the controller unit 2 is reduced when “smooth”, the resistance is slightly increased when “congested”, and the resistance when “congested”. The control unit 6 sends a haptic signal to the actuator unit 2b so as to make the signal heavier. Thereby, a tactile sense of resistance is generated in the controller unit 2a. In addition, the user is notified of the traffic event and the presence / absence of traffic regulation at the scheduled position of the cursor 21 by vibration. For example, for traffic events such as “construction”, “accident”, “falling object”, and “crosswind caution”, a single vibration is given to the controller unit 2a, and “lane regulation”, “speed regulation”, and “chain” For traffic regulations such as “regulation”, two vibrations are intermittently given to the controller unit 2a, and for serious traffic regulations such as “no traffic” and “lamp closure” there are continuous vibrations. As provided to the controller unit 2a, the control unit 6 sends a haptic signal to the actuator unit 2b. As a result, vibration is generated in the controller unit 2a.

  When the example of this operation sensation is applied to the display section of the maneuver list 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the cursor 21 is to be moved to one of the four sections below Shimizu IC, the congestion degree is Because it is “congested” and there is a traffic event “construction”, the controller 2a is intermittently given two vibrations, and its rotational resistance is slightly increased, and it is placed in one of the four sections between Nippondaira and Shimizu. When the cursor 21 is to be moved, the rotation resistance of the controller unit 2a is increased, and when the cursor 21 is to be moved to any of the four sections between Shizuoka and Nippondaira, the controller unit 2a is rotated. Reduce resistance.

  When the user wants to know more detailed information as well as the degree of traffic congestion, traffic events, and traffic restrictions, the user confirms by viewing the display on the display device 9. For example, the traffic jam section can be confirmed from the maneuver list 20, or the positional relationship between the current position of the vehicle and the traffic jam section can be confirmed by the vehicle position mark and the maneuver list on the map image. In addition, information such as a traffic jam position may be notified by operating the actuator unit 2b and simultaneously generating sound from the speaker 10. In this case, the control unit 6 sends a haptic signal to the actuator unit 2b, sends a signal for creating voice data to the voice signal output unit 8, creates voice data to the voice signal output unit 8, and sends voice from the speaker 10. generate.

  In step S5, the control unit 6 sends a signal for changing the display of the maneuver list 20 and the cursor 21 to the image display unit 7 based on the operation signal, and the image display unit 7 determines the selection position of the cursor 21. Image data moved up (or down one) is created and displayed on the display device 9. At the same time, the image display unit 7 creates image data so that the maneuver list 20 scrolls downward (or upward) each time the cursor 21 moves upward (or downward) by four intervals. Thereby, for example, in the case shown in FIG. 2, the Japanese flat PA (or Shimizu IC) is displayed on the display device 9 in the portion where the Shimizu IC (or Japanese flat PA) is displayed.

  By repeating such steps S2 to S5 and moving the cursor 21 from the departure point set to the maneuver list 20 to the destination to select each section, the user can obtain traffic information of the guidance route. It can be known tactilely together with the manual operation of the controller unit 2a.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the correspondence relationship between the operation of the actuator unit 2b and the degree of congestion, traffic regulation, and traffic event is not limited to the above description.

  Moreover, although said embodiment demonstrated the case where the traffic information of a guidance route was notified, this invention is applicable when only reporting the traffic information of a road ahead. For example, a traffic jam section from the current position to 3 km ahead may be understood with the sense of operation of the controller unit 2a.

  As described above, according to the traffic information notification method of the in-vehicle navigation device of the present invention, the traffic information of the planned travel route is tactilely communicated, so that the traffic information can be known simultaneously with the manual operation without being visually observed. be able to. In addition, since the traffic information is transmitted by dividing the operational sense according to vibration, resistance, and the strength thereof, various kinds of traffic information can be known only by tactile sense.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an in-vehicle navigation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a maneuver list according to the embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen and a controller unit of the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the traffic information notification method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... DVD drive unit 1a ... DVD-ROM
2 ... Operation unit 2a ... Controller unit 2b ... Actuator unit 3 ... Traffic information receiver 4 ... GPS receiver 5 ... Autonomous navigation sensor 6 ... Control unit 7 ... Image creation unit 8 ... audio signal output unit 9 ... display device 10 ... speaker 11 ... traffic information storage unit 12 ... guide route storage unit 20 ... maneuver list 21 ... cursor 101 ... Divided section 102 ... Mark 103 ... Color coded part 104 ... Event restriction mark

Claims (6)

In a traffic information notification method for an in-vehicle navigation device provided with an input device capable of controlling an operation feeling and a traffic information receiver for receiving traffic information sent from the outside of the vehicle,
Create a list that divides the planned travel route into multiple sections and arranges the sections in the order of travel, corresponding traffic information for each section,
When the user operates the input device and selects a section on the list, the vehicle-mounted navigation controls the operation feeling of the input device according to the content of traffic information corresponding to the section. Device traffic information notification method.   2. The traffic information notification method for an in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the control of the operation feeling is performed by controlling a rotation resistance when the dial of the input device is rotated.   2. The traffic information notification method for an in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the control of the operation feeling is performed by applying vibration to the input device.   The traffic information notification method for an in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the operation feeling is controlled according to a degree of congestion for each section.   2. The traffic information notification method for an in-vehicle navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the operation sense is controlled when a traffic restricted section is selected. The traffic information notification method of the vehicle-mounted navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the operation information of the input device is controlled and the traffic information is notified by voice.

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